A N A LY T I C A L S TA N D A R D S P R O G R A M

S Q T S O Y B E A N Q U A L I T Y T R A I T S

Sign up for one or all of the FREEproficiency testing series:

■ Wet Chemistry Soybean SeriesRequired Tests: Moisture, nitrogen, oil, & fatty acids

■ Wet Chemistry Soybean Meal SeriesRequired Tests: Moisture, nitrogen, oil, & fatty acids

■ NIR Soybean SeriesRequired Tests: Moisture, nitrogen, oil, fatty acids, & crude fiber

■ NIR Soybean Meal SeriesRequired Tests: Moisture, nitrogen, oil, fatty acids, & crude fiber

What you can expect from this FREE program■ (4) fresh 300g whole soybean or (4) 175g soybean samples each quarter

■ Quarterly reports generated using internationally approved statistical guidelines

The SQT program is sponsored by the United Soybean Board as part ofthe Better Bean Initiative (BBI) and is FREE to all participants in theU.S. The BBI program was launched to accelerate the development andavailability of soybean varieties with enhanced compositional traits.

INQUIRIES TO:Amy L. Johnson, SQT Project ManagerP.O. Box 17190, Urbana, IL 61803-7190 USAPhone: +1 217-693-4820Fax: +1 217-693-4864Email: amyj@aocs.org

Enroll now at www.SoybeanQualityTraits.org

SQT-1p4C-SdWrld2011_Layout 1 8/18/11 10:59 AM Page 1

october 2011 1

Departments02 where on the web24 cross pollination26 sTraTegy (new department)28 world status (new department)30 regulatory roundup32 industry news40 giant views

your focus is ...ManageMent/regulatorymaneuvering through the regulatory maze 4Harmonizing regulations for Better trade 10the native seed industry: not for the faint-Hearted 16organic seed industry at a crossroads 20cross pollination 24

Foragesthe native seed industry: not for the faint-Hearted 16cross pollination 24

international tradeHarmonizing regulations for Better trade 10cross pollination 24regulatory roundup 30

Marketingcross pollination 24strateGy 26regulatory roundup 30

ocT11

04

10

1620

04 Maneuvering through the regulatory Maze the recent increase of new traits to feed a growing population is putting unrelenting pressure on both the regulatory system and seed industry—what progress is being made?

10 harMonizing regulations For Better trade Work is being done to ensure phytosanitary regulations around the world are clear and in sync.

16 the native seed industry: not For the Faint-hearted this niche market had a profitable and relatively stable year, but its future is in question as the government dishes out a new federal budget and farm bill.

20 organic seed industry at a crossroads increased organic seed production in the united states may require changes to national organic certification regulations.

2 Seed World

Online resOurces fOr the seed industry

Hear from some of the bright lights in the seed industry. New Giant Views of the Industry video clips on topics ranging from consolidation to the forage industry have now been posted.

“Do you protect yourself from consolidation or do you position yourself to profit from consolidation?”

—Tray Thomas of Context Network

Find this clip and others at seedWOrld.cOm.

Buy local: there’s An App for thatA new application for iPhone or iPod Touch called Harvest to Hand allows consumers to locate and map out vendors of locally harvested foods and products, as well as agritourism events, food festivals and more throughout the United States. Harvest to Hand app users can share their favorites and vendors can register their events or product information. It’s an excellent way to bridge the gap between consumers and growers/marketers of local agriculture.

hArvesttOhAnd.cOm

corn Growers on the GoAll of the information, news and updates available on the National Corn Growers Association website are now available on-the-go. The new, smartphone-friendly mobile version of the NCGA website allows visitors to access information on the main site in a faster, more streamlined manner better suited to current cell-phone technology. “Research shows that, like the majority of Americans, farmers are accessing the Internet through a Smartphone increasingly frequently,” says Brandon Hunnicutt of NCGA.

mOBile.ncGA.cOm

october 2011

PuBlished By issues ink www.issuesink.com

usa p.o. Box 360 1395-a s. columbia road Grand forks, nD 58201

PuBlisher shawn Brook sbrook@issuesink.com

editor Julie Mcnabb jmcnabb@issuesink.com

staFF Writers lindsay hoffman, Julienne isaacs, shannon schindle

Marketing craig armstrong carmstrong@issuesink.com

Paige collette pcollette@issuesink.com

Jeff hamilton jhamilton@issuesink.com

hiten shah hshah@issuesink.com

creative Wade clisby, Jeff hiebert, lesley nakonechny, ashley somerville

Production erica Marks

contriButors angela lovell, kari Belanger, andrea geary, Marc cool, ric dunkle

editorial Board Julie douglas, american seed trade association

Wayne gale, stokes seeds

r.B. halaby, agricapital

Betty Jones-Bliss, purdue university

Peter Marks, Germain’s technology Group – n.a.

Bill romp, Becker underwood

John schoenecker, Harris moran seed co.

Jim schweigert, Groalliance

karen Withers, pennington seed

ron Wulfkuhle, GreenLeaf Genetics

suBscriPtions seed World is published six times a year. north american subscription rates are: one year usD $45.00, two years usD $80.00. international: one year usD $95.00.

please recycle where facilities exist.

no part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. printed in canada.

Keep up with all the seed industry events at seedQuest.com

Eliminate environmental effects.

Eurofins STA Laboratories can help you reduce costs by ensuring you select the right plants to meet your objectives. We have the customer service, expertise and experience to make your molecular decision-making effortless. We offer:

• Staffofexperiencedandknowledgeablescientists• Hands-onexperiencewithanextensivelistofplantspecies• State-of-the-arthardwareandsoftwareforDNAmolecularanalysis• MultipletypesofPCR-basedDNAmarkersavailable• Specificprojecttypes: –TraitLinkedMarkers(TLM) –MarkerAssistedBackcross(MAB) –MarkerAssistedSelection(MAS) –Database/fingerprinting(DB) –TraitMappingandQTLanalyses(QTL) –Consulting –HybridPurityandVarietalIdentification(HP&VarID)

Choose reliability.

www.stalabs.com

Contact Eurofins STA Laboratories at:1821 Vista View DriveLongmont, CO 80504Phone: (303) 651-6417Fax: (303) 772-4003Email: info@stalabs.comwww.stalabs.com

We’ll give you the molecular advantage you need to be successful.

in orDer for the exciting new generation crops we’ve all been hearing about to reach the farm, they must first pass through the regulatory process, which, especially for the approval of

new biotech traits, has become even more complicated in the United States over the past few years.

“Not much has changed since 2009; we are in a pretty similar place in terms of the amount of time it takes to bring a product through the regulatory process,” says Andy LaVigne, president and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association, which has provided the voice for the seed industry in the regula-tory process debate over the last few years.

On average it takes about two to three years to get a prod-uct through the approvals process, says LaVigne, but recent legal challenges to certain biotech products cause the regulatory pro-cess to get bogged down. “[United States Agriculture Secretary] Tom Vilsack mentioned changing Part 340 regulations, which essentially governs the deregulation of biotech products,” explains LaVigne. “Our hope is that the administration recognizes the constraints on the system and makes it a priority to modify the system to avoid the legal matters, as well as improve efficiencies.”

Public PerceptionIt’s not the job of regulatory agencies in the United States to “sell” the products they approve to the general public, but it is their responsibility to tell a compelling story about why they have approved them. If they fail to do that, as recent litigations in the United States around Roundup Ready alfalfa and sugar beets has shown, there will be a backlash of public opinion, particularly around new biotech traits.“I believe that public per-ception would be better informed by knowing how regulators use a science-based approach to understand and look at products,” says Philip Miller, global regulatory lead for Monsanto.

However, as weather extremes such as floods and droughts take a toll on global crop yields, they also inflate the weekly grocery bill. That, in turn, starts to influence public opinion about things like biotechnology, which is focusing on a new generation of traits to make tomorrow’s crops more drought-tolerant or water efficient.

These and other products are likely to be in demand, not just for growers contending with water shortages and other chal-lenges, but also consumers, whose perceptions are beginning to change as the economic impacts of these problems are felt. There is also a creeping recognition that these new technolo-

Maneuvering through the regulatory MazeThe u.s. regulatory system remains the gold standard, but the recent drive to introduce new, genetically enhanced crops to feed a growing population is putting unrelenting pressure on both the regulatory system and the seed industry.

4 seeD WorLD

gies are quite different from the first generation of genetically modified products, which focused on resistance to herbicides or insects.

“In terms of something like drought tolerance, I think there is real public awareness, and I think we will see this in our wal-lets when we go to the grocery store,” says Andrew Reed, head of regulatory affairs at BASF. “Crops that have better tolerance to medium-level stress, and can still yield well, will resonate with the general public. Traits like that are a bit closer to the consumer than herbicide tolerance.”

Increasingly ComplexAlthough the courts have upheld the United States Department of Agriculture’s decision to deregulate certain biotech crops, the legal battles have taken a toll on its resources. “There has been a series of litigations by critics of biotech questioning the decisions to approve biotech crops which have consumed the USDA’s regulatory agencies’ resources,” says Miller. “That has been one of the factors that has led to the slowing down of the approval process in the United States.”

Another factor lengthening approval timelines is a signifi-cant increase in new products being submitted by more compa-nies. “One of the things that has been critical has been making sure that the USDA has the resourcing it needs to handle that growth in innovation that will benefit the U.S. grower,” he says.

LaVigne says some additional resources have been allo-cated to the biotechnology regulatory system over the past couple of years, but given the current economic situation, he believes resources will continue to be tight for all programs for a while yet.

As products and technologies become more complex, requirements are becoming more rigorous. “There are more link-ages between traits, there’s more stacking of traits,” says Thomas Klevorn of Context Network. “When a company stacks two pes-ticidally-active genes in a plant, there’s the potential for a new approval process. It’s like a new product mix in a formulation, so the EPA gets involved. That could make the approval process more complicated as well.”

One of the big questions facing the industry, says Klevorn, is whether regulatory agencies may begin, as part of insect resist-ance strategies, to move towards having companies demonstrate whether one gene is as good, or better, than another gene for

Empowering you to differentiate, profit & thrive

GreenLeaf Genetics LLC is proud to provide high-performing Agrisure® traits and diverse corn and soybean germplasm to the independent seed company market.

With GreenLeaf, you’ll have:

• A large up-to-date selection of plant genetics

• Access to new products and technology as soon as they’re available

• The latest traits from Syngenta

• Advice and friendly service from experts you trust

Count on GreenLeaf for the newest, the most advanced – the best for your customers.

© Copyright 2010 GreenLeaf Genetics LLC, Omaha, NE, 68130. Agrisure®, GreenLeaf™, the GreenLeaf logo, Alliance Frame™, Purpose Icon™, and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.

888.933.3601 • www.greenleafgenetics.com

6 Seed World

Leaders in the design and manufactureof conveying and packaging automationsystems and equipment.

Electronic Bagging Scales. Net and grossweigh scales. Refuge-in-a-bag systems and Seed Calc enabled electronics.

Automated Bag Filling. Hang and fillopen-mouth paper or poly-woven bags.The system is easily adjustable toaccommodate most sizes.

Robotic Palletizing Systems. Unmatchedfor reliability and consistent throughout.Experience and flexibility, engineered tomeet your needs, now and for the future.

Experience, Engineering and Equipment in One Neat Package.

