The opening session of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) CSS and Seed Expo was highlighted by keynote speaker J.R. Simplot president and CEO Bill Whitacre. Since inventing the first viable frozen french fry the J.R. Simplot Company, has become one of North America’s largest, privately held food and agribusiness companies, with over $4.5 billion in annual sales. Simplot has …
More Farmers Adopting Variable Rate Seeding
Low corn prices are causing farmers to take a hard look at what new technologies will optimize inputs while minimizing costs. As farmers begin to plan for the 2015 season, SST Software is seeing an increased interest in variable rate planting recommendations. SST’s decision support technologies are used by ag service providers around the world to provide precision ag services …
Alta Seeds Expands Sorghum Product Line
Alta Seeds, the U.S. brand for exclusive genetics and forage and grain sorghum hybrids from Advanta, was present during NAFB’s Trade Talk in Kansas City, MO. Barry Lubbers is with Alta Seeds and shared more about the sorghum industry and the new products we will see from them in the coming year in an interview with Chuck. “In the sorghum …
American Seed Trade Officer at NAFB
The first vice chair of American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) was in Kansas City this month for a meeting of the Western Seed Association immediately before the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention. “It’s the only organization that’s been meeting here longer than NAFB,” said Risa DeMasi with Grassland Oregon, who stuck around for another day to do some interviews …
ASTA CSS 2014 and Seed Expo Coming Up
I had a chance to catch up with American Seed Trade Association president and CEO Andy LaVigne at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention last week and talk about the upcoming CSS 2014 & Seed Expo coming up just around the corner. The event, being held December 8-12 in Chicago, is America’s largest seed industry conference. Over 2,600 attendees …
Seed Trade Expo Redesigned
This year’s American Seed Trade Association’s CSS 2014 & Seed Expo has been redesigned to focus on the most relevant and cutting-edge issues facing the seed industry. Organizers are inviting potential attendees to take a look at the schedule and see the topics for the Dec. 8-12 event in Chicago, Illinois, the largest seed industry conference in the country. Keynote …
EPA Findings on Neonicotinoid Seed Treatments
The EPA released an analysis of the benefits of neonicotinoid seed treatments for insect control in soybeans. Neonicotinoid pesticides are a class of insecticides widely used on U.S. crops that EPA is reviewing with particular emphasis for their impact on pollinators. The analysis concluded that there is little or no increase in soybean yields using most neonicotinoid seed treatments when …
Verdeisan Adds Sales Expertise
Verdesian Life Sciences has increased its sales staff with the hiring of four sales experts: Bob Bischoff, John Henize, Brad Meckle and Mark Seipel who will join Verdesian as regional sales managers. The new team members will help to drive sales growth and support relationships with key customers in the plant nutrition, seed treatment and inoculants product categories. “As we …
Wyffels Hybrids’ Growth Spurs Organizational Changes
Starting the season with its third-largest sales increase in company history, Wyffels Hybrids announced key changes to its sales and marketing department, including opening a new vice president of sales and marketing position. “Our business is growing and we need to be able to continue to service our customers with the quality and expediency they have come to expect,” said …
Bayer Synergy Between Biologics and Vegetables
The new Bayer CropScience $80 million dollar integrated research and development facility is a great marriage between the company’s biologics and vegetable seeds businesses. The courtship started when Bayer acquired AgraQuest in 2012 and Mike Millie was part of that acquisition. “Started with AgraQuest back in 2004,” said Millie. When Bayer came in, “at that point we were already out …