The 2022-2023 National Cover Crop Survey Report was released today the challenges assumptions on the role of incentive payments in cover crop adoption. According to the survey, nearly half of the cover crop users participating in the survey reported receiving some sort of payment for cover crops in 2022, and almost 78% of cover crop non-users said incentive payments would …
Registration Open for ASTA Field Crop Seed Conference
The event formally known as CSS & Seed Expo has a whole new look and registration is now open for the debut in December. The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Field Crop Seed Convention will be held for the first time this December 5-8 at the new venue, the Hyatt Regency Orlando. Gathering over 2,000 attendees from 36 countries, the …
ASTA Honors Industry Leaders
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) honored seed industry ground breakers during its annual Leadership Summit this week in Sacramento. This year, ASTA’s Heritage Award was presented to two worthy individuals: Dick Crowder and Bill Latham. Crowder served as USDA Under Secretary of Agriculture for International Affairs and Commodity Programs from 1989 to 1992 before becoming the Senior Vice President …
BioLumic and Gro Alliance Bring UV Light Technology to Row Crops
BioLumic™ and Gro Alliance today announced a partnership to utilize ultraviolet (UV) light seed treatment technology for corn and soybean seed production. Based on 20 years of science and seven years of large-scale field validation, BioLumic’s proprietary light treatment technology regulates genetic expression in plants to improve yield, crop quality, root growth and plant resilience across specific cultivars. Since 2021, …
ASTA Releases 2023 Farm Bill Recommendations
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) recently released its policy recommendations for the 2023 Farm Bill. The recommendations fall under the following priority areas: 1) conservation; 2) agriculture research; 3) trade; 4) innovation; and 5) risk management. “Farm bills are meant to be a safety net for farmers,” said Janae Brady, ASTA Vice President for Government Affairs. “For us, the …
#ASTACSS Looks at Political Lay of the Land
The closing panel before the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) CSS & Seed Expo 2022 bid farewell to Chicago last week took a look at the political lay of the land with some industry experts offering insights into what the midterm elections mean for agriculture and the impacts of the new Farm Bill. The panel was moderated by ASTA Senior …
#ASTACSS Says Farewell Chicago and Hello Orlando
When the American Seed Trade Association moves its annual December meeting and expo to Orlando next year, it will be a whole new world for attendees, with not only a new location but a new name. “It’s going to be our ASTA Field Crop Seed Conference,” said ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne. “It really does cover all field crops, …
Seed Industry and Sustainability Demands at #ASTACSS
Wednesday’s general session at the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo on Wednesday focused on the opportunities and challenges for the Seed Industry and Sustainability Demands. Tristan Brown with the SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, Kerry Trombley of Marathon Petroleum, and Honeywell’s Kevin O’Neil discussed how governments and corporations are increasingly leading with climate-smart and sustainability initiatives and what …
ASTA Witness Testifies on Farm Bill Research Programs
*POST UPDATED WITH AUDIO* Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee heard testimony from Dr. Katy Martin Rainey, Associate Professor, Agronomy, Purdue University, on behalf of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) during a hearing Tuesday on “Farm Bill 2023: Research Programs.” Rainey spoke to the foundational role of agriculture research in the 2023 Farm Bill in ensuring a secure agricultural …
ZimmCast 702 – Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I’m Chuck Zimmerman. I’m in Chicago this week for the ASTA CSS & Seed Expo. This is the last year for the event to be held in Chicago as it moves to Orlando, FL in 2023. I can certainly live with that change! Nothing like Florida in the winter. I met one of the …