Agri-Pulse Open Mic with ASTA CEO Andy LaVigne

John Davis

Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Andy LaVigne, CEO of American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). The seed industry is among many groups hoping Washington will approve legislation to establish a national voluntary GMO labeling standard. In this in-depth interview, Andy LaVigne discusses industry implications if Congress fails to develop national guidelines to override state statutes and how the Trans-Pacific Partnership …

Ag Groups, Agri-Pulse, ASTA, Audio, GMO

ZimmCast on AgVocating with Bayer CropScience

Cindy Zimmerman

Welcome to ZimmCast number 495! Wow, just five more until we hit the big 5-00! This week’s ZimmCast is from last week’s American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) CSS 2015 and Seed Expo and it’s about AgVocating, a word that has become a part of the agricultural dictionary in the past couple of years and has a pretty obvious meaning combining …

Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Bayer, ZimmCast

ASTA FuSE Blazing New Trails

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Seed Trade Association’s Future Seed Executives (FuSE) subcommittee is blazing new trails for 2016. FuSE chair Sarah Neuharth with DuPont Pioneer says the goal of the committee is to educate and support seed industry professionals with fewer than seven years of seed industry experience. “I think a lot of people don’t understand or recognize that FuSE can be …

Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Education, Seed

Outstanding Career Award at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

A giant in the plant breeding and genetics world was honored by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and the National Council of Commercial Plant Breeders (NCCPB) during the CSS 2015 and Seed Expo last week in Chicago. Donn Cummings retired from Monsanto after 30 years as a corn plant breeder, spending the last eight years of his career developing …

ASTA, Corn, Seed

#ASTACSS is Major League for @BASFAgProducts

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF hit a home run at the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo last week by featuring “The Big Hurt” at their hospitality suite with the theme “Champions of Innovation and Collaboration.” Chicago White Sox designated hitter Frank Thomas, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame last year, is the only player in major league history to have …

ASTA, Audio, BASF, Seed

Communications Key Focus at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

Communications was a key focus at the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo last week, from within the industry to key stakeholders to lawmakers to the general public. American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) First Vice Chair Mark Herrmann of Monsanto says communications will continue to be a priority for the organization moving into 2016. “Some of the key focus is …

ASTA, Audio, Seed

#ASTACSS Features Wheat Improvement Panel

Taylor Truckey

During the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo this week, attendees were invited to a panel titled, “Value Chain Engagement in Wheat Improvement” that brought together representatives from across the wheat value chain to discuss needed innovation in the wheat industry. Justin Gilpin, CEO of the Kansas Wheat Commission, focused on the benefit of public/private partnerships as well as work the …

ASTA, Audio, Wheat

Record Student Participation at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Seed Trade Association has stepped up its efforts to “Seed the Future” with a new generation of seed industry professionals, which resulted in a record number of students participating in the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo this week. “We designed the entire Thursday program this year to be a one day event for student track…and it just …

ASTA, Audio, Education, Seed

Washington Post Columnist at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

Washington Post columnist and Cape Cod oyster farmer Tamar Haspel (@tamarhaspel) provided some good food for thought at the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo Thursday with a session that focused on science communications and influencing public opinion. In a lively discussion with attendees, Haspel stressed the need for the agriculture industry to be more effective when communicating about science …

ASTA, Audio, Media

ASTA Chair Pleased With #ASTACSS 2015

Cindy Zimmerman

Another successful ASTA CSS and Seed Expo comes to a close today and nearly 3000 attendees are returning home with a week full of industry contacts and information to digest before the holidays. American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) chair Risa DeMasi of Grassland Oregon was thrilled with this year’s attendance and informative program that included a great session on her …

Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Seed