AUTOMATED BAGGINGFOR THE SEED INDUSTRY

www.taylorproducts.com / Toll Free 888.882.9567Phone 620.421.5550 / Fax 620.421.55312205 Jothi Ave., Parsons, Kansas 67357

ELECTRONICBAGGINGSCALES

AUTOMATEDBAG FILLINGSYSTEMS

ROBOTICPALLETIZINGSYSTEMS

11-8929 MAGad355-SW_Layout 1 9/12/11 2:48 PM Page 1

control of an insect. “Currently we don’t have to do that specifi-cally in the United States—the customer ultimately decides if it works or not,” says Klevorn.

He believes that in some instances, such as traits for insect control, there may be a move towards requiring proof that what-ever genes are put into the market will dramatically reduce the opportunity for insect resistance to occur. “It will never be 100 percent guaranteed to prevent insect resistance,” says Klevorn. “Companies may have to get a lot closer to 100 percent efficacy in insect resistance management than they may have had to in the past to get their insect resistance products commercialized.”

Expanding the ToolboxThe toolbox available to researchers and scientists also has a huge effect on the regulatory system. “The current technological environment influences the regulatory system,” says LaVigne. “To ensure that only safe products hit the marketplace, the regu-latory environment has to change and evolve along with the industry’s ever-advancing technologies used to improve breeding and crop production techniques.”

However, technology is constantly providing new tech-niques that are bringing genetic modification of plants closer to more conventional plant breeding techniques. “Over the past few years there has been a slow transition from working with foreign genes—genes that come from widely different organ-isms like bacteria—to identifying plant genes that are involved in key traits like drought tolerance and making smaller, subtler changes to these genes that are already in the plant, or bringing in a gene from a closely related species,” says Malcolm Devine of Crookedholm Partners Inc. “These fine-tuning techniques,

although they involve going in and making a very small and precise genetic modification, will be regarded more as forms of mutation breeding and not GM.”

Devine believes that U.S. regulatory authorities will eventu-ally move towards treating plants developed using these tech-niques in the same way as mutation breeding, which is essentially free of regulation. “What I am saying is that over time a new toolbox has been developed which may open the door to smaller and more precise genetic modifications that could result in enhancing certain traits, but without the very high regulatory burden that comes with transgenic GM as we know it,” he says.

Communication is KeyThe industry and regulatory bodies have recognized that eve-ryone has to work together to make products available faster to growers. ASTA spends a substantial amount of time meeting with the USDA, FDA and Congress, says LaVigne.

“We have a great deal of dialogue with the regulatory com-munity,” he explains. “We continue to see progress in this area because the various agencies and people in these positions have a better understanding of the technologies at work, and a lot more information is easily accessible, making it easier for them to research the industry and different issues.”

It’s a continual work in progress. “Our member companies have done a great job acting as ambassadors to help introduce regulators to all aspects of seed research, production and distri-bution and the intricacies involved by opening up their facilities for tours, field days and demonstrations,” says LaVigne.

The U.S. regulatory system will remain the gold standard for other regulatory organizations, as it is based strongly on science

8 Seed World

AGRA1211 West Water StreetMerrill, Wisconsin 54452 - USA715-536-9584 phone715-536-9587 faxinfo@agraind.com

durability by design.TM

EAR CORN DRYERSAGRA is specialized in the seed industry and our ear corn dryers are the best in the business. With three types to choose from we can design and build an ear corn dryer to meet your drying requirements.

Whether you need a foundation dryer or a production dryer, we can High CFM per bushel ratio supply you with the complete design, fabrication and erection.AGRA also offers fi ll conveyors, letdown systems, electrical installation, controls and dryer monitoring.

Dryer Types:• Single Pass Reversing• Double Pass Reversing• Our Patented ® AGRA Combination Dryer

Standard Features:• Heavy gauge “bolt-together” wall panels• Self cleaning and fully sealed bin interiors prevent hung-ups• Perforated fl ashing bin fl oors eliminate “dead air pockets”• Minimum pressure drop through air pleums and doorways• Unique heavy angle iron corners • Extremely low turn around rate• Maxon Gas trains

Dryer Options:• Monitoring control packages• Door automation packages• Filling and unloading conveyors• Ear corn letdown devices• Custom bin wall fi ll-line painting

Install a dryer that takes second place to no other corn ear dryer in the industry today! Contact AGRA and let us show you how effi cient, economical and dependable our dryers can be.

For information on scheduling the erection of your dryeror other seed plant related needs, please call AGRAor visit our website!

WWW.AGRAIND.COM

D

ESIGNERS

FABRICATO

RS E

RECTORS

C

ONTRACTO

RS

and product safety, contends LaVigne. “The certainty provided by the U.S. regulatory process is conducive for researchers to develop new tools that benefit America’s farmers,” he says. “If anything, the U.S. regulatory process encourages research and development of new products, whereas other regulatory pro-cesses around the world discourage this type of innovation.”

The drive to introduce new, genetically enhanced crops to feed a growing global population puts unrelenting pressure on both the regulatory system and the seed industry, both of which have to rise to the challenge of feeding people safely and efficiently.

“As we deal with the constraints placed on the food system, such as limited land and water, coupled with the increasing global population, these new traits will only provide additional opportunities to showcase the benefits that can be seen from modern plant breeding,” says LaVigne. angela lovell

Playing the gamewhat can companies do to ensure regulatory submissions are met in a timely manner?

lisTen.make sure you understand the regulations and what the regulatory agency wants. “we listen to what the regulators need and what they believe they will need to understand in order to successfully get through their review process and their scientific assessment,” says philip miller, global regulatory lead with monsanto.

communicaTe. “i would say the conversations we have had with the regulators have been very helpful,” says andrew reed, director of regulatory affairs with BasF. “The united states is one country where a company can go in and have a consultation. They help us determine where we need to focus.”

many companies begin the dialogue with regulatory agencies long before they are ready to submit their products for approval. “we share with them proactively both what we are working on and how we are working on it, and include them in that dialogue many years before we come in with a product,” says miller.

inForm.make sure they understand you and your technology and products. “we continue to work with agencies to help them understand the seed industry and how it fits into the rollout process of new products,” says andy lavigne, president and ceo of the american seed Trade association. “it’s always valuable to bring regulators to a facility to see the process and to help them understand the intricacies.”

© 2011 Meridian Manufacturing Group. Registered Trademarks Used Under License.

The Longest Running Brand of Seed Tenders

Variable Speed Remote Control with Display

Meridian Cleated Belt

10 Seed World

Shipments of seed for fruit such as watermelon must meet complex seed health standards.

seeD companies in today’s global environment need to be aware of many different types of seed trade regulations around the world. These regulations can be unclear,

contradictory, ever-changing and downright frustrating to seed exporters, but with global harmonization, the process can be made easier.

Whether developing a local business presence in an overseas market or exporting seed around the world, most companies ship seed (including commercial, foundation or research seed) from one country to another at some time. Shipments must meet complex seed health standards and other requirements. The regulations can be even more intricate in the case of the re-export of seed, where product is produced in one country, shipped to another for processing or other value-addition, and finally ends up in yet another country.

The Background to Seed TradeWhen selling seed in a foreign country, all local requirements governing seed trade must be met. This includes any product registration or seed certification requirements, local seed laws and intellectual property rights systems. In many cases, local laws (for example, laws regarding deregulation of biotech products, use of plant patents and tolerance levels for unapproved events) are vastly different than laws in the seller’s home country.

All of these issues are part of a country’s foreign and trade policy agenda, and government and industry groups are focused on harmonizing regulations across regions and ensuring these are science-based and reasonable, while still allowing seed to move around the world so the benefit of technology and improved varieties reaches the world population.

Seed health regulations for seed shipments have the most immediate impact on many seed companies. While it is appropriate to use phytosanitary regulations as a way to protect a local environment from the introduction of unwanted pests, the regulations should be based on scientific research, and should be clearly and consistently communicated. All too often regulations used at borders are either unknown to the shipper and/or are not science-based. They may be either politically motivated or based on assumptions or incorrect science.

Communicating the RegulationsThe two primary forms used to communicate phytosanitary regulations to the importer and exporter, as well as border officials, are a government-to-government notification system or a phytosanitary certificate. Any special seed health issues are addressed in an additional declaration requirement on the certificate.

Harmonizing regulations for Better tradeThere is a need for global harmonization of seed health and seed trade regulations.

Governments determine the pest issues of concern for crop species from each country of origin. In the United States, for instance, seed health officials from around the world notify the Plant Protection and Quarantine program of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, responsible for maintaining information on global import regulations (from the United States to the destination country) in the Export Certification Project (EXCERPT) database. Likewise, APHIS works to prevent the introduction of potential pests into the United States, and communicates its import requirements to foreign governments. Similar organizations and systems exist around the world.

An acceptable controlled pest restriction is one where all of the following conditions are met:

• The pest occurs in the area of production.• The pest is transmitted by or with seed as the pathway.• The pest does not exist in the destination country and

would cause problems if introduced or, if present, is under some form of official control such as eradication or containment.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Germination Tomato Ad .pdf 11/3/10 7:39:01 AM

12 Seed World

The available methods to determine absence of a pest in a seed shipment are: area freedom declarations, field inspection of mother plants, seed treatments, seed inspection prior to and/or post-entry, and sometimes post-entry field inspections.

To determine the presence or impact of a pest risk, a Pest Risk Analysis can be conducted. This is a time-consuming and expensive process, so several countries also proactively maintain a database of region, crop and pathogen combinations. In the United States, APHIS maintains the Global Pest and Disease Database at the Center for Plant Health Science and Technology, as well as the Cooperative Plant Health Survey, which focuses on distribution of domestic pests and pathogens. The National Seed Health System also maintains a database of all official testing methods and accredited testing agencies. On an international level, the science-based development and information organization CABI maintains several databases of plant/pathogen combinations which can impact agriculture and the environment.

There are also a number of regional and global treaties and organizations governing the establishment and regulation of agricultural trade rules, including those involving seed. These include the International Plant Protection Convention, the North American Plant Protection Organization, the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization and the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organization.

Harmonization and Consistency are KeyHowever, this scientific system is not always followed. There are numerous examples of new regulations suddenly being applied,

of border control officials using different regulations than the importers or exporters use, of regulations that are not based on any scientific or factual data, and of requirements to use seed tests which do not correctly determine the presence of a pest or are incorrectly conducted. This is the everyday reality of importers and exporters, and is a constant threat to the free trade of seed around the world. As a result, this issue has become a major focus for all seed associations, including the American Seed Trade Association and European Seed Association.

A perfect example of a seed health issue with a unified global response calling for clear, science-based and harmonized rules happened recently in Brazil.

For many years, commercial seed shipments from around the world have been entering Brazil with field inspections ensuring that no pests have been introduced into the country. On December 30, 2010, Brazil published a new seed health rule named “Normative 36,” without any prior notice or comment period. Normative 36 requires:

• That all seed from all origins is treated.• That an additional declaration on the phytosanitary

certificate states that the seed is free of all quarantine pests of concern to MAPA (the Brazilian plant health organization).

• That seed is tested in Brazil for these pests. Normative 36 also forbids the seed from being planted until test results are obtained.

Normative 36 contains annexes for each country listing all seed species to which it applies. All common seed species traded and all common production areas and countries of origin, such as the United States, Holland, France and Japan, are impacted by this rule. Of major concern to companies exporting seed to Brazil is that Brazil no longer accepts field inspections, but import requirements are based on seed testing. There is no information provided on which of Brazil’s quarantine pests are associated with each seed species.

