asta annualreport0708

8/12/2019 ASTA AnnualReport0708

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Charting the Direction of

American agriculture

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Leads the Way by Driving:

Regulatory and legislative matters at the state, national and international levels.New technology and innovation across all seed types.

An understanding of the value of seed.

Our Mission

ASTAs mission is to be an effective voice of action in all matters concerning thedevelopment, marketing and free movement of seed, associated products and services

throughout the world. ASTA promotes the development of better seed to producebetter crops for a better quality of life.

Who We Are

Founded in 1883, ASTA is one of the oldest trade organizations in the United States.Its membership consists of about 750 companies involved in seed production

and distribution, plant breeding, and related industries in North America.As an authority on plant germplasm, ASTA advocates science and policy issues

of industry-wide importance.


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Table of Contents

Message to the Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Goals Serve the Seed Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

ASTA Drives Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

A Global Network Strengthens Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Partnerships Further ASTA Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

An Environment to Encourage Further Investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Communication Channels to Inform and Respond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Members Are Our Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Resources Fuel Effectiveness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Celebrating 125 Years of the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10American Seed Trade Association

Marking a Monumental Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Seed Industry Announces New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Foundation to Support Education

ASTA Organizational Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

ASTA Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Opportunities for All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18


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The 10 strategic issues, not listed with any order of importance are:

Global Agricultural PolicyProvide effective leadership on global issues, in addi-tion to domestic, agricultural, trade and other policyissues affecting the seed industry

Domestic PolicyProvide effective leadership on domestic policy andfunding issues important to the U.S. seed industry,

in general, and to ASTA members in particular

Intellectual PropertyAdvocate and defend the intellectual property interestsof the U.S. seed industry, domestically and internation-ally, including providing education to dealers, growers,legislators, government ofcials and customers

State & Local IssuesEffectively manage the increasing number of state andlocal government actions impacting the seed industry

ASTA PublicsDeal more effectively with ASTA publics media,government, industry, customers and the public atlarge with increasing emphasis on supporting seedindustry views deeper in the value chain

Seed Association of the Americas (SAA)Establish and support Seed Association of the Americasto improve the effectiveness and value of seed tradeamong and within countries in the Americas

MembershipAchieve growth in the number, increase memberinvolvement and manage the diversity of members

(size, geography, crop, etc.) in ASTA

ResponsivenessIncrease the responsiveness of ASTA in identifying andresolving issues affecting ASTA members

ASTA StaffKeep ASTA staff current in terms of number and skillsets to accomplish goals in a changing commercial andpolicy environment

Financial Health

Continue to strengthen the nancial health of theAssociation to achieve and maintain targetednancial reserves

Serve the Seed Industry

In January, 2005, ASTAs Board of Directors adopted a strategic plan that clearlyidentied the Associations priorities. The 10 strategic goals outlined in ASTAs Strate-gic Plan are geared to meet the objectives of the Associations mission statement. Together,they guide the efforts put forth by its members and staff. With the integrity of the seed industry andthe talented people who are a part of it, ASTA is committed to these goals, working hard for its members, stakehold-ers and ultimately to the consumers. Looking back over the 125th year of the Association, ASTA has advanced theagenda of the American seed industry, charting the direction of American agriculture through seed quality, technol-ogy and innovation. Here are a few of the highlights among each of the 10 goals in ASTAs Strategic Plan.

GOALS


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ASTA Drives Policy

Domestic Policy

When seed is being discussed, ASTA is there. Whether

it is on Capitol Hill or in the halls of USDA, ASTAis well positioned to familiarize policy makers andCongressional members on seed industry issues andpriorities. Topics range, but the focus is on intellectualproperty rights, patent reform, immigration, farm billimplementation, energy, trade and food safety. Out-reach and education now go beyond the traditionalpartners of the seed industry in particular governmentagencies, so that their representatives better understandhow the seed industry may be impacted through theirvarious activities.

Grassrootsactivities are essential with much moreeffort at the district level and in Washington; therefore,

close interaction with state associations are critical tothese efforts of ASTA. ASTA has seen successes withcontinued funding for important seed initiatives suchas Genetic Enhancement of Maize (GEM), the NationalPlan Germplasm System, Global Crop Diversity Trust,National Seed Health System and special projects ondiseases like soybean rust and watermelon fruit blotch.

Stewardship is an important part of business that theseed industry is committed to. The ASTA Guide to

Seed Quality Management Practiceswas unveiled in June 2008. The

Guide, developed by the ASTAStewardship Committee,

is intended to serve as

a reference documentfor companies devel-

oping individualquality manage-

ment practices and operating procedures for seed from

the point of incorporation of a trait into a breedingprogram through commercial seed production and sale.The Guide is maintained in a dynamic and interactiveformat on the ASTA Web site.

