A trail blazing joint convention of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) with the Oregon Seed Association this year will highlight the diverse seed industry of the Beaver State. “Oregon is known as the cool season grass capitol of the world,” says ASTA Chair Risa DeMasi of Grassland Oregon, who will be hosting this year’s meeting. “Over 90 percent of … Read More
ASTA-OSA Announce Keynote Speaker
The ASTAOregon Seed Association Annual Convention is coming up June 18-22. The event will be held in Portland, Oregon and will kick off with a keynote address from the Former Deputy Secretary of the USDA, Krysta Harden. Harden recently joined DuPont as the Vice President of Public Policy and Chief Sustainability Officer. She will be sharing lessons from her experiences … Read More
Nominate a Future Giant of the Seed Industry
Seed World and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Future Seed Executives are looking for those poised to make an impact on the seed industry. The Future Giant is an award given to an early-career individual who is passionate about the seed industry. The award will be given at ASTA’s Annual Convention, June 18-22 in Portland, Oregon. The winner will … Read More
ASTA Addressing Part 340 Biotech Concerns
American Seed Trade Association is currently working with the USDA on a revision of the biotechnology regulations, known as Part 340. Last week at the Commodity Classic in New Orleans ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne addressed the work they are doing to make sure key goals are included in this revision. “One of the key concerns that we have … Read More
AgReliant Names ASTA Officer as New CEO
Last week, American Seed Trade Association First Vice Chair Mark Herrmann was still North America Commercial Lead for Monsanto Vegetables, but this week he has a new job. Herrmann has been named president and CEO of AgReliant Genetics starting with the new year. He replaces former ASTA chairman Craig Newman, who celebrated his retirement from AgReliant at the ASTA CSS/Seed … Read More
Record Student Poster Presentations at #ASTACSS
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 last week. “We designed the entire Thursday program this year to be a one day event for student track…and it just … Read More
Still Time to Play LibertyLink #RealYield Game
‘Tis the season for giving, so why not give yourself the chance to win by playing the Bayer CropScience LibertyLink Real Yield Game – and donate to your local FFA chapter at the same time? It’s a win-win no matter how you look at it! “We’ve been really excited about the response we’ve gotten with the Real Yield game,” said … Read More
BASF Hits Home Run at #ASTACSS
BASF hit a home run at the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo last week by featuring “The Big Hurt” at their hospitality suite with the theme “Champions of Innovation and Collaboration.” Chicago White Sox designated hitter Frank Thomas, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame last year, is the only player in major league history to have … Read More
Plant Breeder Gets Career Award at #ASTACSS
A giant in the plant breeding and genetics world was honored by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and the National Council of Commercial Plant Breeders (NCCPB) during the CSS 2015 and Seed Expo last week in Chicago. Donn Cummings retired from Monsanto after 30 years as a corn plant breeder, spending the last eight years of his career developing … Read More
BASF Finds More Seed Treatments on Soybean Acres
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 … Read More