Without knowing which pests are of concern in which species, and without knowing the seed testing methods for these pests, the international seed community cannot possibly comply with this new rule. Additionally, because MAPA intends to retest all incoming seed shipments, there is a high likelihood of test result discrepancies. This lack of clarity is of grave concern as such a highly restrictive, across-the-board requirement for commercial seed will severely disrupt or stop all seed exports to Brazil.

Working on a SolutionOnce it became aware of Brazil’s new seed regulations, APHIS immediately began working on solutions with ASTA and ESA, as well as the Seed Association of the Americas and the International Seed Federation. Importantly, the Brazilian Seed Trade Association (ABRASEM) was contacted, and after several global seed association telephone conferences to coordinate efforts, ABRASEM arranged a meeting with MAPA to attempt to repeal the new rule.

MAPA then revised Normative 36 to allow field inspections instead of seed testing until March 2012, which is a temporary reprieve only. MAPA also indicated they will publish pest lists for each seed species on the annex. In February, a list was published

—Over 100 years of quality seed testing —Approved to test for all biotech traits in

corn and soybeans—ISO 9001:2008 and NSHS certified —Recognized leader in seed health testing—Certified seed analysts and genetic

technicians with over 160 years experience —Same day service—Convenient online access to sample

progress and results—Highly rated customer service

Call us today.

A pioneer in seed analysis. A leader in customer service.

Seed Testing Laboratory

www.seeds.iastate.edu/seedtest 515-294-6826

Roots hold the future to crop yield improvementBecause they are out of sight, roots are often out of mind. Yet research increasingly points to Root Health as

the key for future crop productivity improvements. It has been estimated that 80% of all plant problems start

with soil/root problems.1

Global trends underline the importance of Root Health

Changes in agriculture worldwide – including increased use of agronomic practices such as no-till and irrigation

– confirm Root Health as the key to ensure future crop productivity.

Syngenta hosted a Global Root Health Forum this year in Florida (USA), bringing together nearly 100 experts

from 15 countries to exchange perspectives.

Forum participant Dr. Wayne Pedersen, emeritus

plant pathologist, University of Illinois, has been

investigating Root Health in corn for several

years. “Healthier root systems absolutely help

plants better utilize available nutrients and

moisture,” Pedersen explains. “This helps pro-

duce stronger plants that are able to withstand

stress brought on by adverse weather conditions,

disease and insects.“

New seed treatment VIBRANCE key part of integrated Root Health solution

In May, Syngenta announced the launch of VIBRANCE™, a proprietary seed treatment fungicide based on the

new active ingredient sedaxane. VIBRANCE, which has been tailored specifically for the seed treatment market,

belongs to the new succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) class of fungicides.

VIBRANCE INTEGRAL is now available in Argentina for cereals. Further registrations in all major crops worldwi-

de are expected over the next two years.

See the visible difference

“By integrating worldwide expertise, Syngenta is poised to provide

growers with new technology that will extend the spectrum of

disease control while maximizing the performance of the roots,”

says Christian Schlatter, Syngenta Global Brand Manager. “Stron-

ger and healthier root systems ensure better uptake and use of

soil resources plus improved stress tolerance. As a result, growers

will achieve greater yield stability across their fields.”

With its optimal combination of systemic movement and soil mobi-

lity, VIBRANCE provides long-lasting protection of the entire root

system through all critical development stages of the crop and

under a wide range of environmental conditions.

1 Rovira, A.D. 1990. The impact of soil and crop management practices on soil-borne root diseases and

wheat yields. Soil Use and Management 6(4): 195 - 200.

© 2011 Syngenta, Basel, Switzerland.

Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using Syngenta products. The instructions contain important conditions of sale, including limitations of

warranty and remedy.

Vibrance is currently only registered for sale and use in Argentina. Registrations are pending in other countries throughout the world; please check with your local regulatory

authority for registration status. This is not an offer for sale.

Vibrance™, Rooting Power™, the Purpose icon and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.

Contact: Christian Schlatter, Global Seedcare Asset Manager, christian.schlatter@syngenta.com

Source: Syngenta Global Root Health Forum, 2011

Check VIBRANCE-based offerSource: Syngenta Switzerland (Stein), 2010, Rhizotrones trials, 83 days after seedlings

Impact of Rhizoctonia on roots and

enhanced protection from VIBRANCE™

Seed World Ad_def.indd 1 8/25/11 6:28 PM

14 Seed World

for carrot seed. However, while it lists the pests of concern, it then proposes to apply the full provisions of Normative 36 to those pests. There is still no allowance for field inspections and no clarity on seed testing methods. Furthermore, not all of the pests listed are considered to be of scientifically-valid concern. If all imported seed species are regulated with such a normative system, Brazil will effectively close its borders.

This is clearly not the intent of MAPA; rather the intent must be to continue to ensure the safety of all seed imports, and allow local farmers and growers to have access to improved seed varieties approved for use in Brazil. The international seed association community is working together to urge governments to negotiate a better process with MAPA. This is a perfect example of the need for a science-based, globally harmonized seed health system.

Progress toward global harmonization is being made. In 2009, the North American Plant Protection Organization established a seed panel to draft a regional seed movement standard. This standard will be sent out for country consultation this summer. The International Plant Protection Convention also added the development of a global seed movement standard into its work program in 2010. The future of seed is bright, as long as seed can continue to be safely and efficiently shipped around the world, providing the basis for global agriculture and food production. Marc cool and ric dunkle

Editor’s Note: Ric Dunkle is the senior director for seed health and trade for the American Seed Trade Association and has worked extensively on seed trade issue around the world. Marc Cool is a fifth-generation seedsman with over 20 years of professional experience in the seed industry.

The International Plant Protection Convention WWW.ippc.int

The North American Plant Protection Organization WWW.nAppO.OrG

The Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organization WWW.WtO.OrG/enGlish/trAtOp_e/sps_e/sps_e.htm

The regulations should be based on scientific research.

oregro

16 Seed World

the native seed industry: not For the Faint-Hearteda healthy, stable native seed industry is entering the new u.s. fiscal year, but the debt crisis and concern over budget cuts to conservation programs have industry leaders watching the 2012 u.s. Federal Budget and Farm Bill more closely than usual.

it’s Been a good year for the native seed industry. A general sign-up for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program in 2010 and 2011, steady seed

sales and decreasing inventories have had a stabilizing effect on the sector. But as industry leaders move forward with prepara-tions for the new year, some see clouds on the horizon. One thing is clear—there are more questions than answers about the direction the sector could take in 2012.

Switchgrass seed production field in Nebraska.

Phot

o Cr

edit:

Sta

r See

d

october 2011 17

to landowners to establish and cultivate biomass crops for heat, power, bio-based products and biofuels.

He also speculates that there could be a boost to the sector from conservation programs aimed at reducing soil erosion along, and sediment in, waterways. “They’ve built some pro-grams specifically for those areas that are hard to farm because they flood frequently,” he says. Recently, the enrollment cap was expanded and incentives increased to the Upper Arkansas River Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

Despite these increases to government programs, Lutgen is concerned about future budget cuts and whether or not funding will be slashed for conservation programs. But overall, he says, agriculture is a good place to be right now. “The agricultural base of the economy is still pretty strong in all segments. Farmland prices are still rising, and agriculture, in general, has been very healthy. The farmers are doing well, and that affects everybody.”

The high price of commodities may be good for farmers, but increased competition for land from high-priced commodities is affecting the profitability of the native seed sector. “The high price of commodities affects what we pay our growers to grow seed. We have got to compete with wheat, corn and soybeans. This affects all seed markets because there’s only so much land out there,” he says.

When landowners do sign up for conservation programs, businesses are having a tougher time than in the past trying to determine seed needs. “There used to be standard mixes,” says Lutgen, “Now it’s almost prescription mixes for each farmer. It’s a little more challenging to figure out what the demand is going to be because you may know the acres, but you don’t know the ingre-dients, and the precise ingredients depend upon the area it’s in.”

“The CRP sign-up was, and is, a boost to the native seed industry—it was a pleasant surprise. We saw a lot of planting during the fall of 2010, as well as the spring and fall of 2011. We’re looking at additional plantings in the fall of 2012. It’s helped consume some inventories, and that needed to happen,” says Mark Mustoe, co-owner and manager of Clearwater Seed in Spokane, Wash. “Last year, there seemed to be no bottom to prices, but now we are in a stabilizing mode.”

Government SpendingHowever, Mustoe is concerned this stability could be short-lived. This fall, he’ll be watching the 2012 U.S. federal budget closely. “If agriculture takes a huge budgetary hit, there’s no question that it’s going to affect conservation programs. Much of the native seed industry in the United States, whether it is the CRP or Bureau of Land Management, somehow relates back to federal or state government. I think everyone is being cautious at best, looking at their business models, and trying to figure out how to diversify what we grow and what we do.” But the degree to which the deficit crisis and the new budget will affect native seed businesses will not be known until early next year, says Mustoe.

How the CRP is handled in the upcoming 2012 Farm Bill is also an issue Mustoe is following. “If the cap [for enrolled acres] is reduced, the possibility of acres being bid into CRP are gone until we fall under whatever number that cap is, and that could take several years. It’s a long-term deal,” he says.

The growing debate over local ecotype material for recla-mation, rehabilitation and restoration projects versus the use of species with broad applications has also left Mustoe with more questions than answers. Government agencies such as the BLM are moving toward the use of local ecotype material, and that’s good or bad depending on who you’re talking to, he says. “In some agencies there are people who think seed for a project needs to be a local ecotype, which is in a radius of so many miles of that site—and there are some who don’t. There’s a tug-of-war going on about what scientifically is [best for the conservation of the environment]. It’s almost more of a belief system than a science.”

For now, given the lack of scientific evidence on the issue, Mustoe says he thinks the use of plant material with broad appli-cations makes common sense. “If we pigeonhole ourselves into this 10-mile radius, I think it dilutes, and hurts, the industry. “You can grow 100 pounds of X, Y or Z, but what do you do when there’s no job there? It’s best for the industry if we look at the bigger picture on a broad landscape.” The debate often causes disagreement, even within agencies, says Mustoe. “One part of the agency is going in a local direction and the other fol-lows a broader application. It’s a hard thing to know what to do.”

Tom Lutgen, president of Star Seed Inc., located in Osborne, Kan., has also had a good year. Generally, he says, there was good movement in the sector, so sales were brisk. “The industry doesn’t have a lot of carryover stock, which is healthy for the industry—to start the new year fresh.”

In the short term, sales won’t be slowing down in his home state of Kansas. Lutgen’s anticipating more interest in and demand for native grasses and herbaceous plants after the announcement of the latest project area for the USDA’s seventh Biomass Crop Assistance Program, which provides incentives

R

For a Catalog:Phone: 303.431.7333Fax: 303.467.7886Email: sales@applewoodseed.com

5380 Vivian StreetArvada, CO 80002 USAwww.applewoodseed.com

Specialists in Wildflowers Since 1965

Garden Flowers

NRCS Pollinator & Conservation Mixtures

Biomass Feedstocks

Wildflower Seeds

18 Seed World

He says increased competition for seed sales and plant-ing services from non-profit organizations and his local Soil and Water Conservation District office has crippled his busi-ness. Thompson, previously employed by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, SWCD, and other government agencies, started PLM in 1994. By 2001, his company, which grows and sells seed, and plans, prepares, plants and maintains land for conservation and habitat develop-ment, employed 54 people, and was planting over 10,000 acres of native grass species each year.

Thompson says that same year his local SWCD office acquired native grass drills and started selling seed. “Each year, up until 2001, in our own county we were providing 1,100 to 1,200 acres of native grass plantings and seed sales. In 2001, we had 86 acres and the county had over 2,000 ... By 2004, we had 12.5 acres, and the county had 1,900. It literally took 90 to 95 percent of our revenue away. It crippled us.”

