Almost Time for ASTA CSS & Seed Expo

Cindy Zimmerman

Highs in the low 30s but no snow in the forecast in Chicago next week for the last CSS & Seed Expo 2022 to be held in the Windy City. The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is saying a bittersweet “Farewell Chicago” after 77 years of holding this event in Chicago, and specifically, 45 years at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, …

ASTA, Audio, Seed

CSS & Seed Expo 2022 Says Farewell Chicago

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is saying “Farewell Chicago” after CSS & Seed Expo 2022 is held this December 5-8. After 77 years of holding this event in Chicago, and specifically, 45 years at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, 2022 will be the last year that this historic event will be held in that location before it moves to the …

ASTA, Audio, Seed

ASTA Saying Farewell to Chicago

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is saying so long to Chicago once CSS & Seed Expo 2022 is held this December 5-8, after holding the event there every year since 1946. To honor this long legacy, and particularly companies that have been participating in the conference for many years, ASTA will host a special “Legacy Walk.” Companies are invited …

Agribusiness, ASTA, Seed

New ASTA Leadership Elected

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) elected its 2022-23 officer team during the association’s Leadership Summit this week in Indianapolis. Jim Schweigert, Gro Alliance, is the new chair for the organization, replacing Brad May of BASF. Both are pictured here during the “ASTA Night at the Ball Game” pre-summit event. A third-generation seedsman, Schweigert is the president of Gro Alliance, …

Agribusiness, ASTA, Seed

ASTA Honors Past, Present Industry Leaders

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) honored past and present seed industry leaders during its Leadership Summit this week in Indianapolis. In addition to the time-honored Lifetime Honorary Member and Distinguished Service Awards, this year’s slate of honors included the all-new Heritage Award and the Seed Science Foundation’s Excellence in Science Award. ASTA’s Lifetime Honorary Member Award was presented to …

ASTA, Seed

ASTA Chairs – Real and Virtual

Cindy Zimmerman

John Latham, Latham Seeds, will forever be known as the American Seed Trade Association‘s virtual chairman for the dubious honor of heading the organization during the year of COVID. “It was weird,” said Latham. “We did everything on Zoom, I did a lot of video. I actually had a green screen set up in my living room and I got …

ASTA, Audio, BASF, Seed

2021 #ASTACSS is a Wrap

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2021 American Seed Trade Association CSS & Seed Expo wrapped up Thursday with the announcement that the event will be held in a warmer location two years from now. “In 2023 we are moving from the cold bridges of Chicago to the sunshine and palm trees of Florida,” said ASTA Senior Director, Meetings & Services, Jennifer Crouse. The history …

ASTA, Audio, Seed

Carbon Markets Take Spotlight at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

The growing role of carbon management in agriculture is such an important topic right now that the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo devoted a special general session to it on Wednesday. Two panels, with an introductory keynote from Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), explored carbon management from the local to the global scale, and what is new in the carbon marketplace. …

ASTA, Audio, carbon, Seed

Basse Provides Annual Ag Economic Update at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

AgResource Company president Dan Basse was back in person with his annual update on the global agricultural market at the 2021 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo on Tuesday. Basse has presented at the event every year since 2012 and, as always, he packed a lot of information into an hour. Among the trends he noted for the coming year – …

ASTA, Audio, Corn, Seed, Soybean, Swine

Seed Industry Opportunities in Alternative Proteins

Cindy Zimmerman

Demand for plant-based proteins is skyrocketing and that means seed to grow the plants being used to make alternative proteins is in high demand. One of the first panels of the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo kicking off Monday explored the rapidly growing world of plant-based proteins and how the seed industry can help meet the increased consumer demand. Plant …

ASTA, Audio, plant protein, Seed, Soybean