Record Student Participation at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman December 11, 2015

The American Seed Trade Association has stepped up its efforts to “Seed the Future” with a new generation of seed industry professionals, which resulted in a record number of students participating in the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo this week.

“We designed the entire Thursday program this year to be a one day event for student track…and it just worked,” said ASTA Director of Meetings and Services Jennifer Crouse. “We offered a free lunch event for the first time inside the Seed Expo so it was a very interactive design.”

The poster presentations this year nearly doubled the previous record of 17 to total 30 students from universities all over the country. “We’ve seen a lot of students come away from the poster presentation experience and come again as attendees because they’re now professionals themselves,” said Crouse, who added that they are looking at ways to expand the poster program even more next year.

All students receive complimentary registration for ASTA meetings with a copy of their student ID. The ASTA Future Seed Executives (FuSE) also has the Campus Connections program, which allows juniors working towards a career in the seed industry to apply for travel expense grants to attend ASTA’s annual convention.

Listen to my interview with Jennifer here: Interview with Jennifer Crouse, ASTA

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ASTA, Audio, Education, Seed

Washington Post Columnist at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman December 11, 2015

Washington Post columnist and Cape Cod oyster farmer Tamar Haspel (@tamarhaspel) provided some good food for thought at the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo Thursday with a session that focused on science communications and influencing public opinion. In a lively discussion with attendees, Haspel stressed the need for the agriculture industry to be more effective when communicating about science by doing more listening and understanding.

“Science is complicated, especially when it comes to agriculture,” Haspel said in an interview with Gale Cunningham, farm director at WYXY radio in Champaign, Illinois. “The way we make decisions about science isn’t always fact-based. Human beings tend to be led by our emotions, our values, our cultural affiliations – and all of those things get in the way of our seeing science clearly.”

“The first step is understanding that everybody believes that their position is science based,” Haspel says. “People who hold views that are essentially the equivalent of flat earth believe that the evidence supports their opinion and people who disagree with them are looking at the wrong evidence.”

She offered the following tips to communicate more effectively about science:
1. Be convinced
2. Reconsider the word “bias”
3. Drop “anti-science” from your vocabulary
4. Vet your sources. Manage your media
5. Acknowledge both risks and benefits
6. Find the smartest person who disagrees with you, and listen
7. Understand and appeal to values
8. Reach across the aisle

Listen to Gale’s interview with Tamar here: WYXY interview with Tamar Haspel

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ASTA, Audio, Media

ASTA Chair Pleased With #ASTACSS 2015

Cindy Zimmerman December 11, 2015

Another successful ASTA CSS and Seed Expo comes to a close today and nearly 3000 attendees are returning home with a week full of industry contacts and information to digest before the holidays.

American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) chair Risa DeMasi of Grassland Oregon was thrilled with this year’s attendance and informative program that included a great session on her main passion – cover crops. “The panel was fantastic … to get all those different perspectives and just connecting the dots and get everybody talking about it,” she said.

Communications is also a passion for Risa, especially communicating the significance of the seed industry. “We have such a great story to tell,” she said. “Everything around you starts with a seed, that’s where everything begins.” DeMasi is also pleased with the increased media attention at the CSS/Seed Expo and thankful for BASF for sponsoring the media room to give those who attend a comfortable and functional working space.

With the conclusion of this event, Risa is looking forward to the 2016 ASTA annual meeting which will be held June 18-22 in her home state. “It will be in Portland, Oregon and we’re very excited about doing it in conjunction with the Oregon Seed Association … it’s just another opportunity for us to get together and talk about our shared values and how we can tell our story on a bigger stage,” she said.

Between now and June, ASTA members will be heading to Washington DC in the spring to “storm The Hill” again and tell their stories to members of Congress. DeMasi says ASTA’s 2015 legislative event set new records in terms of membership involvement and the number of meetings they had with legislators.

Listen to my interview with Risa here: Interview with ASTA Chair Risa DeMasi

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BASF Shares Seed Treatment Survey at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman December 11, 2015

According to a recent survey by BASF Ag Products, a growing number of farmers are utilizing seed treatments on their soybean acreage to protect their crop and maximize their return on investment. The survey of 250 growers with at least 1,000 corn and soybean acres found that 93% used a seed treatment or inoculant for soybeans in 2015.

“The seed treatments are a great way to set up their crop for the best chance for yield,” said BASF US Crop Seed Enhancement Manager Steve Bergschneider. At the same time, he noted that the survey found a need for continued seed treatment education at the grower level. “A lot of farmers don’t necessarily know what’s being used as their seed treatment so they’re relying on a retailer to make that decision for them,” Bergschneider said. “I think that’s an opportunity for us to educate them so they have a better understanding when they’re making that decision.”

Bergschneider says this will become even more important in the future with an increasing number of seed applied technologies heading to market. “BASF has a healthy pipeline of products coming down the line over the next four to five years, several being seed treatment products, from active ingredient products, to biologicals, to functional coatings,” he said.

In this interview, Bergschneider talks more about BASF’s seed solutions portfolio and the benefits for farmers: Interview with Steve Bergschneider, US Crop Seed Enhancement Manager, BASF

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ASTA, Audio, BASF, Crop Protection, Seed

Plant Breeder Scholarships at #ASTACSS

Cindy Zimmerman December 10, 2015

Three graduate students received scholarships during the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo this week from the National Council of Commercial Plant Breeders (NCCPB).

The organization presents the scholarships annually to outstanding graduate students in the field of basic, applied, or developmental research in genetics and plant breeding. The students recieve $2,500 for their education, plus a travel allowance to attend the CSS/Seed Expo.

