Jason Wesslund, area manager for the eastern half of Heritage FS in central Illinois, was one of five crop specialists recently named as the first recipients of the new GROWMARK Endure 4R Advocate award. Wesslund supervises four agronomy locations and four energy territories and also leads education and training of sustainable best management practices at Heritage FS. Wesslund uses the …
#Ethanol Markets Outlook from @Novozymes
Current market conditions affecting the ethanol industry today were a big topic of discussion at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Milwaukee this week. Jack Rogers, global marketing manager in charge of Novozymes bioenzymes portfolio, says one of the challenges the ethanol industry is facing today includes a big dip in commodity prices so oil, corn and ethanol prices have come …
Industry Pleased with #GMO Labeling Compromise
Leadership of the Senate Agriculture Committee Thursday announced a bipartisan compromise on GMO labeling legislation in advance of the pending implementation of a state law in Vermont. “Our marketplace – both consumers and producers – needs a national biotechnology standard to avoid chaos in interstate commerce,” said Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) about the compromise reached with Ranking …
Historic #ASTAannual with OSA is a Win-Win
The leadership of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and the Oregon Seed Association (OSA) were all smiles at the Gala Banquet concluding the trailblazing joint annual meeting of the two organizations this week in Portland, Oregon. “This worked out wonderfully,” said OSA president Greg Loberg of West Coast Beet Seed. “We wanted to enhance the partnerships between members of …
Senate Committee to Vote on Plant Genetics Treaty
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 …