Food safety has emerged as a top priority amongpolicy makers after recent outbreaks over the last year.ASTA established the Ad Hoc Food Safety WorkingGroup tasked to look at the role of seed in relation tofood safety. In June 2008, the ASTA Board of Directorsapproved a Statement on Field and GreenhousePlanted Seeds and Human Pathogens.Recogniz-ing the concern of consumers with the safety of theirfood, the U.S. seed industry developed the statement

to emphasize that existing data do not show that hu-man pathogens pose a risk for seed planted for eld orgreenhouse production of fresh produce or that thesepathogens are transmitted from seed to this produce.

ASTA continues to increase advocacy and educationopportunities for ASTA members via contacts andinteraction with key government policy and regulatoryofcials. ASTA has excellent representation of govern-ment ofcials at their meetings and conferences. Theannual exchanges at the meetings of the Environmental& Conservation Seed Committee and the Phytosani-tary Committee provide an open forum for industryand government to identify issues related to the seedtrade and propose solutions. ASTA plans to expand

the number of ASTA workshops with U.S. governmentagencies, while creating new opportunities for these

benecial exchanges, as well as increase the presence ofASTA members serving on U.S. government advisorycommittees.


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A Global NetworkStrengthens Strategy

Global Agricultural Policy

ASTA reorganized and invigorated the InternationalExecutive Committee (IEC)to more effectively provideleadership globally in agriculture, trade and otherpolicy issues affecting the seed industry. The IEC setsinternational priorities and directs ASTAs activities insupport of these goals. Five countries have been identi-ed as having high interest (Argentina, Brazil, China,Mexico and India). Specic issues addressed by ASTAsinternational programs include protection of intellec-tual property, phytosanitary issues and adventitiouspresence in the context of biotech seed.

Extremely benecial to ASTAs efforts is the involve-ment of member volunteers with international efforts.

Country Working Groupshave recently been formedfor each of the priority markets. Members provide theground truthing and insight into the many issues thatoccur in each country. ASTA continues to recruit mem-

ber volunteers to further enhance these very importantprograms.

PartnershipsFurther ASTA Goals

State and Local Issues

ASTA recognizes the value and resourcesof state andregional seed associations. There is a great need and

benet to communicate, coordinate and work together,as each organization has unique strengths and resourc-es available to them. ASTA has committed to a lead rolein enhancing this synergy.

In addition to having ASTA staff and leadership repre-sented at state and regional seed association meetings,ASTA provides opportunities for state and regionalseed association executivesto meet on a regular basisand discuss various seed issues. The sessions haveenabled ASTA to assist in strategically planning andpositioning the seed industry to address challengesat the local, state and national levels. The workshopsreect the interests, concerns and priorities of a verydiverse seed industry. Creating synergy helps ensurethat the seed industry is well-positioned, while ASTAremains an effective advocate for all our members.

Seed Associationof the Americas

The Seed Association of theAmericas (SAA)has made a namefor itself over the last year. SAA

identied a part-time executive secretary and hiredDiego Risso as SAAs secretary general in January 2008.Annually, the SAA Board of Directors proposes anaction plan to the General Assembly for approval. Thefour committees of SAA play a key role in developingthe priorities and strategies to reach the goals in theaction plan. Each committee has a leader country,

with the responsibility to inform the outcomes of thecommittee to all member countries through the SAAWeb site. The rst SAA Congress was held in Septem-

ber 2007 and brought exchanges of information anddirection to the issues SAA would address in the future.


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An Environment toEncourage FurtherInvestment

Intellectual Property Rights

As in any industry in the U.S., the legal protection ofintellectual propertyencourages investment by com-panies to bring new innovations to market. The seedindustry is no different, and it is important that thecustomers who benet from these innovations better

understand how this protection and further investmentbenets them directly. Seed is evolving rapidly thanksto new innovations and technologies that have enabledthe seed industry to provide higher quality, betterperforming varieties and hybrids to Americas farmers.The seed industry is working hard to deliver a consis-tent, high quality product that benets everyone todayand tomorrow.

ASTA is developing tools for its members to createinformed discussions between the seed industry andtheir rst customers, the growers, about the valueseed brings to their operations. With the launch of theBeyond the Seedprogram at the 2008 ASTA Corn &

Sorghum and Soybean Seed Research Conference, theprogram will help to explain how the purchase of qual-ity seed, not only helps the growers production today,

but also invests in the innovation of seed for tomorrow.Beyond the Seed program tools will include a brochure,wallet card, Web site and presentation materials formembers to use.

ASTA also addresses the importance of intellec-tual property rights to the seed industryin domestic and international forums.ASTA staff and members worktogether in various internationaland governmental venues, such as

International Seed Federation, theInternational Union for the Protec-tion of Plant Varieties (UPOV), theU.S. Patent and Trade Ofce (USP-TO), and the Plant Variety ProtectionAdvisory Board, where the protectionof intellectual property is discussed.

