The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee will be voting today on one of the the American Seed Trade Association’s (ASTA) top legislative priorities – the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. ASTA is urging the Committee to vote in favor of the Treaty to move it forward to the full Senate for ratification. ASTA president and …
Soil Health Institute at #ASTAannual
The cover crops session at the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) annual meeting in Portland, Oregon heard about a new initiative focused on soil health – the Soil Health Institute. Dr. Wayne Honeycutt, who was Deputy Chief for Science and Technology for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, is president and CEO of the group that is working to protect and …
Supporting Future #Seed Researchers
The future of the seed industry is in good hands if the students who are attending this year’s American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) annual meeting are any indication. ASTA has a strong interest in encouraging young people pursuing careers in the industry in a number of ways, from programs that mentor students to supporting the efforts of the American Seed …
#ASTAannual Honors #Seed Industry Legend
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) instituted a new award at the 133rd annual meeting in Portland, Oregon this year, the Lifetime Industry Achievement Award, and the first honoree is Dr. Owen Newlin, retired from DuPont Pioneer. Presenting the award, ASTA Chair Risa DeMasi called Newlin a legend in the industry. “When someone spends a lifetime, more than 50 years, …
#ASTAannual Opening Reception Jam
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) got the ASTA-OSA Jam Band together for the opening reception, sponsored by Syngenta, at the 133rd annual convention in Portland, Oregon. The venue was historic Edgefield, built in 1911 as the county poor farm, now transformed into a neighborhood gathering spot with pubs, historic hotels, local artisans, and more. The band was put together …
#ASTAannual Gets Social
As the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) 133rd annual meeting kicked off in Portland, Oregon over the weekend, the Management Skills Committee focused on using social media to fight the spread of misinformation about agriculture and technology. Jim Schweigert, president of Wisconsin-based Gro Alliance, started off the social media session by presenting a montage of tweets and Facebook posts deriding …
Safe Food Coalition Urges Senate to Act
The Coalition for Safe Affordable Food (CFSAF) and leaders of America’s agricultural and food industries are sounding the alarm that Congress needs to act immediately to pass a bipartisan solution before Vermont’s mandatory on-package labeling law goes into effect July 1. As of today, there are only seven days left on the legislative calendar before the state law is implemented …
#Corn and #Soy Groups Back #RFS
Leaders for the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and American Soybean Association (ASA) were among the more than 120 who testified at an EPA field hearing in Kansas City in support of statutory volume obligations for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). NCGA president Chip Bowling of Maryland urged EPA to follow the law and finalize the 2017 conventional …
#Biofuel Supporters Rally for Higher Blends at Hearing
Over 120 biofuels advocates spoke out today at an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) field hearing on proposed 2017 targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and several high profile supporters spoke at a Fuels America press conference. Among the supporters was Nebraska governor Pete Ricketts. “A strong RFS means more jobs here at home, greater energy security, and a cleaner …
RFA Urges EPA to Get #RFS Back on Track
Over 100 biofuels supporters were in Kansas City today for a public hearing on the EPA’s proposed volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Chuck has been on the ground there all day along with farmers and representatives from agricultural and biofuels organizations. Up on the first panel was Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen who …