See the Future of Plant Breeding from #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

Gene editing could be as revolutionary for plant breeders as cut and paste editing has been for the print industry. The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) held a press conference at the recent CSS & Seed Expo in Chicago to talk about new innovations in the industry that have great potential. We already posted the audio from that press conference …

ASTA, Video

Chicago School Growing Future Ag Careers

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Seed Trade Association Future Seed Executives (FuSE) had the opportunity to hear about an agricultural high school right in Chicago that is growing the next generation for the industry. The Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (CHSAS) is located just about a half hour south of the Hyatt Regency where the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo is held …

ASTA, Audio, Education

Bayer Partners with ASTA for Communications

Cindy Zimmerman

Bayer’s Crop Science division announced a new partnership with the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) at last week’s ASTA CSS and Seed Expo in Chicago. David Hollinrake, VP Marketing for North America, says the partnership involves Bayer sponsoring the ASTA Communications Committee and sharing Bayer’s successful AgVocate initiative research and materials. “It’s really about engaging farmers and engaging all agriculturalists …

ASTA, Audio, Bayer

White is the New Black from @Clariant

Cindy Zimmerman

Clariant used the ASTA CSS 2016 & Seed Expo to unveil their new Agrocer White 006 Dispersion pigment. As a leader in specialty chemicals, Clariant has created this new color using titanium dioxide to enhance the coverage of seeds and to be compatible with seed treatment pesticide formulations. The new addition makes the seventh important colorants for seed coatings offered …

ASTA, Audio, Seed

Review of #ASTACSS from President LaVigne

Kelly Marshall

President and CEO of ASTA, Andy LaVigne, breathed a big sigh of relief at the success of this year’s conference. After planning and scheduling the largest seed conference of it’s kind in the world, all you can do is hope people show up– and show up they did. “We had to bring in tables and chairs,” LaVigne told Cindy Zimmerman. …

ASTA, Audio, Seed

BASF’s Future #Seed Giant at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

Justin Clark is a Technical Marketing Manager for BASF Ag Products who was named Future Giant of the Seed Industry by Seed World this year. At the ASTA CSS and Seed Expo, we talked with Clark about BASF’s recent agreement with FMC for in-furrow seed protection. “We think it’s a unique technology that addresses a grower need,” said Clark. “As …

ASTA, Audio, BASF, Seed

Chromatin Talks #Sorghum at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

One of the S’s in ASTA CSS stands for sorghum and one of the sponsors for the American Seed Trade Association 71st Corn & Sorghum Seed Research Conference 46th Soybean Seed Research Conference and Seed Expo is a company that’s all about sorghum. “Chromatin is a sorghum-focused company – we only work in sorghum,” said Charles Miller, Chromatin vice president …

ASTA, Audio, sorghum

ASTA Chair Optimistic for 2017 at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

AgReliant Genetics president and CEO Mark Herrmann took over as chairman of the American Seed Trade Association this past summer at the annual meeting and we had the chance to sit down and talk about priorities for the organization in 2017 during the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo this week. “Unnecessary regulation in the seed business can either completely stall …

ASTA, Audio, Seed

Beck’s & Benson Hill Partner for Corn Genetics

Kelly Marshall

Beck’s Hybrids is one of the largest retail seed companies in North America, and now thanks to a partnership with agriculture technology company Benson Hill Biosystems, they’ll be able to accelerate their corn breeding program in the future.  Using Benson Hill’s CropOS cognitive platform, Beck’s will gain yet another tool to enhance the ability to offer farmers improved traits.  The …

Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Biotech

BASF Proud to Support FFA at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF Ag Products has been a proud sponsor of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) for many years now, particularly the annual CSS and Seed Expo. This year at BASF used its presence at the event to raise money for the FFA, a cause which corn and bean communications specialist Colby Mower is very passionate about. “We’re committed to the …

ASTA, Audio, BASF