Communication Channelsto Inform and Respond

ASTA Communications

A Communications Steering Committeehas beenformed and will have direct interaction with the Boardof Directors due to the strategic importance of com-munication both inside and outside of ASTA. Drawingfrom its diverse membership, this newly formed com-mittee will forge forward with strategies to deal moreeffectively with ASTA publics.

In addition, ASTA has been developing the toolstobetter represent the Association and the seed industry.From a new trade show booth to a public relationssoftware system to directly communicate with over1200 media on a regular basis, ASTA is well equippedto effectively deliver important messages to broad

audiences about the seed industry.

Responsiveness

Technology has certainly impacted the seed offeredto growers. Technology also helps the seed industryrespondto identifying and resolving issues affectingASTA members. ASTA staff utilizes technology, such asconference calls, to move issues and expedite results.Divisions and committees are able to interact almostinstantaneously, devising strategies, addressing issuesand identifying solutions. These same communica-tion channels are employed to funnel these grassroots

activities up to the ASTA ofcers, Executive Committeeand the Board of Directors. Meeting virtually makesASTA more responsive while saving money!


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Corn 212

Farm 180

Soybean 172

Vegetable 165

Alfalfa 159Lawn 130

Field Grass 124

Clover 99

Sorghum 91

Flower 86

Sunflower 47

Native Grasses 22

Wildflower 18

Cotton 11Tree 9

Peanut 7

Rice 4

Members Are Our Strength

Membership

Without members, an association cannot exist. ASTA iscommitted to retaining and growing its membership,

but also to bringing value to its members. ASTA hasdeveloped a plan which focuses on retention andmember satisfaction, including increased recruitmentactivities and the identication of potential members.

The valueof the Association to its members is key.ASTA continues to provide value to its 760 mem-bersthrough various channels timely informationthrough meetings, educational programming andopportunities for member participation with policymakers. ASTA also conducted a 2008 MembershipSurvey to evaluate the satisfaction, priorities and

benets of the Association as plans are developedfor future strategies and activities.

ASTA seeks diversityin ofcers, board members andcommittee chairmen that reects the wide range ofthe seed industry and addresses the needs of thesemembers such as conservation policy, organic produc-tion, regulations and commercial opportunities. Thecommitment to the diversity of ASTA includes ongoingreview of dues to equate value and increase participa-tion of membership. With better communication andoutreach to seed dealers and smaller seed companies,ASTA can continue to address the many needs of itsmembers, bringing value to all.

3%

11%

22%64%

Northeast (70)

Southeast (51)

Central (197)

North Central (155)

South (49)

Northwest (76)

West(112)

Canada, Mexico, Foreign (50)

Active (488)

Associate (166)

Affiliate (86)

Correspondent (20)

Membership by ParticipationTotal ASTA Members: 760

Membership by Region

Membership by Seed Type

Northwest NorthCentral

Central

Northeast

Southeast

South

Canada

Mexico

West

WA

ID

NV

CA

AZ NM

TX LA

AROK

COKS

NE

SD

NDMT

WY

MN

MIWI

OHINIL

IA

MO

MS

TN

KYNC

MD

DE

NJ

CTRI

MA

MENHVT

VAWV

PA

NY

SC

GAAL

FL

UT

OR


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Resources Fuel Effectiveness

ASTA Staff

ASTA members look to the Associations staff to keep the ball rolling on the priorities of the seed industry. Thestructure and stafng levels have been adjusted to meet the goals of the strategic plan and yet stay consistent with

nancial resources. This includes recruiting strong talent and building on the talent already in place by updating jobdescriptions and organizational structure, setting goals and reviewing performance, and identifying opportunitiesfor training.

Executive Office

Andrew W. LaVignePresident and Chief Executive Ofcer

Barbara SurianDirector, Administrative Services

Federal and State Government AffairsLeslie CahillVice President, Government Affairs

Pat MillerDirector, State Affairs

Science and International Affairs

Bernice SlutskyVice President, Science andInternational Affairs

Ric DunkleSenior Director, Seed Health and Trade

Lisa NicholsDirector, International Programs

Finance and Administration

Ann JorssVice President, Finance and Administration

Candice McCulloughStaff Assistant

Membership and Meetings

Jason LaneyDirector, Membership Services

Jennifer LordDirector, Meetings and Services

Hiranthie Stanford

Meetings & Membership Coordinator

Communications

Gretchen E. FlanleyVice President,Communications

ASTA staff in Oregon on a eld visitto member companies (top left).Staff members commemorate BreastCancer Awareness Month (left).


