We are looking forward to seeing you in less than two weeks.  Be sure to check out some of the highlighted speakers we mentioned below at ASTA's 133rd and OSA's 47th Annual Convention.  For more detailed schedule go here.

P.S.   Keep up with what's happening at Annual Convention and share it with others by Tweeting -- #ASTAAnnual.

The Innovation & Policy Committee is featuring a panel discussion with representatives from the seed industry, the US grain industry, USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service and Crop Life International.  The panel will be discussing the importance of plant breeding innovation and how government policies around the world will affect different parts of the agriculture value chain.  In addition, the Foundation for Food and Agriculture will make a presentation on possible communication projects around the newer plant breeding technologies.

The Seed Industry Relations Committee  will be discussing updates from USDA-AMS-Seed Regulatory & Testing Division, the Association of Official Seed Analysts, the Society of Commercial Seed Technologists, the Association of American Seed Control Officials, the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies, and the International Seed Testing Association.  A report of the most recent OECD meeting in Paris will also be presented.

The focus for the State Governmental Affairs Working Group will be a group discussion of the lessons learned from this spring's state legislative sessions on the key issues:  pre-emption, libraries, GMO labeling and seed regulatory funding.

The Legislation and Legal Concerns Committee will meet jointly with the Oregon Seed Association Legislative Committee to discuss federal and state issues.  Katie Fast of Oregonians for Food and Shelter will give a talk on how to effectively develop and deploy grassroots. 

The Cover Crops Working Group session will feature a presentation by Wayne Honeycutt, newly named President and CEO of the Soil Health Institute. Anna Young-Matthews will be providing an update on NRCS cover crop trials. 

The Environmental and Conservation Seed Committee meeting will have a presentation from Scott Uhrig on Bureau of Land Management procurement.  Val Anderson, president of the Society of Range Management and  Brigham Young University professor will be discussing his native plant research. Rob Fiegener of the Native Seed Network will be giving an update on the upcoming Native Seed Conference. 


Peter Friedmann, Executive Director for Agriculture Transportation Coalition, will be speaking at the International Programs Session Tuesday morning.  Peter Friedmann helped form the Agriculture Transportation Coalition when a number of agricultural exporters sought assistance in dealing with transportation challenges.  The AgTC is now the voice for a broad cross-section of U.S. agriculture exporters, importers and their service providers who require competitive ocean, rail and truck transportation services in order to maintain and grow foreign marketshare.  Peter will be discussing the Safety of Life at Sea Treay (SOLAS).  


Keith A. Leavitt is the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at the Port of Portland.  Mr. Leavitt has been responsible for various strategic initiatives and projects on behalf of the Port including: securing state funding for deepening the Columbia River shipping channel; public private partnership leading to the development of 120 acre Cascade Station business park near PDX; acquisition of 750 acre Troutdale Reynolds Industrial Park; global market solicitation for a long term operator of the Port's container business at Terminal 6; successful negotiation of 25 year lease with International Container Services Inc. to operate T-6 container business.Keith will give us insight on the Port of Portland updates.