Thompson says since then the word has spread to other SWCD offices that selling native seed and planting native grasses can be a lucrative venture. “Other surrounding SWCD offices saw the opportunity to make money, so they got drills and started selling seed,” he says.

But Thompson maintains the SWCD, a government agency, and non-profit organizations have an unfair advantage over privately-owned companies, and he says he wants a level playing field. He says landowners are solicited by the employees of local SWCD offices and non-profit organizations for native seed sales and planting services when they sign up for CRP

programs, because all offices are located in the same center. “People have to come in and sign up for the [CRP] programs, so they get access to every landowner. They get solic-ited by these groups. We can’t even put up a flyer ... it’s just not a fair playing field.”

For now, Thompson says this issue mainly affects the central United States. But he warns compe-tition with local SWCD offices and non-profit organizations is becom-ing more widespread. “Now it’s getting worse, and private [native seed] companies are saying, ‘We need to do something about this.’ A lot of them have gone out of busi-ness because they couldn’t take it any longer. They just didn’t want to fight it,” he says.

Despite the increased competi-tion, Thompson, like other seeds-men, is optimistic about the future

of his sector. “I think there’s plenty of work out there to be done,” he says. “We fluctuate like any business, with trends going up and down. We will downsize a little if we need to, and if oppor-tunity comes along, we will increase equipment and staff. There are still plenty of opportunities.” kari Belanger

Fierce CompetitionLike other seedsmen, Kyle Thompson, owner of Prairie Land Management Inc. of Glenwood, Minn., admits the native seed industry is not for the faint of heart. The last few years have really tested his mettle—and he’s not talking about the volatile nature of the business, funding cuts, or even competition from other native seed companies.

Sorghum PartnerS Seed Testing Laboratory

Not only are we a full service sorghum seed company, but we also have a full service seed lab with a Registered Seed Technologist on staff. We test many crops including sorghum, corn, soybean, cotton, wheat, peanuts, oats and many more.

Please contact Terry at 1.806.853.8103 for services and prices.

Sorghum Partners

P.0. Box 189 | 403 Monroe St. | New Deal, TX 79350

Terry.Dunfield@sorghum-partners.com

Your Seed is in Good Hands

Krauter Solutions

michael@krauter-storage.comwww.krautersolutions.com

Contact us Today!Ask for Mike at 800-992-2824

agbiotech

20 Seed World

in orDer for organic fruit, vegetables and grain to be con-sidered truly organically grown, do they have to grow from organic seed? Right now the answer to this question isn’t

entirely clear, as the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program regulations allow certified organic growers to use non-organic (untreated, conventional) seed for their organic crops if they first make every effort to use organi-cally grown seeds.

In a draft guidance issued by the NOP, section 205.204 states, “Certified operations may use non-organic seed and planting stock if organic seeds and planting stock are not com-mercially available in an appropriate form, quality or quantity to fulfill an essential function in organic production. Price cannot be a consideration.”

The sale of organic fruit and vegetables in the United States grew by 11 percent in 2009, commanding 38 percent of total organic food sales worth $26.6 billion. While organic food purchases came to less than four percent of the total U.S. food purchases in 2009, this market segment increased by 5.1 percent, compared to an increase of only 1.6 percent for all food purchases. There is no doubt that consumer demand for organic foods, especially produce, is increasing; this growth provides organic growers with good market potential, but this doesn’t completely equate to a higher demand for organic seed.

Organic Seed Not on Consumers’ RadarWhen a shopper in the organic section of a Kansas City gro-cery store buys a bag of carrots, or even when they buy organic strawberries directly from the grower at a farmers’ market, they

organic seed industry at a crossroadsorganic seed growers in the united states will potentially face some hard production decisions dependant on possible changes to certification regulations.

are unlikely to know or care whether or not the produce they’re buying is grown from organic seed.

Barb Perkins, owner of Vermont Valley Community Farm near Madison, Wis., provides about 1,300 boxes of organic pro-duce to the farm’s 2,000 members each year. She says all her mem-bers know they are receiving organic produce, but none ask about the seed used to grow the fruit and vegetables in their boxes.

Even though consumers may not be knowledgeable about the use of organic seed, most organic growers wish to base their production on a holistic system that starts with organic seed. However, commercial growers aren’t currently able to buy organic seed for all the varieties they wish to grow.

Support Needed for Organic SeedThe Organic Seed Alliance, a research and education organi-zation with a mission to support the ethical development and stewardship of the genetic resources of agricultural seed, recently released a report on its State of Organic Seed project. The report states, “Yet, even with the organic industry’s impressive growth, the organic seed sector has not caught up to meet this demand. There is a limited availability of appropriate organically pro-duced seed for a variety of reasons, including cutbacks in public plant breeding programs, lack of investments from the private sector, seed industry consolidation, and ongoing disagreement regarding implementing NOP requirements pertaining to organic seed, among others.”

Vitalis Organic Seeds, a company within the Enza Zaden Group, was established in 1994 as the first U.S. seed company concentrating exclusively on breeding, producing, cleaning and

october 2011 21

selling high-quality seed for organic farmers. Erica Renaud, busi-ness development manager with Vitalis, agrees that there is a lack of government support for organic breeding. “There is not the same support for organic breeding in terms of infrastructure,” she says.

As with all plant breeding using traditional methods rather than genetic modification, it takes breeders years to develop a new variety, then collect enough seed so it can be grown in com-mercial production. In addition to the time involved in breed-ing new varieties, organic seed producers must abide by specific guidelines on organic growing methods. To make it worthwhile for a company like Vitalis to invest time and money to pro-duce organic seed, there must be a pay-off. Renaud sees possible changes in NOP regulations, requiring organic growers to use an increasing percentage of organic seed each year, as being the catalyst the U.S. seed industry needs to encourage more organic seed development.

Tom Stearns, president of High Mowing Organic Seeds, agrees with Renaud’s assessment.

“I am hoping the rules will change. I think that it will be very beneficial to the overall organic seed industry to have a seed rule that is clearer,” he says. “It will help stimulate the industry to grow, which is a great thing for everyone.”

Stearns founded his company, based in Hardwick, Vt., in 1996 when he grew and marketed 28 varieties on his own. Now High Mowing Seeds offers home gardeners and commercial growers about 500 heirloom, open-pollinated and hybrid varie-ties of vegetable, fruit, herb and flower seed. Stearns says about 80 percent of seed sales are made to commercial organic growers.

He is concerned that changes to the NOP regulations could result in increased paperwork for organic growers who don’t use organic seed because the varieties they wish to grow aren’t available as organic seed. “The important issue is in the balance—how is it implemented to serve growers rather than being a burden on them,” he says.

Barb Perkins and her husband, David, now use organic seed when they feel they can switch from conventional seed. “Every year we look at organic seed and see what is available. Does it have all the qualities we want?” she says.

Seed Must Offer Extra BenefitsThe higher cost of organic seed isn’t a deterrent for most fruit and vegetable growers, according to Stearns, because organic growers are able to extract a premium for their produce. Perkins agrees, but adds they must be assured that organic seed holds additional benefits for them.

Mark Overduin, president of Bejo Seeds Inc. in Oceano, Calif., a subsidiary of Holland’s Bejo Zaden, knows that organic growers are looking for extra characteristics in organic seed. “We do expect to provide additional benefits such as broader adaptability, stronger overall immune systems, and more efficient root systems with stronger nutrient uptake capabilities,” he says.

The tipping point for organic seed—for seed growers and those organic producers who use it—could come from the development of organic seed that can grow fruit and vegetables possessing extra health benefits for consumers. For example, a new variety of red cabbage could contain a higher level of antioxidants, making it nutritionally superior to other varieties.

Advanta US is an operating unit of Advanta, a global seed company.© 2011 Advanta US, Inc. SG (logo) is a registered trademark of Advanta US, Inc. D1724 SW

Advanta US1-800-333-9048www.AdvantaUS.com

Sorghum for Forage Field Guide Call today for your copy of this 132-page comprehensive production guide.

Sorghum for Forage

Field Guide

800.333.9048

Growing

Value

Greenin the

$14.95

5 FactsEvery Grower Should Know about Sorghum

1. Sorghum genetics are not the same as your father grew.

2. Sorghums can produce as much or more yield as corn.

3. Sorghums (BMR 6) can make more palatable and more digestible high quality forage than corn silage.

4. Sorghums grow with less input and less water for less cost than corn.

5. Call us to learn about the new generation of SG sorghums for grain and forage.

1724_SW-horiz.indd 1 8/17/11 2:36:18 PM

22 Seed World

Stearns and Renaud say they welcome more competition in the organic seed market. “I see a huge opportunity, with 90 percent of the market now unfulfilled,” says Stearns. “I need more competition.”

Whether the impetus for more organic seed production in the United States will come from changes to national organic certification regulations, stronger consumer demand for organic produce grown from organic seed, or additional agronomic ben-efits for producers using organic seed, the reality is that this industry is in its infancy, and will continue to grow up in the coming years. andrea geary

rules for organic growersThe usda’s national organic program establishes the guidelines for certified organic crop production. according to a draft guidance issued in June 2011, organic growers can use non-organic seed to grow certified crops, but only if organic seed isn’t commercially available in an appropriate form, quality or quality.

reasons for using non-organic seed can include:• Form considerations—site-specific agronomic or

marketing characteristics, such as the number of days until maturity or harvest, color, flavor, weight or size of harvested crop, and disease and pest resistance. For example, a conventional seed variety might produce larger, healthier cucumbers than any organic seed variety now available.

• Quality considerations—germination rate of seed, presence of weed seeds in the seed mix, shelf-life and stability of seed, and disease and pest resistance.

• Quantity considerations—an insufficient amount of organic seed available for planting.

organic growers must keep documents to prove to nop certifying agents they have contacted a minimum of three seed sources to see if they are selling organic seed varieties that meet the growers’ needs.

Organic seed production is more popular in fruits and vegetables that possess health or agronomic benefits.

Phot

o Cr

edit:

Hig

h M

owin

g O

rgan

ic S

eeds

GRAY RESEARCH PRODUCTION• 20 YEARS OF RESEARCH EXPERIENCE• NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS LOCATION (100-118 DRM)• ISOLATED MULTI-FEMALE SEED CORN PRODUCTION• PILOT HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION• ISOLATED INBRED INCREASES• NURSERY PROJECTS (SELFING, SIBBING, CROSSING,

AND SPECIALTY PROJECTS)• YIELD TRIAL PLOTS INCLUDING AGRONOMIC NOTES• CONFIDENTIAL AND PROFESSIONAL

grayresearchproduction.comphone: (815)698-2400 fax: (815)698-2484

Responsive to your needs and committed to accessibility.

GRAY RESEARCH PRODUCTION

GR

AY

RE

SE

AR

CH

PR

OD

UC

TIO

N G

RAY RESEARCH PRODUCTION GRAY RESEARCH PRODUCTI

ON

GR

AY

RE

SE

AR

CH

PR

OD

UC

TIO

N G

RAY R

ESEARCH PRODUCTION

DEC. 6-9 • HYATT REGENCY CHICAGO

CSS 2011 & Seed Expo

IF YOU’RE IN THE SEED BUSINESS...

Featuring Seed Expo 2011, with 120 exhibitors supplying all seed sectors.

CORN SORGHUM SOYBEAN

REGISTER TODAY! WWW.AMSEED.ORG

don’t miss the largest seed convention in the country—designed to excel your business and advance your industry.

