Distinguished Service and Lifetime Honorary Member awards were presented by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) during the closing banquet on Friday night. Honored for distinguished service to the seed industry were retired DuPont Pioneer quality supply technology manager Greg Lamka, and Betsy Peterson of the California Seed Association. Lamka, who was unable to attend to receive his award in … Read More
Iteris Displays ClearAg at #ASTAannual
One of the companies reaching out to seed industry professionals at the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) annual meeting last week in DC was Iteris, spotlighting ClearAg™, a decision support application for precision farming. “We take weather and we apply it to agriculture,” said Iteris sales engineer Chris Davis explaining ClearAg. “Typically the data you get from the weather service … Read More
ASTA Celebrates Great Annual Meeting in DC
American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) president and CEO Andy LaVigne is pleased with the turnout of industry members at the 132nd annual meeting in Washington DC this week and with the reception they have received on Capitol Hill. In his opening session welcome, LaVigne said he was especially thrilled to have Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack address the meeting despite his … Read More
ASTA Chair Ends Year on High Note
It’s been a busy year for John Schoenecker of HM Clause as chairman of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). One priority for the organization has been to develop a communications strategy and Schoenecker says they have moved forward with that plan in the past year developing a new video message that stresses the importance of seeds in our daily … Read More
Ag Secretary Kicks Off ASTA Annual Meeting
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stressed the importance of the seed industry to American agriculture and the nation as a whole during an address kicking off the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) annual meeting on Thursday in Washington DC. “Clearly the seed industry has been responsible for an extraordinary increase in productivity in American agriculture,” said Vilsack. “But more than that, … Read More
ASTA Annual Meeting in DC
The 132nd annual meeting of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is being held this week in Washington DC where members of the industry will be talking with lawmakers about issues important to them. ASTA president and CEO Andy LaVigne says it is a chance for them to raise awareness about the seed industry with elected officials. “We will be … Read More
ASTA Plays Part in Pollinator Plan
This week, the Task Force released its strategy, under the joint leadership of EPA and USDA and agriculture industry reaction to the plan has been very positive overall. Andy LaVigne with the American Seed Trade Association says the industry had a seat at the table in developing the strategy. “We were part of the original program pulled together at the … Read More
Seed Education Campaign Taking Root
Registration is now open for the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) 132nd Annual Convention which will be in Washington DC this year, June 17-20, where members will be sowing seeds of information inside the Beltway. “One of the focuses there is going to be on advocacy,” said ASTA CEO Andy LaVigne at Commodity Classic, who adds that it will be … Read More
Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference Set for January
The American Seed Trade Association is getting ready for its 54th Annual Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference. Event officials say this is ASTA’s fastest growing event, offering unrivaled networking and educational opportunities for the global vegetable and flower seed industry. Don’t miss the General Session January 26 focusing on Breeding for the Consumer. Popular presenter David Clark, Professor at the … Read More
BASF Compostable Polymers on Display at CSS
BASF has a biodegradable solution for plastics with ecovio® and ecoflex® technology. Ruth Watts, product marketing manager for BASF’s Biopolymers Group in North America, was at last week’s ASTA CSS & Seed Expo demonstrating the use of this type of packaging for agricultural applications. “This (ecovio) is new technology by BASF,” Watts explained, adding that ecoflex was the very first … Read More