ASTA recommends including Farm Bill language that recom- mends that State Technical Committees (STC) establish State Seed Subcommittees to address seeding recommendations for conservation programs. Cover Crop usage in production agriculture is one of the most promising practices to address soil health. Policy refinements are still needed so that producers are encouraged to use cover crops. Trade: Increase funding for international trade programs such as the Market Access Program (MAP), Foreign Market Development Program (FMD), and specialized programs like the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC). Resources from MAP and FMD are critical to ASTA’s ability to provide inter- national leadership and work with trading partners to resolve technical barriers to the movement of seed. Federal research and education: These programs are sup- ported through the Farm Bill to help secure the U.S. position as the global leader in agricultural innovation. Specifically, ASTA supports continued funding for pest and disease prevention pro- grams, funding for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), and continued funding for the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR). One of the major pillars of the Trump Administration is reducing regulatory burdens. On that front, the federal agencies have been fairly busy. ASTA has provided recommendations to USDA and EPA on areas of potential improvement in regulatory approaches. “We are eagerly awaiting the final report of the Agriculture and Rural Prosperity Task Force led by USDA Secretary Perdue which will lay out in greater detail the administration’s ideas for the future of agriculture which will likely include priorities for regulatory reform efforts,” DeMarchi says. State Governmental Affairs 2018 Expectations “As a result of multiple meetings with commodity groups in 2017, ASTA’s priorities have focused around awareness, communica- tion, coordination, cooperation and long-term viability of the seed industries’ commitment to quality seed, and the importance of using professionally produced seed in agricultural production,” says Pat Miller, ASTA director of state government affairs. The ASTA State Governmental Affairs Working Group has evolved into ASTA’s primary communication forum for exchange of information for state legislative and regulatory seed activi- ties. Participants include a majority of state and regional associations, industry governmental affairs representa- tives, and related national associations. The Working Group meets monthly via webinar to review all states legislation. The next face-to-face meeting will be at the ASTA Policy & Leadership Development Conference in June 2018. The program will include a state legislative recap and issues update. “We are eagerly awaiting the final report of the Agriculture and Rural Prosperity Task Force led by USDA Secretary Perdue which will lay out in greater detail the administration’s ideas for the future of agriculture which will likely include priorities for regulatory reform efforts.” — Jane DeMarchi JANUARY 2018 SEEDWORLD.COM / 7 Jane DeMarchi, ASTA vice president, government and regulatory affairs