IF YOU’RE IN THE SEED BUSINESS...

24 Seed World

Off Patent: Let the Games Begin

“This is our most important project ever,” said

Dow AgroSciences CEO Antonio Galindez in a

recent interview with Reuters. “It is big.” DAS

has submitted a regulatory package seeking

government approval for a glyphosate-tolerant

soybean that the company says would be

the “first-ever, three-gene” herbicide-tolerant

soybean. The new soybean will be tolerant of a

new DAS herbicide that combines glyphosate,

glufosinate and 2,4-D so farmers can spray it on

fields without harming the crop. Dow is dubbing

the system “Enlist” and pending regulatory

approval the soybean trait package is expected

to be available by 2015. “We call Enlist our

Amazon Kindle,” said Galindez, referring to the

electronic book reader released in 2007 that has

helped spur a decline in sales of traditional books

from bookstores. “It is bringing the next level of

technology to the market,” added Galindez.

Media Moguls

“Ag is becoming more ‘social’ and there’s a wealth of

information available through Internet and mobile

technologies that have changed the way we get information

like weather and commodities,” says Rosalyn Moore,

Internet marketing lead at Syngenta. “But that information

can also be overwhelming, especially when considering

how these technologies can range from strictly personal use

to benefitting your business. Our goal is to provide direction

for those looking to explore these technologies.” Syngenta

has developed the Growing Digital blog to help members of

the agricultural community grow their businesses through

social media.

Breeders Without Borders

“The idea is similar to ‘Doctors without Borders’—

where plant breeders would volunteer to work

overseas on specific projects where they could

train local plant scientists and share their insights

and knowledge with the developing world,” says

Anthony Leddin, an Australian plant breeder

who is the brainchild behind Plant Breeders

Without Borders. “There’s also the potential

for undergraduate plant breeding students to

take part in these projects—where they can be

mentored by a senior plant breeder on-site. To

make the projects sustainable, the plant breeders

would also train people on the ground so that

their work could be carried on after they leave the

project to return home.”

exploring ideas and views on all aspects

of the seed industry.

“Plant breeders would

volunteer to work

overseas on specific

projects.”

OCTOBER 2011 25

the rise of Nanotechnology

“The key aspect of [nanotechnology] is that when you decrease the size [of a food item’s molecules], they are going to achieve some functions, new

properties, new phenomena that cannot be observed on a regular, large scale,” said Qingrong Huang, food scientist at Rutgers University in New

Jersey, in a recent issue of Farm Credit Canada’s AgriSuccess newsletter. Nanotechnology is a growing market—it’s estimated there are already 600

food items on the market taking advantages of the advances made in nanotechnology—and a recent study from technology information specialist

Cientifica predicts the nano-food market will surge to $5.8 billion by 2012 (up from just $410 million in 2006). According to the article, the idea is that

someday seeds may be modified by nano-particles in the same way organisms are now genetically modified. And instead of farming a commodity,

producers could farm a specific ingredient contained in the crop. Growers will still grow corn, but it’ll be primarily for the proteins and oils to be

extracted via nanotechnologies rather than for the grain itself.

Instead of farming a

commodity, producers

could farm a specific

ingredient contained in

the crop.

expiration date

“As patents on traits or events expire, our goal is to create

a smooth, streamlined transition into a generic seed

market without violating property rights or interrupting

international trade,” says Mike Gumina, chairman of the

American Seed Trade Association for 2011/12. ASTA has

been working in partnership with the Biotechnology

Industry Organization on this front, as well as on

coexistence. “The whole concept of coexistence is not new

to the seed industry; it’s allowed us to create high-quality

seed for America’s growers for decades. It’s important to

have a process in place where all agricultural sectors can

be successful in producing their products and benefit from

the added value of their efforts. This is a really important

topic and one where ASTA is going to be a leader.”

CHEMICAL COST PERSPECTIvES

FROM A GROWER

“A few years ago, it used to cost me

between $12 and $15 per acre to control

these weeds,” said grower Malcolm

Haigwood, who spelled out in detail

just how expensive fighting glyphosate-

resistant weeds has become on a recent

tour of crop fields in Arkansas. “Last year,

it cost me between $65 and $80 per acre,

using more applications and more crop

protection products to achieve the same

level of control.” He further predicted

that with the increased materials, labor

and fuel costs associated for these weed

control efforts, his cost per acre in 2012

could reach nearly $100.

26 Seed World

strategyNEW DEPARTMENT. a featured segment designed to share business-critical information to seed-selling professionals. Visit SeedWorld.com to download this department and other tools to help you sell seed to farmers.

TM

SPREADiNg ThE MESSAgE the progress in these areas is important and deserves to be touted. However, it is just the start of the path that agriculture must take—gains are needed in other areas and must continue to be made progressively. Momentum is continuing, however, and it is a credit to the seed industry that there are some clear mid-term goals that will be important for further reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint. Drought, salinity and heat tolerance as well as nitrogen fixing are among the innovations that are currently in development. Quite simply, ag must grow more with less in an era of changing climate and changing social demands—but it is meeting these challenges, and must be ready to prove this progress to growers and the public.

Agriculture’s Footprint

Env

iron

men

t MAkiNg gAiNS foR ThE ENviRoNMENT It is said agriculture consumes 70 percent of the world’s freshwater supplies. “Farming oil” is the phrase used by those who say that fertilizer applications and passes of farm equipment are equivalent to pouring barrels of fossil fuels on the ground. In the face of criticisms like these, agriculture needs to get serious about explaining its role in the environment to growers and the public.

SEEiNg RESulTS a report by Field to Market: the Keystone alliance for sustainable agriculture offers indicators of agriculture’s environmental impact. Its findings show substantial progress in corn, soybean and cotton between 1987-2007 in terms of the environmental impacts of the crops. Wheat also shows progress, although not nearly as much. Findings include the following: • The single greatest improvement in agriculture’s environment impact is a drop in soil loss. efficiency trends have improved substantially, by 30 to nearly 70 percent for the four crops evaluated. • The unit of energy used to produce a bushel of corn has decreased by about 30 percent in the past 20 years. • The energy used to produce a bushel of soybeans has dropped by more than two thirds. • Irrigated water use per unit of output has also decreased 20 percent to nearly 50 percent. • Carbon emissions per unit of output have dropped by about a third for corn, soybean and cotton crops. • Since the introduction of biotech crops in 1997, there has been a marked increase in the consistency of yields.

SuSTAiNAblE AgRiculTuRE MEETS ThE NEEDS of ThE PRESENT WhilE iMPRoviNg ThE AbiliTy of fuTuRE gENERATioNS To MEET ThEiR oWN NEEDS.

iRRigATED WATER uSE PER uNiT of ouTPuT hAS AlSo DEcREASED 20 50%

To NEARly

gRoW MoRE WiTh lESS

OCTOBER 2011 27

TM

oNliNE cAlculAToR ANAlyzES SuSTAiNAbiliTy Farmers can analyze their natural resource use and key crop production inputs using a new online tool by Field to Market. the

Fieldprint Calculator helps farmers evaluate natural resource use on their operations compared with industry averages. these measures could help improve production efficiencies and profit potential. the calculator illustrates the connection between resource and economic sustainability.

FIelDtoMarKet.org/FIelDprInt-CalCulaTor/trIal/

Field to Market evaluated national-scale metrics over the past two decades for land use, water use, energy use, soil loss and climate impact on corn, soy, cotton and wheat production. Water quality and biodiversity indicators are currently being developed and will be included in the next report. an executive summary and full report can be accessed at keystone.org/spp/environment/sustainability/field-to-market

For case studies, blogs and articles on what the industry is doing to improve its environmental footprint visit fieldtomarket.org/resources

sustainableThe Field to Market group has defined sustainable agriculture as meeting the needs of the present while improving the ability of future generations to meet their own needs by focusing on these specific, critical outcomes:

• Increasing agricultural productivity to meet future nutritional needs while decreasing impacts on the environment, including water, soil, habitat, air quality and climate emissions as well as land use;

• Improving human health through access to safe, nutritious food; and

• Improving the social and economic well-being of agricultural communities.

28 Seed World

STATUS AUSTRALIAiNTERNATioNAl rice research Institute researchers, in cooperation with the australian Centre for International agricultural research, have discovered the genetic information responsible for “chalkiness” in rice, an unwanted trait which, according to the IrrI, can lower the value of a crop by 25 percent.

Chalky areas in rice, caused when starch granules fail to develop properly, are opaque rather than translucent. “If rice is chalky, it often breaks in the mill, contributing to post-harvest loss. In our long-term studies, we show that for every percent increase in chalk, there is a one percent decrease in head rice yield,” explains Melissa Fitzgerald, head of the IrrI’s grain quality and nutrition research. the breakthrough is significant for its potential to dramatically improve profits, as “chalk is one of two parameters that are used to grade rice on the international market.”

to locate the genetic regions of the rice genome which control chalkiness, Fitzgerald’s team used phenotyping tools to measure the chalk in multiple varieties, as well as genomic techniques for genome-wide genotyping and bioinformatic technologies. If all goes well,

Fitzgerald’s team expects an “excellent” reception on the international market, although it might take some time to create new varieties. “Different countries have different expectations of grain quality, and chalk is just one parameter of quality,” says Fitzgerald. “We have one variety with all the good genes against chalk that would suit some areas of south-east asia, but it could take a number of years to place these genes in all popular varieties using conventional breeding techniques.”

STATUSAFRICAThE ii International society for Horticulture science genetically Modified organisms in Horticulture (gMo 2011) symposium was held in Mpumalanga, south africa september 11-15. the theme of the conference, which discussed the role of plant biotechnology for horticulture in the developing world, was “paving the Way for a sustainable Future.” the event aimed to provide “an opportunity for those involved in the research, development, testing, regulation, assessment and management of gMos worldwide to share experiences with colleagues from around the globe.”

according to organizing committee member gurling

Bothma, who is also biosafety manager for the Council for scientific and Industrial research, pretoria, the conference is a step forward in the discussion of biotechnology for horticulture in the region. “gMo seed is not currently used in the horticultural industry. Maize, cotton and soya totally dominate the scene and there the multinational players control the game,” he says. However, Bothma’s outlook is optimistic. “as you know, many small influences that have no major impact in the present may play a bigger role in the future,” he says. “so hopefully this symposium will play a role in the future paths of researchers, enabling them to do better, more relevant and ethical research that will hopefully lead to useful products down the line.”

STATUSINDIAiNDiA’S NATioNAl Biodiversity authority is expected to pursue legal action against Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco), which is partially owned by Monsanto, for allegedly taking samples of at least 10 varieties of the gM eggplant brinjal for development without permission.

although Bt brinjal had been approved for commercial

An in-depth overview on the global seed industry. From rice research in Australia to legal action in India.

worldSTATUS

A look at seed industry developments around the globe.

Visit us online and check out breaking news feeds, free retailer and grower tools, comprehensive video interviews and regulatory information as it affects your business.

When U.S. seed industry professionals want to be in the know … they turn to SeedWorld.com.

OCTOBER 2011 29

A look at seed industry developments around the globe.

development, in February 2010 a moratorium was placed on its use in order to allow time for further testing and social acceptance. shortly afterward, the environment support group, a non-governmental organization, filed a formal complaint which claimed that Mahyco’s access of multiple brinjal varieties violated the Biological Diversity act (2002). the nBa has not yet issued a legal notice, but has stated that it “may proceed legally against Mahyco/Monsanto and all others concerned to take the issue to its logical conclusion.”