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Expenses

PROGRAMS

Corn & Sorghum Seed $115,632

Farm Seed 2,322

Lawn Seed 3,106

Soybean Seed 35,264

Vegetable & Flower Seed 115,376

Annual Convention 498,848

Management Skills 111,530

Future Seed Executives (FuSE) 17,203

Export Market Development 119,226

Foreign Agricultural Services 439,942

Other Programs 44,882

GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE $2,951,170

TOTAL EXPENSES $4,454,501

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS ($200,086)

Financial Health

Fiscal health is never more important than in the cur-rent economic conditions. ASTA has established a solid

budget process developed by gathering input fromstaff, divisions and ASTA leadership which is thenreferred to the Board of Directors for approval. ASTA

maintains a complete openness with membership aboutthe Associations budget and nancial status. ASTA hasnow achieved its goal for a nancial reserve. The Boardof Directors approved a reserve policy and strategy,which includes reviewing proposals for leveragingnancial health and member services tied to ASTAobjectives.

The ASTA audit was conducted in accordance withU.S. generally accepted auditing standards by StrackStaneld, LLC. The 2008 audit conrmed the nancialhealth of the Association. ASTA began its scal yearwith unrestricted net assets of $4,660,891 and endedwith $4,460,805, a decrease of $200,086 mainly due to

an increased staff and resulting additional activity dur-ing this nancial year as well as losses in investmentsdue to the economy.

Investment Policy of ASTA

To preserve and protect the invested assets of ASTA

To build reserves through capital appreciation andinterest dividends

To build reserves to cover two years of operatingbudget with operating surpluses and investmentgains, in case of economic disruptions

To provide a source of funds to cover unbudgetedand extraordinary expenses brought about by unan-ticipated challenges or opportunities

ASTA Revenue Sources

Revenue

Dues $2,289,037

Meetings 1,243,800

Exhibits 262,193

Assessment 48,272

Government Reimbursements 439,942

Miscellaneous 33,794

Administrative Service Fees 25,000

Investment (loss) Income (87,624)

TOTAL REVENUES $4,254,415

7%

10%

29%54%

Dues ($2,289,037)

Meetings ($1,243,800)

Government Reimbursements ($439,942)

Other ($281,636)


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Germination 1883 - 1908

By 1883, as the business of growing and marketing seeds expanded, seedsmen meeting in Rochester, N.Y., decided tohold a large seed convention. Ethan Allan Chase, of Rochester, is credited with the original idea for the convention.Other strongly supportive members included B. K. Bliss and Peter Henderson (of New York), Joseph A. Bolgiano(of Maryland) and E. B. Clark, William Meggat and Richard A. Robbins (of Connecticut). Once the idea was adopted,

invitations went out to seedsmen across the country in May. The response was so favorable that by the next month,June 12 to 14, a group of 35 men representing 33 seed trade rms mainly those concerned with vegetable seeds gathered for the rst assemblage of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). The initial meeting was heldin New York City at the Gilsey House, the rst hotel in that city to offer telephone service to guests. The group dis-cussed three major topics of eminent concern to seedsmen of the time: protection against unjust claims for damages;postage on seeds and seed tariffs. The introductory passage of ASTAs 1883 ofcial record states, We desire to enrollevery seedsman from Maine to California, and respectfully invite you to apply for admission. The founding mem-

bers convened the group to bring together seedsmen spread over the geographical limits of this mighty continentwho remained unacquainted with those with whom they do business. The records from that initial meetingexpress a hope that the edgling association will at once become just what it ought to be, what it is intended to

be a national organization.

Celebratingof the 125 Years


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Tender Shoots 1908 - 1933

Heading into the 20th century,the major concerns facingAmerican seed companieswere largely the same as thosein the 1800s: seed legislation,

tariff issues, postal laws, freeseed distribution by the gov-ernment and the disclaimer.However, the world warpresented seed companieswith additional problems.After the United States

entered the conict in April1917, government war councils in

each state took steps to ensure greater food production.At the 1917 convention, ASTA stressed the importanceof cooperating with government war councils in orderto more fully meet the present emergency. ASTAsleadership and members demonstrated a strong sense

of patriotism. They adopted the following resolutionunanimously in 1917:

That the President of the United States and the Secretary ofAgriculture be tendered the support of this Association in allreasonable measures designed to prosecute the war with theutmost vigor. We count ourselves fortunate to be able to doour full share in supplying men and money, but our greatestservice may well be in maintaining, under extraordinarystrain, the machinery of producing and the distributing ofseeds, without which agriculture must fail. Because we real-ize in some measure the magnitude of the task to which ourcountry is committed, we are the more earnest in pledging toit our entire resources.

ASTA member companies contributed to the Great Warnot just with resources and seeds, but also with lives.In 1918, out of the 223 member companies, 14 ownerswere serving in the military, 46 others had sons in theservice, and 621 employees were in uniform.