This years winners, pictured here with NCCPB president Marcelo Queijo of Dow AgroSciences (left), are Ben Campbell, University of Minnesota; Ben Stewart Brown, University of Georgia; and Craig Beil, Colorado State University.

Learn more about these young men and why they are interested in pursuing their PhDs in plant breeding. Interviews with NCCPB scholarship winners

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ASTA, Audio, Education, Research, Seed

Happy Holidays from MGEX

Chuck Zimmerman December 10, 2015

It is holiday time. As in years past we love to share Christmas and other holiday greetings we receive.

The winner of being first in our inbox is the Minneapolis Grain Exchange.

Wishing you health and happiness this holiday season and prosperity in the New Year.

Uncategorized

#ASTACSS Highlights Seed Treatment

Cindy Zimmerman December 10, 2015

The application of seed treatment technologies in agriculture is such a growing and important segment of the industry that it was the very first session at the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo this week in Chicago. The session on Monday afternoon featured (pictured left to right) Terry Meyer with INCOTEC, moderator Jim Shearl with AgReliant Genetics, and Eda Reinot of BASF.

“We wanted to be able highlight important components of the seed treatment recipe, how they all come together and how the proper testing is in place before those products come to market,” said ASTA Seed Treatment and Environment Committee Chair Jeff Daniels with the DuPont Seed Enterprise.

The seed treatment products coming on the market are delivering more value than ever to growers and Daniels says it’s important that they be used correctly, which is why ASTA developed the seed treatment stewardship guide a few years ago. “We’ve gotten the chance to get this in front of many grower groups and other key stakeholders, and other been able to demonstrate to EPA and other regulatory groups that we’re taking a proactive approach to steward seed treatment products,” said Daniels.

Learn more in this interview: Interview with ASTA Committee Chair Jeff Daniels, DuPont Seed Treatment

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ASTA, Audio, Seed, Technology

AgGateway Launches New Logo for eBusiness Resources

Kelly Marshall December 10, 2015

A new logo is now available for member companies of AgGateway to use in promoting their eBusiness products and services. The logo, a checkmark proclaiming “Enabled by AgGateway eAgriculture Resources,” will allow companies to brand their business as being actively involved in promoting AgGateway’s industry-wide eAgriculture resources.

“We hope that use of this logo will encourage greater connectivity between trading partners – and that ultimately should mean greater efficiency and productivity within those businesses,” said Rana Kundu, Manager of the Innovation Group at YASH Technologies and 2016 Chair of AgGateway’s Allied Providers Council.

Companies can apply to use the logo on appropriate materials (e.g., products, websites, communications and marketing materials). The logo can only be used in connection with products and services that utilize AgGateway eBusiness resources, such as AgGateway standards, guidelines, the Ag Glossary, and/or the Agriculture Industry Identification System (AGIIS). Use of the logo does not represent an endorsement by AgGateway of the company using the logo or any of the company’s products or services. Companies must obtain permission by AgGateway before using the logo, including applying for its use, signing a waiver, and receiving acceptance of the company’s application.

The logo was created by volunteers serving in the Allied Providers Council. To learn about using the logo see the “Enabled by” page at www.AgGateway.org or contact Member Services at Member.Services@AgGateway.org or (+1) 866-251-8618.

Agribusiness

United Soybean Board – New Strategic Plan

Chuck Zimmerman December 10, 2015

The United Soybean Board is holding it’s board meeting in St. Louis, MO and held a press conference call this morning. You can listen in below if you’d like.

Kicking off the call was Jared Hagert, new Chairman of USB. He was joined by several other officers. They all answered questions posed by ag media representatives.

The USB Strategic Plan for 2017-2021 was a key topic of discussion. It included 9 main goals. You can see those goals here.

Core Value: The board, with honesty and integrity, collectively and individually, is committed to working within the letter and spirit of applicable law and regulation to achieve maximum value for each soybean farmer’s checkoff dollar.

Mission: Effectively invest and leverage soybean checkoff resources to maximize profit opportunities for U.S. soybean farmers.

Vision: U.S. soybeans will be the leader of the global oilseed industry. Strategy: Create and maintain partnerships that differentiate and increase the utilization of U.S. soy in a changing global market. – See more here.

You can listen to the press conference here: United Soybean Board Call

Ag Groups, Audio, Soybean, USB

BIVI Panel Shares PRRS Control Info

Jamie Johansen December 10, 2015

The principles of PRRS control are practiced throughout high-volume swine areas. During Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.’s (BIVI) session at the recent North American PRRS Symposium, Area Regional Control (ARC) coordinators took the stage to share how they apply the tools and their approach to coordinated disease control.

Dr. Erin Lowe, BIVI, is no stranger to utilizing ARC and crunching the numbers to help make it viable to producers on the farm. She moderated the panel of coordinators, helped share key elements of the diverse programs and how coordinators have adapted their programs to fit the needs of the producers in their region.

“What do producers get our of participating? One thing is the knowledge. The knowledge about what is going on around them. What are their neighbors doing? What’s working well for their neighbors or what’s not working well. It also squelches the rumor mill. Some projects have identified where new viruses have come from and how they have moved within the project.”

The panel said communication is the largest hurdle they have to climb. Producers do sometimes struggle with getting the information back to the project coordinator in a useful or easy way.

Listen to my complete interview with Dr. Lowe to learn about ARC funding and where she sees the programs going in the future.Interview with Dr. Erin Lowe, BIVI

View and download photos from the event here: 2015 BIVI PRRS Seminar Photo Album

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

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