Monsanto, which owns a 26 percent stake in Mahyco, has denied collaboration in the project. “reports suggesting that Bt brinjal is produced by Monsanto in partnership with Mahyco are untrue,” the company said in a recent statement. “Monsanto would like to clarify that Bt brinjal has been indigenously developed by Indian seed and biotech company, Mahyco, with the Cry1ac gene accessed from Monsanto, in collaboration with multiple public sector institutions.”

STATUS SINGAPOREThE SiNgAPoRE national research Foundation will invest up to uS$8.2 million over

the next five years in a rice research program to target food security in the region. researchers from the national university of Singapore and temasek life sciences laboratory, in cooperation with the International rice research Institute, will use the funding to develop drought-tolerant rice varieties in the face of climate change.

according to project leader Prakash Kumar, from the NuS’ Department of Biological sciences, recent statistics about declining yields for formerly-reliable asian rice varieties have created an urgent need for research and development of new disease-resistant varieties. “With this funding, our efforts will be significantly increased. We plan to employ an integrated approach to use molecular genetics, functional genomics as well as biotechnological tools to devise strategies to make the existing high-yielding varieties of rice suitable for the global climatic changes.”

While the program’s goals aim to address food security in singapore and surrounding regions, its ultimate impact will be far-ranging. “rice is the most important staple food in singapore and for over half of the world population. rice cultivation occupies the

single largest land use in asia (600,000 km2 annually) and employs a large percentage of the population. so, investment in rice research is critical.”

STATUSPAKISTANAN uPDATE on pakistan’s seed industry: the agriculture sector continues to play a central role in pakistan’s economy. It is the second largest sector, accounting for over 21 percent of pakistan’s gross domestic product, and remains by far the largest employer, absorbing 45 percent of the country’s total labor force. nearly 62 percent of the country’s population resides in rural areas, and is directly or indirectly linked with agriculture for their livelihood.

pakistan’s seed industry is composed of four public seed entities and more than 700 private seed companies, including five multinationals. the industry has made impressive strides from a modest beginning in seed production, from about 66,000 metric tons of various crops in 1976, to over 382,000 metric tons by 2010. the total seed market, comprised of crops such as wheat, cotton, rice, corn, chickpea, rape and mustard, sunflower, groundnut, pulses, fodders, vegetables and potatoes, is estimated at around 1.65 million tons (2010),

with an estimated market value of approximately uS$1.6 million. In terms of quantity, the seed component comprised of open pollinated varieties is the largest, followed by hybrids (mostly imported). small quantities of hybrid seeds (corn, canola and fodders) are being produced locally. recently, locally-produced Bt cotton has replaced more than 80 percent of the area seeded to traditional varieties.

agricultural research is conducted by public research institutes at the federal and provincial levels. the national private sector’s research is still in early stages of development, and multinationals have established r&D centers, but their research is confined to testing exotic hybrids for commercialization in the country. the government considers biotechnology to be a high-priority industry for crops such as cotton, wheat, sugarcane, vegetables, oilseeds, fodders and potato. Biotech varieties, before their approval for commercial crop production, must qualify pre-registration testing for value for cultivation and use. pakistan is a member of the World trade organization. to protect intellectual property rights, the plant Breeders’ rights Bill is in its final stages of approval. —syed Irfan ahmad, editor, the seed news

june 2011

When U.S. seed industry professionals want to be in the know … they turn to SeedWorld.com. SeedWorld.com

30 Seed World

RegulatoRy Roundup

National

Bayer amends Patent Infringement lawsuitBayer CropScience has amended its patent infringement lawsuit pending in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware against Dow AgroSciences, following DAS’s announcement that it has applied for approval to launch a three-gene herbicide tolerant soybean under the Dow Enlist brand name. Bayer’s existing suit asserts that DAS’s previously announced Dow Enlist brand of corn, soybeans and cotton infringe Bayer’s 2,4-D herbicide tolerance patents. In the amendment, Bayer claims that DAS’s newly announced products also infringe several Bayer patents covering glyphosate-tolerant plants. This complaint now seeks a permanent injunction both against DAS’s unauthorized use of the company’s 2,4-D herbicide tolerance patents and Bayer’s glyphosate tolerance patents. “Respect for intellectual property is the foundation for any research-based business,” says Margaret Keating, associate general counsel for Bayer CropScience, “and we intend to vigorously enforce our property rights.”

DuPont Receives two ePa Registrations for Corn ProductsDuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred has approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Optimum AcreMax and Optimum AcreMax Xtra insect protection products in corn. Optimum AcreMax marks the industry’s first U.S. approval of a single-bag integrated refuge product that targets only above-ground insects. Both Optimum AcreMax and Optimum AcreMax Xtra products integrate all of a Corn Belt grower’s refuge needs into a single bag. “We are excited to offer corn growers the broadest line-up of simplified, integrated refuge products in the industry,” said Paul E. Schickler, president of Pioneer. “Optimum AcreMax and Optimum AcreMax Xtra products from Pioneer will not only help growers maximize corn yields but preserve valuable in-plant insect protection for the future.”

Syngenta Receives Import approvalsSyngenta in North America has received import approval from Japanese and Mexican regulatory authorities for the Agrisure Viptera 3220 trait stack, which offers corn growers dual modes of action against a broad spectrum of above-ground insects, including corn borer, as well as a five percent refuge in the Corn Belt region of the United States. These regulatory approvals allow the importation of U.S. corn grown with the Agrisure Viptera 3220 trait stack for food or feed use within Japan and Mexico. “Japanese and Mexican import approvals provide U.S. growers access to a highly valuable market and are a major step toward Agrisure Viptera 3220 trait stack commercialization for the 2012 growing season,” says David Morgan, Syngenta’s North American regional director and president of Syngenta Seeds Inc.

Syngenta agrisure trait Stack approved by ePaThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has granted registration approval for Syngenta’s Agrisure 3122 trait stack. The Agrisure 3122 stack offers growers dual modes of action against both corn borer and corn rootworm, with a structured refuge of only five percent in the Corn Belt region of the United States. The Agrisure 3122 trait stack includes the Agrisure CB/LL trait, which has been helping to protect corn from European corn borer for more than 10 years; the Agrisure RW trait, which protects against corn rootworm; the Herculex I trait for corn borer; the Herculex RW trait for corn rootworm; and the Agrisure GT trait for glyphosate tolerance.

International

european Court of Justice Rules French Ban on gM Crops IllegalThe European Court of Justice has judged the French ban on the cultivation of genetically modified crops to be illegal. The ECJ ruling has confirmed the arguments raised by French farmers and seed companies that the 2008 French government order suspending MON810 use by French farmers did not follow applicable procedural regulations. In addition, the ECJ indicated that emergency measures can be invoked only when there is a clear and serious risk to human health, animal health or environment, but this was not the case when the French government initially acted. EuropaBio views the Court’s judgment as a sign of progress. “The European Court of Justice has given a clear verdict today: EU member states cannot ban GM based on myths and hearsay. In fact, French farmers had three years of experience planting GM crops prior to this ban,” says Carel du Marchie Sarvaas, EuropaBio’s director of green biotechnology. “European scientists have shown again and again that GM crops pose no risk to health or the environment and, in fact, have health, socio-economic and environmental benefits. After all, they are grown on nearly 150 million hectares worldwide by over 15 million farmers, 90 percent of whom are resource-poor farmers working in developing countries.”

eu Backs Right to Ban gM Cultivation European Union member states should have the flexibility to ban or restrict the cultivation of genetically modified crops and should be able to cite environmental motives for doing so, according to members of the European Parliament who recently voted on draft legislation. The draft amendment to existing legislation will now go to the council for further discussion. “I am pleased that parliament has reached an agreement on the difficult issue of GMOs, which has been an issue of public concern for years. If the council manages to find a common position, this balanced agreement will allow countries and regions the right to not grow GMOs if they so

OCTOBER 2011 31

choose,” says the parliament’s rapporteur Corinne Lepage. Only one strain of GM maize and one modified potato are currently authorized for cultivation in the EU and most member states do not grow either crop commercially.

Peru accedes to the uPoV ConventionPeru has acceded to the UPOV Convention and will become the seventieth member of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants on August 8, 2011. The purpose of the UPOV Convention is to encourage the development of new plant varieties by granting breeders intellectual property rights on the basis of a set of clearly defined principles. To be eligible for protection, varieties need to satisfy certain conditions, such as being distinct from existing, commonly-known varieties and sufficiently uniform and stable. The development of new plant varieties is one of the most powerful tools to enhance food production sustainably, to increase income in the agricultural sector and to contribute to overall development. UPOV is an intergovernmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Kenya to allow gM Crop ImportsKenya’s Cabinet has approved the importation of genetically modified maize as it seeks to curb a food shortage ravaging most parts of the country. The move makes Kenya the first country in the region to allow GM crops into the market for human consumption. Kenya is the most advanced country in the region in terms of GM research and biosafety protocols, and analysts expect that the country’s experience in handling GM crops in the market will be used as a model for other neighbouring countries to refine their own biotechnological practices. The brief from Kenya’s presidential press unit states that “only millers will be allowed to import GM maize, which

will only be used for processing into flour.” The brief also stated that “no GM maize should be used as seeds under any circumstances.” uPoV technical Working PartyThe International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants recently held the 45th session of its Technical Working Party for Vegetables in Monterey, Calif. The session included a preparatory workshop, which gave a general overview of UPOV, including its structure and project completion strategy. One of the session’s focuses was intellectual property protection. Jerry Vosti, an account manager for Nunhems USA who has been working in the lettuce and spinach industry for more than 35 years, says intellectual property protection is especially important because it is so difficult to protect genetics in the lettuce seed industry. “There is an enormous amount of competition out here and the fact that lettuce is open-pollinated makes IP protection and enforcement a critical business component,” says Vosti. “Anything that can be done to strengthen PVP laws and help companies’ ability to protect their investments is a good thing.”

Regulatory Roundup keeps you informed of issues at the international, national and state levels that affect your business—from recent regulatory changes to new issues that are at the forefront of the seed industry.

32 Seed World

INDuStRy news

People News

Jose graziano da Silva of Brazil has been elected director-general of the uN Food and agriculture organization. Since 2006, he has served as FAO’s assistant director-general and regional representative for Latin America and the Caribbean. Graziano da Silva is FAO’s eighth director-general since the organization was founded in Quebec City, Canada on October 16, 1945. The term of the new director-general, who will succeed Senegal’s Jacques Diouf, will start on January 1, 2012 and run through July 31, 2015.

The International Rice Research Institute has appointed eero Nissila as head of plant breeding, genetics and biotechnology, and leader of GRISP Theme 2: Accelerating the Development, Delivery and Adoption of Improved Rice Varieties. Nissila will provide strategic and operational leadership on all aspects of rice varietal improvement research in IRRI. As the global leader for GRISP Theme 2, and in collaboration with others, he will provide overall leadership for accelerating the development of new rice varieties and hybrids in all major rice-growing environments, with a particular emphasis on new, targeted product development pipelines that utilize molecular breeding approaches and networks.

Renze Seeds has named Doug Breinig of Arapahoe, Neb., as sales manager for south-central and southwest Nebraska. Breinig began his career in the seed industry in 1974 and

worked for three different companies before joining Renze Seeds. John West has joined the company as district sales manager and will be based in St. Joseph, Miss. West will work to build and service a dealer network while reaching out directly to growers. Seed industry veteran Jeremie Parr has joined Renze Seeds as district sales manager in east-central Iowa. Parr has been employed in the agriculture industry since 1993 and has worked in the seed industry since 1997.