Deepening Roots 1933 - 1958

During World War II, many people migrated from ruralareas to U.S. cities, where industrial jobs related to thewar effort were readily available. But as the UnitedStates recovered from war, it became increasinglypopular to move away from cities into the surround-

ing areas, which were neither rural nor urban, butsuburban. In the postwar years, American citizensenjoyed economic success, in part because demand forgoods from the United States, a country comparativelyuntouched by war, remained high. The growing popu-larity of suburbs and a suburban style of living in theUnited States with the accompanying lawns, owersand gardens created a much higher demand forseeds of this type. Business for lawn and garden seedcompanies soon boomed, and in the early 1950s, ASTAestablished a special committee specically committedto lawn and turf seed. By 1957, this committee had

become the Lawn and Turfgrass Division. One curi-ous result of the war was that in 1945, for the rst time

since its organization 63 years before, ASTA held nogeneral annual meeting of its membership. Instead, inChicago, from May 31 through June 2, the ExecutiveCommittee and other committees met. ASTAs recordsfor that year do not include a report of the annualconvention, just a Report of Activities, which states:

The reason for not holding a Summer meeting, or conven-tion, was that Federal regulations prohibited the holding ofconventions or other meetings with 50 or more persons inattendance. The maintenance of complete and uninterruptedactivities, of course, required the holding of a meeting of theAssociations Executive Committee and urgent war require-ments of the industry made necessary several other Commit-tee sessions in order that denite policies regarding the seedindustry and the war effort might be thoroughly dened andconsidered.


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Branching Out 1958 - 1983

By the 75th anniversary of the Association, held inSt. Louis, Mo., ASTA membership had reached 731companies. This next chapter brought the arrival ofa massive increase in food production referred to asthe Green Revolution, as use of hybrid breeding tech-

niques pioneered by Norman Borlaug, a Nobel laureateand later an ASTA convention speaker, were widelyadopted, drastically changing the industry. With thiswidespread use of hybrids came issues surroundingintellectual property rights.

ASTA began to further expand its reach in order tocoordinate efforts to address new technologies andthe government regulations that came with them. TheASTA headquarters was relocated in 1959 to Washing-ton, D.C. A stronger working relationship was forgedwith the Canadian Seed Trade Association, the MexicanAssociation of Seed, the International Seed Federationand the host of regional seed associations that worked

around the United States. In 1959, ASTA established theAmerican Seed Research Foundation to promote scien-tic research in seeds, and in 1967, a partnership withthe National Council of Commercial Plant Breeders wasput in place.

The greatest legislative achievement of this era wasthe passing of the Plant Variety Protection Act of 1970,which protected breeders rights on new seed variet-ies for 17 years from the date of issuance. ASTA wouldeventually add a permanent staff legislative position in1980 and continued to diligently monitor later amend-ments to this crucial act.

Full Blossom 1983 - 2008

The Centennial Anniversary of ASTA was celebratedin San Francisco, Calif., at which the Association could

boast 55 standing committees, 20 liaison committees,seven divisions, and eight permanent staff. As ASTA

headed into the 21st century, advances in scienceand technology reshaped the realms of plant breed-ing and seed marketing. The industry was foreverchanged with the advent of biotechnology in seed.ASTA appointed a Biotechnology Committee in 1985,which worked to unlock the mysteries of the bud-ding scientic eld for member companies with aneducational program that discussed biotechnologysprocesses, applications, regulatory issues and thechallenges to its widespread acceptance. As the world

began to feel smaller, international trade relations grewin importance. New laws affecting seed productionand distribution were enacted as nations strove to ndappropriate ways to manage and regulate innovations.

ASTA participated at national and international levels,keeping its membership apprised of trade develop-ments and providing educational opportunities, facili-tating import and export of seeds and debating andestablishing global policies and laws.

Meanwhile, ASTA was growing and modernizing.The ASTA ofce was outtted with computers in 1986,followed later by the creation of its Web site. In 1992,ASTA relocated to a new building in downtown Wash-ington, D.C., the area where the Association had beenheadquartered since 1960. Before 10 years had passed,ASTA moved again, to a still larger ofce located inthe Districts suburbs, in Alexandria, Va. Staff grew in

number and the head of the staff ofce became knownas President and CEO, beginning with Dick Crowder in2003. Continuing to keep up with rapid changes in theseed business, ASTA made it a higher priority to pre-pare and involve the next generation of seed industryprofessionals and established the Future Seed Execu-tives (FuSE) subcommittee within its standing Manage-ment Skills Committee to address topics relevant tothose who had been in the seed industry for less thanseven years.


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2008-2009 ASTA Elected Officers

Kelly Keithly, Keithly-Williams Seeds, Chairman

Jerry Monk, Warner Seeds, Inc., First Vice Chairman

John Nelsen, RiceTec, Inc., Second Vice Chairman

Risa DeMasi, Grassland Oregon, Regional VicePresident, Northwestern

Terry Dulaney, AgVenture & Dulaney Seeds,Regional Vice President, Southeastern

Craig Newman, AgReliant Genetics, RegionalVice President, Central

Wayne Unger,Brett Young Seeds, Ltd., VicePresident from Canada

ASTA Awards of Highest Honorsto Members and Industry Leaders

Distinguished Service Award:Gary Beil, Minnesota Crop ImprovementAssociation, and Charles Leamons, Texas SeedTrade Association

Honorary Lifetime Member Award:Bill Latham, Latham Seeds, Inc.

