The Canadian Seed Trade Association recognizes two individuals for their commitment to the industry and the association.
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During its annual meeting in Windsor, Ont., the Canadian Seed Trade Association will present the 2015 Seed Achievement Award and the 2015 Honourary Life Membership Award._x000D_
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This year, David Gehl is the recipient of the Seed Achievement Award. This award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the Canadian seed industry in the private or public sector._x000D_
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For more than two decades, Gehl was responsible for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Seed Increase Unit in Indian Head, Sask. In this capacity, he contributed to Canada’s pedigreed seed business, positively impacting the livelihood of numerous farmers, seed growers and seed companies. Gehl retired from AAFC in the fall of 2014._x000D_
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While at Indian Head, Gehl “was instrumental not only in providing high quality breeder seed of AAFC varieties for Canadian seed growers, but also worked closely with industry on how to ensure a seamless introduction of varietal blend varieties into the marketplace and published a quality assurance manual on varietal blends in 2009,” according to Eric McLean, president of the Manitoba Seed Growers Association, who wrote a letter in support of Gehl’s nomination._x000D_
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“David found ways to work within the various provincial and federal regulations to continue to provide breeder seed to the industry, regardless of differing provincial legislations on acceptable fusarium levels,” McLean explains. “This in itself would be a daunting task, and Mr. Gehl accomplished this for the benefit of AAFC varieties and the seed industry.”_x000D_
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During his tenure at the seed increase unit, Gehl was involved in the production of more than 1,000 breeder seed plots and more than 600 breeder seed crop certificates._x000D_
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“Dave’s total dedication to agriculture, his leadership and integrity as a whole have positioned those of us in the industry for a very successful future,” says Jodee Karlowsky, who serves as seed marketing coordinator for Alliance Seed. “Literally, Dave had a hand in many of the varieties that western Canadian farmers have grown during the past 25 years and will continue to grow in the next several years.”_x000D_
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Dave Akister, executive director of the Saskatchewan Seed Growers Association, shares that when crop production faced problems for which the seed industry had not yet overcome through plant breeding, Gehl often found his own solutions to maintain the efficacy of pedigreed seed._x000D_
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“For example, he conducted a research project to determine the impact of using glyphosate to dry down a seed crop before harvest as it relates to seed vigor; perfected the use of heat treatment to reduce the F. graminearum contamination on high generation seed; and developed a system to visually verify that seed blends were uniform when variety blends were implemented to combat orange blossom wheat midge,” Akister explains. “His efforts have not only contributed to the improved production of pedigreed seed, but to its marketability as well.”_x000D_
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It is for these reasons listed above and his exemplary service to the industry that CSTA is honouring Gehl with the 2015 Seed Achievement Award._x000D_
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Dedicated to the Association_x000D_
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John Cowan is being recognized with the Honourary Life Membership Award. CSTA’s Honourary Life Membership Award is given to an individual in honour of his or her significant contribution to the Canadian seed industry, as well as the association._x000D_
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Before being purchased in 2010 by Dow AgroSciences, Cowan served as general manager for Hyland Seeds in Blenheim, Ont. With more than a decade of service to the association, Cowan has worked his way through a number of committees, becoming increasingly familiar with the various issues facing the seed industry, and into leadership roles, helping to steer the association as a whole._x000D_
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Cowan has served on CSTA’s Seed Corn Committee as secretary, vice-chair and chair; the Biotechnology Committee as board liaison; and the External Relations Working Group as chair._x000D_
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As secretary of CSTA’s Seed Corn Committee, he along with Bob Pryce, who at the time was serving as chair, requested that hybrid corn be removed from variety registration._x000D_
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Throughout his career and time with CSTA, Cowan has been a strong supporter of biotechnology and the use of certified seed._x000D_
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From 1998 to 2007, Cowan was a member of CSTA’s board of directors. In 2003, he was selected to serve on the Executive Committee, and in 2005/06, he served as president of CSTA._x000D_
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During his time as president, Cowan focused his efforts on external relations, says Jeff Reid, who nominated Cowan and serves as general manager for SeCan._x000D_
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Reid shares a unique communication tool that Cowan used when promoting initiatives such as CSTA’s proposal for a certified seed tax incentive._x000D_
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“He created the concept of a ‘value circle’ where everyone can see all of the other stakeholders around the circle. With the ‘value chain concept,’ you only see the person immediately above and below you,” Reid explains. “The ‘value circle’ concept has furthered the understanding in the seed industry that all stakeholders are connected and have to share in the dollars, spent and generated.”_x000D_
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Additionally, Cowan was known to be very responsive to media and sought out opportunities to speak and engage different audiences. He was active in lobbying members of parliament and always welcomed the opportunity to “tell the seed story.”_x000D_
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In bringing members of the seed industry together, it was Cowan who hosted the joint CSTA meeting with the American Seed Trade Association in Chicago, Ill. “He worked hard to keep all participants in the seed industry together,” Reid says._x000D_
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It’s for these contributions that CSTA is presenting Cowan with the Honourary Life Membership Award.