Futuragene has announced that eugênio César ulian has joined the company as vice president of regulatory affairs. Ulian reports directly to the chief executive officer of FuturaGene, Stanley Hirsch, and his scope of activity is global. Ulian has extensive knowledge and experience in the biotech sector. His last position was scientific and regulatory affairs manager at Monsanto.

Valent u.S.a. Corporation has announced three new hires in the company’s seed protection business unit. Marty Robinson, Jay Stroh and Jeff Weber will serve as seed protection market managers in their respective territories. Robinson will work out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and will be responsible for brand management of corn seed protectants and seed protection account management for key western Corn Belt seed companies. Stroh will work out of Underwood, Minn., with responsibilities including brand management of the NipsIt Suite line-up of products for sugar beets, canola

http://en.woksm.comE-mail:lzok@woksm.comTel:+86(931)4613160Fax:+86(931)4611187

China Gansu Jiuquan OK Seed Machinery Co., Ltd.

multiple seed separator

Seeds of ~ Native and

Naturalized Wildflowers ~ Native Grasses ~ Herbs ~ Certified Organics

ENVIRONMENTAL SEED PRODUCERS

ENVIRONMENTAL SEED PRODUCERSP.O. Box 947, Albany, OR 97321541.928.5868 ph / 541.928.5581 fax

www.espseeds.com esp@espseeds.com

3400 109th Street, Des Moines, IA 50322800-247-6755 • www.bratney.com

Contact us today for full specs and pricing.

At a Fully Affordable Price

Team up “Andy,” our new robotic bag transfer system, with a PTH-900 series

automatic bag placer for a fully-automated, open-mouth bagging system with

unbeatable productivity, reliability, and cost.

n Bag-top reformer at the clamp eliminates the need for an external reformer

n Small footprint lets you easily add full automation to existing lines

n Works with paper, poly-woven laminate, and porous poly-woven bags

n Up to 20 bags/min., 24/7, with high reliability and very low maintenance

n Quick external bag-size adjustments and bag detection to avoid spillage

NEW Bagging

Fully Automated

Bratney Seedworld.indd 1 5/9/11 8:44:04 AM

34 Seed World

and cereals, and seed protection account management for key North Dakota and western seed companies. Weber will be based in Noblesville, Ind., and will manage Inovate as well as work with sales organization and seed protection account management for key Midwest seed companies. As the seed protection team expands, Glen Karaffa will shift his focus to support the growing Valent rice, cereals and sorghum seed protection portfolio.

Product News

Syngenta has announced that spinosad insecticide is now available for use on onions as a seed treatment. Spinosad will be available exclusively as a component of FarMore FI500, an insecticide/fungicide seed treatment technology containing separately registered products. The registration of spinosad as a seed treatment for protection against onion maggots marks the first commercially available product offer derived from the 2008 agriculture chemical research and development collaboration between Syngenta and Dow AgroSciences.

The J. R. Simplot Company’s Plant Sciences business has announced its new Innate technology, the all-native biotechnology platform for improving crops, leading to new, better and healthier foods. Innate Technology is a patented plant biotechnology process that works with a plant’s own genes to enhance desirable traits and to decrease less

desirable traits. Innate Technology precisely targets particular traits without introducing foreign DNA. Simplot’s first application of Innate Technology has been submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture for regulatory review.

Soybean growers now have access to a revolutionary biological mode of action to help protect their crop from nematodes, as well as other pests, as part of an agreement announced by Bayer CropScience lP and Monsanto Company. Offered with Monsanto’s acceleron seed treatment products for soybeans, Poncho/VotiVo seed treatment from Bayer combines a seed-applied insecticide with a new living-barrier approach to nematode protection. Under the agreement, Monsanto will have rights to commercialize Poncho/VOTiVO on seed from its Asgrowthe Channel brand and regional brands, as well as to sell the product through its seed licensees, which include numerous independent seed companies across the United States.

Business News

Syngenta has entered into an exclusive global technology partnership with Pasteuria Bioscience Inc., a U.S.-based biotechnology company. Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will develop innovative bio-nematicide products based on the naturally occurring soil bacteria Pasteuria spp. This group of bacteria controls nematodes

across a broad variety of crops. Joint development will initially focus on seed treatment products for controlling soybean cyst nematodes. Syngenta and Pasteuria aim to launch their first product within two years.

The Makhteshim agan group and Isagro Company have reached an agreement for the exclusive license of the active ingredient kiralaxyl for seed dressing applications globally. According to the agreement, MAI will have the rights to register, develop and market mixtures and formulations based on kiralaxyl for the seed dressing market. Isagro will continue to manufacture and hold registrations for the active ingredient of kiralaxyl. The agreement also allows for the development and registration of products to better address customer needs in the segment of seed dressing, predominantly in North America.

Bayer CropScience and the privately-owned company Ragt Semences S.a.S., based in Rodez, France,

SGS IS YOUR PREFERRED QUALITY ASSURANCE PARTNER

FOR DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL SEED PERFORMANCE

SGS North America

236 32nd Avenue

Brookings SD 57006

us.seedinfo@sgs.com

877-692-7611

www.sgs.com

AGRONOMICALLY ACCURATE – SGS seed laboratory services have evolved to provide you with best of class technology and

the most diagnostic and agronomically accurate testing services to assure quality and performance in the seed you market.

GLOBAL PARTNER – SGS has a network of locations across the globe which, when linked to our ISTA Accreditation and

Orange International Certificates, provides you the best of class partner when exporting seed and resolving unforeseen issues.

SGS IS THE WORLD’S LEADING INSPECTION, VERIFICATION, TESTING AND CERTIFICATION COMPANY

WHEN YOU NEED TO BE SURE

SGS_SE_Alt.indd 1 06/01/2011 12:41

PREVENT THE EVENT

36 Seed World

have signed a license and cooperation agreement. Under the agreement, RAGT grants Bayer access to winter wheat germplasm and associated molecular markers. In addition, the companies will explore joint projects to further improve wheat breeding, and RAGT will have options to license wheat traits from Bayer. To support its internal research and development efforts, Bayer has already entered into collaborations with CSIRO in Australia, the University of Nebraska in the United States and Evogene in Israel. In 2010, Bayer also acquired two wheat breeding programs in the Ukraine. The first new wheat varieties from the company’s global wheat breeding program are expected to be available within the next five years.

Seedway has purchased the business assets of olds garden Seed from Winfield Solutions. Olds Garden Seed supplies small-package vegetable and flower seed to retailers and gardeners throughout the Midwest and the Great Lakes region. The successful Olds Garden Seed brand will be maintained, with inventory, operations and customer service transitioning to Seedway’s Elizabethtown, Pa., facility. Scott Morgan, Olds Garden Seed brand manager, will remain with the organization to lead the brand, as will Chris Coley as customer service lead.

Performance Plants Inc., a global agricultural biotechnology provider with research and development facilities in Ontario, Canada, has entered into a commercial licensing agreement in corn, as well as a four-year research and development

collaborative licensing agreement in rice and soybeans with the Chinese agricultural company Beijing Dabeinong technology group ltd. Through these agreements, DBN becomes the exclusive user in China for PPI’s drought tolerance and yield protection technology, heat and drought tolerance technology, water efficiency technology and yield enhancement technologies in corn. The company also has non-exclusive rights for those technologies in rice and soybeans in the country.

The united States Department of agriculture agricultural Research Service’s Sunflower Research unit has merged with the Red River Valley Research Center in Fargo, N.D., in order to provide efficiency, reduce administrative costs and increase research budgets for each scientist. The new unit will be called the Sunflower and Plant Biology Research Unit. Mike Foley has been appointed research leader for the new unit.

Dow agroSciences llC is expanding its wheat portfolio with its recent acquisition of assets from Northwest Plant Breeding Company based in Pullman, Wash. With this acquisition, DAS will expand its Hyland Seeds certified wheat seed program foundation into the Pacific Northwest and build upon the Northwest Plant Breeding Company’s program. The addition of Northwest Plant Breeding assets will provide a research station, germplasm, several active patents and plant variety protections to DAS. DAS will open a cereal breeding station in Pullman and will be fully operational by March 2012.

• Multi-purpose• Re-Useable• Waterproof Glues Used• Sift Resistance Built In• Rugged 100lb. Tag Stock

Construction• Easy To Use: Fold-In Flaps,

Fold-Down & Tuck-In

2802 Hedberg Drive, Hopkins, MN 55305-3405Ph (952) 545-7124 Fax (952) 545-0196

With Spear, It’s In The Bag.Seed/Grain & Special Safety Envelopes For Sampling and Storage.

Call or Send For Free Sample Kit & Prices Gummed and Ungummed Coin Envelopes Available

Our SoftSize™ methodmeans more hard profi ts.

In most seed bags, an average of six seeds out of 100 will nevergerminate. Those damaged, cracked and “lost” seeds will representyield your customers will never see. Dollars they’ll never count.

With Popp’s SoftSize™ method, there are fewer kernels cracked, chipped or broken. In an 80,000-kernel bag, adding even three more viable seeds per hundred means 2,400 more that willgerminate. Cold test. Warm test. Field test. 2,400 more seeds emerging. 2,400 more ears yielding.

SoftSize... it’s a yield advantage your customers will quickly notice, and then demand. Contact us for details on how easy and afford-able germinating more sales can be.

Popp Engineering, Inc. • PO Box 1871 • Ames, Iowa 50010 USA • Email: jpopp@poppengineeringinc.com • Tel: 515-232-6118 • Fax: 515-232-8814

Our SoftSize™ methodmeans more hard profi ts.

In most seed bags, an average of six seeds out of 100 will nevergerminate. Those damaged, cracked and “lost” seeds will representyield your customers will never see. Dollars they’ll never count.

With Popp’s SoftSize™ method, there are fewer kernels cracked, chipped or broken. In an 80,000-kernel bag, adding even three more viable seeds per hundred means 2,400 more that willgerminate. Cold test. Warm test. Field test. 2,400 more seeds emerging. 2,400 more ears yielding.

SoftSize... it’s a yield advantage your customers will quickly notice, and then demand. Contact us for details on how easy and afford-able germinating more sales can be.

Popp Engineering, Inc. • PO Box 1871 • Ames, Iowa 50010 USA • Email: jpopp@poppengineeringinc.com • Tel: 515-232-6118 • Fax: 515-232-8814

SoftSize…It’s a yield advantage your customers will quickly notice, and then

demand. Contact us for details on how easy and affordable germinating more sales can be.

Our SoftSize™ methodmeans more hard profi ts.

In most seed bags, an average of six seeds out of 100 will nevergerminate. Those damaged, cracked and “lost” seeds will representyield your customers will never see. Dollars they’ll never count.

With Popp’s SoftSize™ method, there are fewer kernels cracked, chipped or broken. In an 80,000-kernel bag, adding even three more viable seeds per hundred means 2,400 more that willgerminate. Cold test. Warm test. Field test. 2,400 more seeds emerging. 2,400 more ears yielding.

SoftSize... it’s a yield advantage your customers will quickly notice, and then demand. Contact us for details on how easy and afford-able germinating more sales can be.