Recognition of Longest Consecutive Membership:W. Atlee Burpee & Company, which joined ASTAin 1886

Marking aMonumental Year

As the founding fathers of ASTA did in 1883, 125 years

ago, ASTA members gathered together to Celebrate aCommitment to Agriculture & Innovation, the thememarking this monumental year. The 125th AnnualConvention of ASTA was held June 21-25, 2008, in Kis-simmee, Fla., with a program of events that reectedon the Associations long history and demonstrated thepromise the seed industry holds for the future. ASTAChairman Mike Peterson reinforced this message at themany special events and outreach opportunities overthe course of the quasquicentennial anniversary of theAssociation.

The 125th Annual Convention provided an opportu-nity to look at the many accomplishments of the seedindustry and to prepare for the future of agriculture.From theatric portrayals of the seedsmen of yesterdayto a glimpse into what the over 400 attendees can onlyimagine for the seed industry of tomorrow, the conven-tion was the culmination of a years celebration of thishistoric anniversary. ASTA members were able to sharea pride in the accomplishments they have been respon-sible for, far beyond what the founding fathers of theAssociation could have ever imagined 125 years ago.

Highlights of the program included noted author andenvironmentalist Bjorn Lomborg who provided theKeynote Address at the Opening General Session of-fering a look ahead at the environment of the future. Apanel discussion, The State of Agribusiness, offered

members various perspectives of ve industry leaders:the moderator, Greg Duerksen, Kincannon & Reed;Davis Anderson, GROWMARK, Inc.; Andrew Carlton,Makhteshim Agan of North America, Inc.; Don Orr, JBSUnited, Inc. and Stuart Woolf, Woolf Enterprises. Pre-senting their thoughts on both the inputs and outputsof agriculture today and the future of the industry, thepanel elded many questions which helped membersgain insight into these experts take on the trends dur-ing this dynamic time in agricultural production.


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Seed Industry AnnouncesNew Foundationto Support Education

On June 23, 2008, ASTA announced the formation ofthe First the Seed Foundation, ofcially launched at the125th Annual Convention of the Association. The seedindustry established the Foundation to provide educa-tion and outreach about todays vibrant seed industryand its promise for the future. The food, feed, ber andfuel demands of an ever increasing population make itmore important than ever to educate the general publicabout the story of agriculture and the role of seed, aswell as attract the best and brightest minds to agricul-tural elds of study. Bud Hughes of Verdant Partnerswas named president of the board for the Foundation.

The mission of the First the Seed Foundation is toconduct education, outreach and communication on thevalue of crops and food produced from seed. The seedindustry has a great story to tell about the contribu-tions made to American agriculture, and ultimately, tothe lives of people around the world. The Foundationwill provide a platform to educate todays world andtomorrows work force about the importance of theseed industry.

Todays consumers demand healthy food for theirbodies, improved feed for livestock, better ber for theclothes they wear and cleaner fuel for the vehicles theydrive. Recent advancements in seed innovation usingplant technologies have helped to meet the growing

market demand for agricultural products. The progressmade by the seed industry in the last 20 years is greaterthan ever before; however, very few people are aware ofthe contributions of the industry to their everyday lives.

Fewer than 2 million Americans are actively engagedin farming, yet agriculture generates some 22 million

jobs in the United States, mostly located off-farm. Theefciency of todays U.S. farmers allows them to pro-duce 16 percent of the worlds food supply, freeing oth-ers to pursue other occupations and career paths. Manyare not aware of the science and technology that drivesagriculture, solves its many challenges and offers manyopportunities.

The highest priority of the First the Seed Foundationis the education of todays youth. Efforts of the Foun-dation will begin with outreach about seed to gradeschools through multimedia and Web-based curricu-lum to be used in classrooms, development of an intro-ductory video on the seed industrys role in Americanagriculture, the distribution of seed and informationalkits to schools and youth organizations and the promo-tion of the value of quality seed and the impacts of theseed industry on every persons life who eats food oruses agricultural products.

Contributions can be made to the First the Seed Foundationby contacting the ASTA ofce.


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ASTA Leadership

Members of the ASTA Board of Directors and Executive Committee

Officers

Chairman Mike Peterson Peterson Genetics

First Vice Chairman Kelly Keithly Keithly-Williams Seeds

Second Vice Chairman Jerry Monk Warner Seeds

Northwestern Vice President Kevin Turn The Scotts Company

North Central Vice President Wayne Vassar Sharp Brothers Seed Co.

Central Vice President Tim Johnson IL Foundation Seeds/SGI

Northeastern Vice President Fred Mohr Seedway, Inc.

