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
#ASTACSS Offers Communications Advice
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 … Read More
UC Davis Seed Biz 101 Held in Chicago
The UC Davis Seed Biotechnology Center completed another successful session of the Seed Business 101 course last week in Chicago, held in conjunction with the ASTA CSS 2015 conference. The participants represented a wide range of companies with regional, national and international reach. Seed Business 101 is a one week course designed to expose participants to the five functional areas … Read More
ASTA Officers Pleased with #ASTACSS
Officers of the American Seed Trade Association are very pleased with the outcome of the CSS 2015 and Seed Expo last week in Chicago, with great attendance and an informative program hitting on many key industry issues. American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) chair Risa DeMasi of Grassland Oregon was thrilled with how the big session on cover crops turned out. … Read More
NCCPB Awards Scholarships at #ASTACSS
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 … Read More
Seed Treatments Highlighted At #ASTACSS
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 … Read More
Albaugh Opens New Seed Treatment Tech Center
Memphis, Tennessee is the home of the new Albaugh, LLC seed treatment technology center. The center aims to improve the discovery and development of biological as well as traditional seed treatment technology. The new seed treatment technology center will expand Albaugh’s capabilities to evaluate and develop potential seed treatment product concepts and deliver innovative offers to growers. The new facility … Read More
Dan Basse Gives Economic Outlook at #ASTACSS
AgResource Company president Dan Basse presented his economic outlook for agriculture at the opening general session of the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo on Tuesday for the fifth year in a row. In his fact-filled 90 minute presentation, Basse talked about a “world awash in grain” with record global wheat and soybean crops and second largest corn crop. “We … Read More