Popp Engineering, Inc. • PO Box 1871 • Ames, Iowa 50010 USA • Email: jpopp@poppengineeringinc.com • Tel: 515-232-6118 • Fax: 515-232-8814Popp Engineering, Inc. • PO Box 1871 • Ames, Iowa 50010 USA Email: jpopp@poppengineeringinc.com • Tel: 515-232-6118 • Fax: 515-232-8814

Liquid Handling Equipment

Herbicide Transfer Systems•Fertilizer Transfer Systems•Weigh Systems, Meters and •AccessoriesPumps, Motors and Accessories•Safety Equipment•Fittings, Strainers and Valves•Nurse and Storage Tanks•Spray Parts and Accessories•Repair Parts•Tank Monitoring •

Seed Handling EquipmentEnvironmental Systems•Bulk Seed Bins•Seed Treaters•Belt Conveyors•Seed Hoppers•Seed Tenders•Seed Boxes•

ServicesDesign and Consultation•Conceptual Drawings•CAD Drawings•Bulk Bin Delivery•Conveyor Installation•System Start-up•On-Site Training•

800.247.1854 www.farmchem.com

Serving the agricultural industry since 1974

The Industry’s Trusted Sourcefor chemical and seed handling equipment

8

RH Series Seed Treater

Seed Treaters

The RH series seed treater utilizes a rotary volumetric seed wheel, chemical atomizer, rotating drum, closed calibration and a tank & pump system to treat various seed types. These continuous flow seed treating systems will treat between 800 and 2000 bushels per hour. This machine is offered with manual controls (Basic), or PLC touch screen controls (Commercial). The RH Basic and RH Commercial are both offered as RH-800 and RH-2000 models. Upgrades are available to convert a HC model seed treater to a RH model.

RH Basic RH Commercial

RH-2000 Dimensions Adjustable Height: up to 119” Width: 44” Length: 144”

RH-800 Dimensions Adjustable Height: up to 119” Width: 44” Length: 116”

Find us on

8396 4c - Seed World.indd 1 7/20/11 4:04:37 PM

38 Seed World

Industry News is geared to seed professionals and delivers the people, industry, business and product news you need to know. Submissions are welcome. email us at news@issuesink.com.

INCoteC group BV and Plant Health Care, a leading provider of naturally derived products to the agriculture and horticulture industries, have signed a non-exclusive, multi-year agreement to develop and market PHC’s Myconate in combination with INCOTEC’s proprietary seed treatment packages. PHC will contribute its Myconate technology and introduce its current customers to Incotec seed treatments. The two companies will work together to develop new and novel uses for Myconate around the world.

Winfield Solutions llC, a subsidiary of Land O’ Lakes, and Chromatin Inc., a provider of innovative crop breeding technology, sorghum seed products and energy crop feedstocks, have joined forces to market and develop forage sorghum hybrids. Under the agreement, Winfield will partner with Chromatin and its subsidiary, Sorghum Partners LLC, to provide and develop market leading hybrid forage sorghum seed products that will be marketed and distributed through the Winfield network of customers in North America.

Industry News

The world’s largest database on plants’ functional properties, or traits, has been published. Scientists compiled three million traits for 69,000 of the world’s roughly 300,000 plant species. The achievement rests on a worldwide collaboration of scientists from 106 research institutions. The initiative,

known as tRy, is hosted at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena, Germany. The first release of the TRY database has been published in the journal Global Change Biology. “This huge advance in data availability will lead to more reliable predictions of how vegetation boundaries and ecosystem properties will shift under future climate and land-use change scenarios,” says Ian Wright of Macquarie University in Australia.

Agricultural producers will benefit from a project at South Dakota State university that uses an innovative plant-breeding technique to shave perhaps two years off the time needed to produce winter wheat varieties for farmers. Breeders are pollinating wheat plants with corn to produce doubled-haploid wheat plants. The resulting doubled-haploids are homozygous lines with identical chromosome sets carrying genes originating only from the wheat parent. Consequently, instead of needing approximately six generations of conventional self-pollination, such homozygous lines are produced in only one.

®

We keep you growingThe new Conviron Growth House™ - Big room, Big results

Conviron continues to lead the industry with innovative solutions in controlled environments. Our new Conviron Growth House™ provides the large capacity of a greenhouse with the precision of a growth chamber. Designed as a walk-in room, features include:

• Space efficiency - rolling benches and large-area design • Lighting - HID lighting and support system • Environmental Control - configurable options and customization • Security - no outside visual exposure as with a greenhouse

tel +1.204.786.6451 | toll free 800.363.6451 North America | email info@conviron.com | www.conviron.com

These represent only a sampling of the features and capabilities available with the Conviron Growth House™. Options exist for lighting, construction method, refrigeration, additive CO2 and numerous other design elements. Involve us in the early planning stages and let us tailor a solution specific to your unique requirements.

To learn more about our company or to inquire how Conviron can help you to achieve your vision, visit us online at www.conviron.com or contact us directly.

causing ripples throughout the agricultural world since 1940

introducing the new LMC AdventTM Cleaner SeriesLMC’s Advent Cleaner Series is revolutionizing how manufacturers view processing

systems. The company’s keen insight into customer needs has opened doors to innovation

and adaptability. The Advent Cleaner is the only cleaner that removes light foreign material

at the beginning of the process, thereby providing greater accuracy and capacity. Using one

continuous flow, the Advent gives the required separations with minimal dockage. Call our

sales team today about our processing systems or visit us on the web at www.lmcarter.com.

Post Office Box 428 • 615 Highway 84 West • Donalsonville, GA 39845

229-524-2197 • 1-800-332-8232 • www.lmcarter.com

www.Facebook.com/LMCmanufacturing

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Advent_ad.pdf 1 10/29/10 4:14 PM

40 Seed World

Th e t u r f a n d f o r a g e g r a s s seed industry is

small when compared to the major grain and a n i m a l a g r i cu l t u re sectors. However, it is nonetheless important to a slice of the agriculture industry. The epicenter of this industry is the Willamette Valley in Oregon. It is in this valley, measuring about 120 miles long and 30-50 miles wide, that just over

50 percent of the world’s commercially traded turf and forage grass seed is grown.

I chose the word “epicenter” for its reference to earth-shaking events. The Global Financial Crisis of 2008 sent shock waves through the industry, causing a ripple of financial pain and uncertainty for turf and forage grass seed companies throughout the world. But it was in the Willamette Valley where the most significant economic damage occurred.

While the sudden drop in the value of securities (mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations) tied to real estate, especially home values, is usually seen as the trigger for the recent financial crisis, the events of September 2008 set off a drop in inventory and crop values that was greater in percentage than the drop in real estate values. Worldwide production and consumption were at their highest levels in 2006-2007 and seed prices were escalating. However, in just one week in September 2008, over $144 billion was withdrawn from money market mutual funds in the United States, 20 times the normal rate in a period of uncertainty.

The impact on seed orders and shipments was immediate. Many of my colleagues in the business saw sales and contracts for future delivery drop 35-50 percent. Inventory values also dropped immediately, and the value of future contracts came into question. Estimates of the drop in inventory values for Willamette Valley growers, producers and seed companies in 2008-2009 are $175-$200 million dollars.

After three long and painful years, we are emerging from the GFC. We must employ the best new strategies we can implement in order to avoid a repeat of our recent painful and costly experience. I am reminded of the wise counsel of an

Emerging from the Global Financial Crisis

earlier writer of this column. In “Surviving the Next 25 Years”—printed in the December 2010 issue of Seed World—Rurik Halaby of AgriCapital Corporation writes, “The way to survive is a mindset: be adaptable. Anticipate and welcome change. And the best insurance? Be adequately capitalized, and your banker will call you up and invite you to lunch!”

In the turf and forage grass seed business, we have often not paid much attention to being adequately capitalized. Perhaps our biggest error is in failing to account for the risks inherent in multi-year production contracts. During the past three years, worldwide production has dropped dramatically in response to the lack of demand and the emptying of the supply chain.

However, as we emerge from the GFC, it is important that we remember how painful it is when assets such as seed inventories and current production lose 30 percent, 50 percent or even 65 percent of their value. Such losses were typical during the 2008-2009 crop year. Remaining fiscally responsible and planning with realistic sales and profit goals in mind will be the mark of a forward-looking turf and forage seed business. Remaining well capitalized and taking measured and appropriate risks should lead to success.

When demand appears, we in the grass seed business are often too quick to respond by putting in production acres, hoping we can take advantage of that increasing demand. While hope is a good attitude to maintain, the creation of realistic growth plans with profitability in mind is a better goal. Perhaps I should call my banker and take him to lunch.

Mike Baker, General Manager, Pennington Seed, Inc. Oregon Division

After three long and painful years, we are

emerging from the GFC.

©2010 Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc., 410 Swing Road, Greensboro, NC 27409. Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using Syngenta products. The instructions contain important conditions of sale, including limitations of warranty and remedy. Avicta Duo Corn is a Restricted Use Pesticide. For use by certifi ed applicators only. Growers planting Avicta Duo Corn treated seed are not required to be certifi ed applicators. Avicta Complete Corn is a promotional combination of separately registered products containing AvictaDuo Corn nematicide/insecticide, Maxim XL and Dynasty fungicides and may additionally contain (1) Apron XL fungicide (2) Cruiser seed treatment insecticide, or (3) Apron XL and Cruiser. Avicta technology is protected by U.S. Patent No. 6,875,727 and other patents and pending patent applications in the U.S. and other countries. Apron XL,® Avicta,® Cruiser,® Dynasty,® Maxim® and the Syngenta logo are registered trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Syngenta Customer Center: 1-866-SYNGENT(A) (796-4368). www.FarmAssist.com MW 1SDT0014-BB-A 7/10

Each year, corn growers have just one chance toget it right from the start. Avicta® Complete Cornnematicide/insecticide/fungicide combination ofseparately registered products is the only seedtreatment with the proven, consistent ability to triple-protect from day one and improve yields. Talk to yourseed supplier, or go to AvictaComplete.com/Cornto learn more.

The world is full of practice fi elds.

Your cornfi eld shouldn’t be one of them.

Group Creative Director: Jeff TresidderArt Director/Designer: Sarah HoehnCopywriter: Steve AldrichPhotographer/Illustrator: Jim EricksonRetoucher: FatCat DigitalPrint Producer: Rita NaganSeparator: GLS CompaniesArt Buyer: Lisa CrawfordAccount Manager: Leigh Thiel Kristina FennerProject Manager: Kathleen FlandersDPA: Kaveh Rahimi

Syngenta SDTAvicta Complete Corn“The world is full of...”Mag., Pg. 4C Bld.Bleed: 9.00" x 11.50"Trim: 7.75" x 10.50"Live: 7.00" x 10.00"

Martin|Williams Job No.1SDT0014-BB-A

Laser is 100%

Advanced high-value genetics, seed-applied protection products and the pressure of increased marketplace competition require effective, innovative and individualized seed enhancement solutions to deliver superior seed performance.

Becker Underwood is the global leader in developing innovative and customized solutions to handling, colorant, appearance, dust control, plantability and performance challenges for seed companies worldwide. Our new all-in-one products lead the industry in the delivery of one-application colorants, polymers and biologicals. And our new Seed Technology Center lets us collaborate even closer with customers in the development of individualized solutions.

We’re inventing the future to meet the needs of an ever-changing global seed industry.

Call us about developing an innovative solution for your seed-enhancement needs.

1.800.892.2013 beckerunderwood.com

801 Dayton Avenue • P.O. Box 667 • Ames, IA 50010

The Becker Underwood logo is a registered trademark of Becker Underwood, Inc., Ames, IA. ©2011 Becker Underwood, Inc.

InnovatIve SolutIonS. SuPeRIoR PeRfoRmance.

Dust Control • Appearance • Flowability Plantability • Performance