Southeastern Vice President Danny Mixon Mixon Seeds

Southern Vice President Blake Curtis Curtis Seed

Western Vice President John Schoenecker Harris Moran

Vice President to Canada Bryan Gerard JGL, Inc.Vice President to Mexico Ed Aguilar Zeraim Gedera (Syngenta)

Vice President for Canada David Sippell Syngenta Seeds Canada

Vice President for Mexico Arcadio Lozano Sakata Mexico

Directors at Large

Dan Burdett Syngenta Seeds, Inc.

Marc Cool Seeds of Change

Dean Oestreich Pioneer Hi-Bred (DuPont)

Don Wertman Seedway

Tom Wiltrout Dow AgroSciences

Chairmen

Past Chairmen/PresidentsASTA Board of Directors Members

*Denotes Executive Committee Member

*Paul Bennett Sakata Seed

*Jim Tobin Monsanto Company

*Harry Collins Delta & Pine Land/Monsanto Co.

Sonny Beck Becks Superior Hybrids

Nathan Boardman Crosbyton Seed Co.

Wayne Beck Pioneer Hi-Bred (DuPont)

Bill Whitacre J.R. Simplot Co.

Bill Latham Latham Seed Co.

J. Stephen Byrum Retired

Fred Clark Retired

Noble Koepp Triumph Seed Co.

Dietrich Schmidt Retired


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Past Chairmen/Presidents continued

John Studebaker Cibus LLC

George Jones Retired

Jerry Peterson Retired

Don McGillivary Retired

John Zajac Mountain View Seeds, Ltd.Owen Newlin Pioneer Hi-Bred (DuPont)

Bill Schapaugh Retired

Bob Thedinger Retired

Harvey Mauth Retired

Owen Gilbreath Retired

2007-2008 Division ChairmenASTA Board of Directors Members

Associates Bob Jondle Jondle & Associates

Brokers & Agents Sandee Sinnot Peterson GeneticsCorn & Sorghum Seed Lynn McDonald Triumph Seed Co.

Farm Seed Maurice Miller Sharp Seeds

Lawn Seed Nancy Aerni Seeds, Inc.

Soybean Seed Jack Carlson Wineld Solutions, LLC

Vegetable & Flower Seed John Schoenecker Harris Moran

2007-2008 Committee Chairmen*Denotes ASTA Board of Directors Member

*Biotechnology Keith Redenbaugh Seminis

Corn & Sorghum Basic Research Hobart Beeghly Monsanto CompanyCorn & Sorghum Export Develop Steve Hageman Remington Hybrid Seed Co.

Corn & Sorghum Planning David Gibson Texas Corn Producers

Corn Variety Identication Steve Thompson Dow AgroSciences

*Environment & Conservation Seed Dave Stock Stock Seed Farms

Future Seed Executives Mindy DeVries Monsanto Company

*Intellectual Property Rights Mike Chapman Pioneer Hi-Bred (DuPont)

*International Brad Shurdut Dow AgroSicences

Joint Corn & Sorghum Jonathan C. Popp Popp Engineeringand Soybean Machinery

*Legislative & Legal Concerns Risa DeMasi Grassland Oregon, LLC

Management Skills Jim Schweigert Grow Alliance

Organic Dave Pickenpaugh INCOTEC

Phytosanitary William Dolezal Pioneer Hi-Bred (DuPont)

Seed Industry Relations Greg Kegler Greenleaf Genetics, LLC

Seed Treatment & Environment Larry Butler Becker Underwood

Soybean Basic Research Hunt Wiley Dairyland Seed Co.

Soybean Planning Greg Gerard JGL, Inc.

Stewardship Bryan Gerard JGL, Inc.


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Opportunities for All

ASTA Members Direct Seed IndustryFuture through Active Participation

The success of ASTA depends on the active involve-ment of its members. Grassroots efforts, quality discus-sions on policy issues and strategic goals and actionsare the cornerstone to ASTAs ability to advocate forthe seed industry.

ASTA offers four meetings annually, spanning seedtypes while culminating in the Annual Conventionwhich brings all of the seed industry together. Theorganizational structure of the Association, ASTAsdivisions and committees, enable all segments of theseed industry to prioritize what opportunities andchallenges are tackled by ASTA. Divisions includeAssociates, Corn & Sorghum, Farm Seed, Lawn Seed,Soybean Seed and Vegetable & Flower Seed. Broadsubject committees, as well as those that are born out ofa division, provide a forum for members to direct theAssociation. Committee meetings are open to all unlessotherwise noted. Specic information on ASTA commit-tees and their current activities can be obtained throughthe ASTA ofce.

ASTA Meetings

Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference

Held in late January or early February, the Vegetable &Flower Seed Conference features cutting-edge indus-try and government speakers focusing on vegetableand ower industry issues, plus a networking recep-tion and committee meetings covering a full range oftopics from organic to phytosanitary to biotechnology.The Trading Room, which is the focal point of thisconference, is constantly lled to capacity with all-daynetworking and business appointments.

