Seed E-News

November 21, 2003

Soybeans Price Volatility to Continue
Last week, the US Department of Agriculture predicted a cut in the forecast for soybean production to the lowest level in nearly 30 years. Although up slightly on 2002 figures, the area for harvest is expected to be around 29.3 million hectares, with production coming in at 66.7 million tonnes. According to figures from the USDA, US soybean stocks are reduced to 3.4 million tonnes, the lowest level since 1976-77. The USDA predictions will do nothing to ease the volatility of soybean prices - a phenomenon that has marked the 2003 soybean market. For more on this story, follow this link Soybean.

Brazil Farmers Register to Plant GM Soybeans
According to the Agriculture Ministry, at least 50,400 soy producers in Brazil have registered to plant genetically modified soybeans in the 2003/04 crop year. Brazil, the last agricultural exporter of its size to ban GM foods, recently legalized biotech soy planting and sales for the new crop, under the condition that producers register their intention to plant GM with the government by December 9. Brazil is requiring producers to register their crops as GM or be subject to fines equivalent to $5,600 plus 10% of the estimated value of the quantity of the unregistered soy. For more on this story, follow this link Brazil.

Fort Detrick Laboratory Fights Crop Threats
In a sealed greenhouse on the edge of Fort Detrick's sprawling campus in Frederick, Maryland, scientists in hospital scrubs check rows of soybean sprouts, working to counter a threat that, if left unchecked, could devastate U.S. soybean farming. Soybean rust, an exotic fungus easily carried by the wind, or by would-be agro-terrorists, has destroyed thousands of acres of soybean crops in Asia, Africa and South America. If it hits the United States, the cost, say biologists, could exceed $7 billion annually in lost crops and increased expenses ö comparable to the blow dealt to the airline industry in the months after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The battle against soybean rust epitomizes Fort Detrick's change in focus from Cold War-era weapons development for the military to cutting-edge biological research with civilian applications. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture center there, including some who once did Army biochemical weapons research at Fort Detrick, are working to detect and prevent crop diseases and weed infestations in the United States and other countries. The soybean rust project is the heart of a research network that extends across the nation and abroad. For more on this report from The Washington Post, follow this link Fort Detrick.

UK Government Faces GM Debate Criticism
The British Government continues to face criticism over its handling of the public consultation on GM crops. In a report issued on Thursday, the House of Commons Environment Select Committee argues that insufficient funds were allocated to the debate and too tight a deadline was set for conclusions. The report also argued that the debate failed to engage people ăbeyond a self-selecting group which already held views about GM". For more, follow this link Debate.

African Scientists Call for Increased Biotech Capacity
African researchers attending a major biotechnology conference have decried the lack of African capacity to conduct leading-edge biotechnological science. While many African problems, especially in agriculture, may be solved using biotech tools, too often scientists in the developed world with access to more modern facilities must be called in to do the real work. For many African researchers, that is just not good enough. Delegates also deplored the lack of accurate information available to both the general public and to African policymakers about genetic enhancement in food products. To read more, follow this link Africa.

California Voters May Decide on GM Crops Ban
Continuing a story first reported in October, voters in Mendocino County (CA) will have a chance to be the first in the nation to ban the raising of genetically engineered crops. Mendocino elections officials said that backers of a GM crop ban have submitted enough valid signatures to earn a spot on the March ballot. The announcement marked a victory for a handful of organic enthusiasts who started building support months ago, hoping to energize Northern California anti-biotech activists and to draw out opposition on a topic of worldwide debate. The Mendocino Organic Network proposed the ban as a way to protect the purity of the county's large and growing organic wine-grape industry from genetic contamination. The initiative is largely symbolic because no biotech crops are currently grown in Mendocino, nor are there commercial genetically modified versions of Mendocino's major crops, which include wine grapes and pears. For more on this, follow GM Ban.

ASTA Membership Database
To ensure that our membership database is up to date and accurate, please let us know of any changes to your company name, address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses, company ASTA representatives, etc. Details of changes can be mailed to the ASTA offices at 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 650, Alexandria, VA 22314-2875, faxed to 703-837-9365, or e-mailed to Peter Patterson, Director, Membership Services, at ppatterson@amseed.org.

Industry People
If you have any personnel changes, or other developments in your company, that you would like included in E-News, please send details to ppatterson@amseed.org.

Upcoming Events

December 10-12, 2003
ASTA 33rd Soybean Seed &
58th Corn & Sorghum Seed Conferences & Seed Expo 2003
Hyatt Regency Chicago
Chicago, IL
Tel: 1-888.890.7333
Pre-registration closed on November 7 but anyone wishing to attend can register on-site. For more about the events, please follow these links: Conferences and Seed Expo.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the registration brochure for the Corn & Sorghum and Soybean Seed Research Conference incorrectly lists the phone number for the Sheraton Chicago as (312) 464-8000. It should read (312) 464-1000. The Sheraton Chicago is our only overflow hotel for the conference where group rates for ASTA attendees have been established. The headquarter hotel is the Hyatt Regency Chicago and it is already filling up fast!

January 24-27, 2004
43rd Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference
Savannah, GA.
Tel: 1-888.890.7333
To register, please follow this link: Savannah

May 24-26, 2004
International Seed Federation Congress
Berlin, Germany
www.worldseed2004.com

June 27-30, 2004
121st ASTA Annual Convention
Wyndham Franklin Plaza
Philadelphia, PA.
Tel: 1-888.890.7333
Annual Convention

June 19-22, 2005
122nd ASTA Annual Convention
Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Tower
Seattle, WA

July 7-14, 2006
Joint ASTA-CSTA Annual Convention
Hyatt Regency Chicago
Chicago, IL