The American Seed Trade Association holds a number of general sessions during its annual convention in addition to committee meetings. One of these sessions focused on the issues driving politics in the state and federal arenas. Participating were (l-r) Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey who is currently President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture; U.S. Department …
BASF Father and Son Great Growers
BASF Great Grower Kip Tom of Indiana and his son Kyle were at the recent BASF Agricultural Solutions Media Summit, so I had the opportunity to get an update on their crops and find out more about them. “We’re dry, there’s no question about it,” Kip told me. That was two weeks ago and they are still dry. In fact, …
NRCS Chief David White Receives ASTA DSA
The American Seed Trade Association presented their Distinguished Service Award this morning to NRCS Chief David White, pictured on right with ASTA Chairman Mike Gumina. Mike says the award recognizes people who have gone above and beyond or made some special contribution to the industry. He says that in the area of conservation ASTA has had very good success. Chief …
First The Seed Foundation Report
Do you know about the First The Seed Foundation? Here’s what it’s about. First the Seed Foundation (FTSF) is a not-for-profit organization established in 2008 by the American Seed Trade Association, one of the oldest trade associations in America, to inform today’s consumers and tomorrow’s workforce about the importance of the seed industry. At the American Seed Trade Association convention …
Senate Passes Farm Bill
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) calls it not the best possible bill, but “the best bill possible” – the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012 passed the Senate this afternoon by a vote of 64 to 35. Both Roberts and Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) stressed the bi-partisan cooperation involved in getting the bill crafted and passed. …
Chairman’s Outlook for ASTA Convention
American Seed Trade Association Chairman, Mike Gumina, Pioneer Hi-Bred, welcomed everyone to this morning’s general session at the ASTA convention. I visited with him to find out to learn more about ASTA and what to expect at this year’s meeting. Mike says ASTA is a broad based organization representing over 700 companies. “We like to say everything from alfalfa to …
Ag Secretary Addresses ASTA
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, addressed the American Seed Trade Association this morning during their 129th Annual Convention. I’ll have audio of his remarks posted here shortly. The theme of the start of Sec. Vilsack’s comments is “you can’t have it without seed,” which ties right in with the theme of the convention, First-the Seed. He used this line …
ASTA Members Hear from House Ag Leaders
Members of the American Seed Trade Association were on Capitol Hill today getting updates on farm legislation from Congressional leaders, including House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN). Chuck was there with them today during a busy day for progress on the 2012 Farm Bill, with the Senate whipping through amendments at lightning speed. …
New Mississippi River Basin Conservation Projects
Today Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that $8.4 million in financial assistance is available to support 23 new partnership projects in several Mississippi River Basin states under USDA’s Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI). On the phone with reporters to talk about it this morning was NRCS Chief David White, seen here talking with participants in the recent Conservation …
BASF Plant Health Alive and Well in Canada
There were a good number of agricultural journalists from Canada at the recent BASF Agricultural Solutions Media Summit in Chicago, which highlighted both the differences and the similarities in the crop protection market compared to the U.S. One of the breakout panels for Canadian agriculture journalists at the event featured Canadian farmer Wayne Black, director of the Ontario Federation of …