Annual Convention

Held in June, the Annual Convention brings together

all segments of the industry across all seed types. Ple-nary sessions feature prominent speakers, both withinand outside the seed industry, which complement astreamlined schedule of all ASTA standing committeesand divisions. There are a number of special event thatprovide an opportunity to mingle and meet membersand their families. In addition to this convention beingthe ceremonial event in which the ASTA leadership iselected, policy and issues of strategic importance to thecontinued growth of the seed industry are discussedand addressed.

Farm and LawnSeed Conference

Held in November, the Farm andLawn Seed Conference is conducted inconjunction with the Western Seed Associ-

ations Annual Convention. Attendance is drawnmostly from seed producers of the Midwest who focuson turf, forage and farm seeds, and the conference isalmost entirely trading and business appointments.ASTA events include meetings of the Farm Seed Divi-sion, Lawn Seed Division, Invasive Species WorkingGroup and the Environmental & Conservation SeedCommittees.

Corn & Sorghum and Soybean SeedResearch Conference (CSS) & Seed EXPO

Held in December, the Corn & Sorghum and SoybeanSeed Research Conference (CSS) & Seed EXPO is thelargest ASTA event and the largest seed industry con-vention in the Western Hemisphere! The two researchconferences feature a series of industry and universitypresentations on contemporary issues related to thecorn, sorghum and soybean trade, including biotech-nology, management and production, breeding andgenetics, pest management and many more. The SeedEXPO features approximately 115 exhibitors and ad-ditional features such as meeting suites, an openingreception and other events.


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Future Seed Executives (FuSE)

The FuSE initiative became an ofcial sub-committeeof ASTAs Management Skills Committee in 2004. FuSEfocuses on educating and supporting future seed in-dustry executives, namely those with fewer than sevenyears of seed industry experience.

Education Unitsare one-day events co-hosted byASTA member companies. A typical event showcasesthe host companys business and operations followed

by a case-study presented by a local university. Theseunits are designed as regional opportunities to expandlearning, promote networking and improve generalunderstanding of the seed industry. 2008 EducationalUnit hosts were:

Syngenta Seeds Inc. & University of Florida/Purdue University

AgReliant Genetics, LLC & University of Illinois

Seminis Inc. & Cal Poly/UC Davis

Round Table Discussion Groupshave been a greatsuccess. This series of conference calls, moderated bysenior industry members, aims at educating FutureSeed Executives on recent major events and happen-ings in the industry. Each one-hour long conferencecall focuses on a specic topic and, holding true to theround table format, new topics can be introduced fordiscussion by those on the call.

FuSE once again offered Campus Connections, whichprovides the unique opportunity for undergraduatestudents (juniors) working towards a career in the seed

industry to interact with seed industry professionalsand senior executives to investigate various aspectsof the seed business. Through this program, FuSEawarded students a grant to attend ASTAs 125thAnnual Convention in June 2008.

Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) Credits

ASTA members attending the 2007 Corn & Sorghumand Soybean Seed Research Conference & Seed EXPOwere able to earn Certied Crop Advisor Credits. TheCCA program is the largest certication program inagriculture with more than 14,000 individuals certiedthrough the U.S. and Canada.

ASTA Management AcademyFosters Seed Industry Leaders

ASTA continued its longstanding relationship withPurdue Universitys Center for Food and AgricultureBusiness. The academy focuses on the practical ap-plication of general management concepts critical tothe long-term success of the seed industry. In Febru-ary 2008, 47 seed industry professionals gathered atPurdue for the 21st ASTA Management Academy. Thegroup hailed from France, Uganda and 18 of the UnitedStates. Mike Peterson, ASTA chairman and president ofPeterson Genetics, Inc., spoke to the class and providedperspective on the challenges and opportunities facingthe seed industry. Like the seed industry itself, the classof participants becomes a dynamic group network-ing, learning, sharing ideas and discussing challengingissues. As participants return to their roles, their enthu-siasm is clear as to how the skills they have gained will

benet not only the individual but the seed industry asa whole.

Roger Krueger Scholarship

The rst scholarship of the Roger Krueger ScholarshipEndowment was awarded to Jose Luis Rotundo atASTAs 125th Annual Convention. A Doctoral candi-date at Iowa State University, he is pursuing a degreein crop production and physiology. The Roger KruegerScholarship Endowment was established by the Ameri-can Seed Research Foundation (ASRF) to honor andremember Dr. Roger Krueger, from Monsanto Compa-ny, whose professional career was devoted to seeds. He

passionately advocated the role of science in feedingthe world and lived to make the world a better placeand to make agriculture more able to feed the world.Seeds are small things, but as Rogers colleagues,friends and family all testify, this seed we knew asRoger Krueger was a small thing done with great love.The interest from the permanent endowment will beused as scholarships for students in agriculture the future of the seed industry.


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American Seed Trade Association

225 Reinekers Lane Suite 650Alexandria, VA 22314

703-837-8140

www.amseed.org

asta annualreport0708

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