A diverse group of seed-industry leaders, representing companies of all sizes, sectors and geographies, are gathered in Washington, D.C. for the American Seed Trade Association’s (ASTA) annual Storm the Hill legislative fly-in, April 2-3. Topping the list of 2019 legislative priorities are innovation, trade and agriculture research funding. “Virtually everything in life starts with a seed, and so many things …
Peanut Growers Urged to Use Certified Seed
Heading into the 2019 growing season, peanut growers are being urged to use certified seed. Tyron Spearman has the story. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
ASTA Conference Coming February 1-5
Southeast producers are invited to attend the American Seed Trade Association’s (ASTA) 2019 Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference, February 1-5 in Orlando, Florida. The global conference is expected to bring together some 1,000 seed industry leaders from over 35 countries, and will feature a line-up of educational sessions covering topics from trade and phytosanitary issues, to industry trends and innovation. …
Florida Foundation Seed Producers Affected by Hurricane
In the months since Hurricane Michael hit the panhandle of Florida, cleanup continues in many areas. As we know, the storm was so devastating that it not only wiped out a lot of farmers’ 2018 crop, but it also went after future crops. Some folks may be familiar with the Florida Foundation Seed Producers (FFSP), the place many farmers get seeds …
ASTA Conference Coming to Orlando
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) invites folks to attend the 2019 Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference, February 1-5 in Orlando at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. This global conference will bring together approximately 1,000 seed industry leaders from over 35 countries, thus making it ASTA’s fastest-growing event. The 2019 conference will feature educational sessions that cover topics ranging from …
Syngenta Opening Chicago Seeds Office
ChemChina owned Syngenta will establish a major Global and North America Seeds office in the western suburbs of Chicago. Approximately 50 Syngenta Seeds business managers and employees will relocate from other U.S. locations beginning in the first half of 2019. Syngenta’s David Hollinrake says the new location “places us closer to the majority of our customers, as well as to …
ASTA Requests Exemptions for Seeds on Proposed Chinese Tariffs List
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is requesting that seeds for sowing be exempted from the proposed list of supplemental retaliatory tariffs on China under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The request was made in a formal letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. “While we support the administration’s push for stronger intellectual property protection and enforcement globally, at …
ASTA Outlines Priorities for Final Farm Bill
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) urges members of the Farm Bill Conference Committee to include several key provisions important to the seed industry within the final bill. In a recent letter to conferees, ASTA highlighted the following priorities within the Conservation, Trade, Research, Horticulture and Crop Insurance titles: Conservation: ASTA is concerned with the proposal in the House version …
Bayer/Monsanto Merger Clears All Hurdles
It has taken months of divesting, negotiating and waiting, but Bayer and Monsanto will complete their merger. An agweb.com article notes German-based Bayer can now officially begin integrating Monsanto after Bayer divested itself of certain Crop Science businesses in a sale to BASF. The name Monsanto is expected to officially disappear in the future. However, familiar brand names like Dekalb, …
BASF Closes Acquisition of Bayer’s Vegetable Seeds Business
BASF announced this week it has closed the acquisition of Bayer’s global vegetable seeds business. The transaction, BASF says in a news release, “adds a well-recognized brand with a very successful business track record to BASF’s portfolio.” The acquired vegetable seeds business comprises 24 crops and about 2,600 varieties. It also includes a research and development operation, and breeding systems …