Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 7672 / SEEDWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER 2016 “The fact that it passed by a large margin in both the House and the Senate reflects that it was a true compromise.” — Jane DeMarchi JANE DEMARCHI Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs, American Seed Trade Association to the Senate. We are hopeful that the Senate will ratify the treaty when it returns in September. Seed World readers know that for many years, activists have mandated the labeling of food using ingredients derived from genetically engineered plants. After numerous state ballot initiatives and with a labe- ling law in Vermont that was set to go into force in July 2016, establishing a federal standard through legisla- tion became a top priority for the entire food chain. After years of work and compromise, the House and the Senate finally passed a bill. The bill, which is now law, gives federal preemption over state labeling laws and establishes a framework where food companies must disclose information about their ingredients. Food companies will be able to choose how to convey the information — through electronic means, such as a QR code, words or a symbol. Smaller companies have the option to refer- ence a 1-800 number. The fact that it passed by a large margin in both the House and the Senate reflects that it was a true compromise. ASTA’s staff and members have actively advocated for a federal solution, and we will continue to stay very involved as the U.S. Department of Agriculture devel- ops the regulations required by the law. Another priority area for ASTA members is the annual appropriations set by Congress. The budget impacts the seed industry in a variety of ways, one of which is funding for agricultural research, such as the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize project. Another is the Bureau of Land Management’s budget for post-fire restoration. Although we’ve seen positive movement in both areas, Congress will likely wait and pass a last-minute budget deal after the election or postpone it alto- gether until after January. We won’t know until then if our priorities have made the cut. As part of the agriculture sector, the seed industry is well positioned to take on the next big task: laying the groundwork for the 2018 Farm Bill. Thank you to everyone who has participated in our advocacy efforts, and to those who haven’t, it’s not too late to let your voice be heard! SW WHEN WE LOOK back on 2016, we will remember this year as one of the most eventful and unpredict- able political years in memory. While media attention focuses on the presidential race, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) continues to focus its atten- tion on increasing awareness on Capitol Hill of the many policy issues impacting the seed industry. Given the diversity of our industry, there is no shortage of work. Industry engagement with Congress is critical, and as the old saying goes, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” ASTA’s officers, executive committee and members have dedicated themselves to strengthening ties with policymakers on Capitol Hill and regulatory agencies, both in Washington, D.C., and at home. This personal connection — putting a face on the industry — has been critical to ASTA’s recent successes. At our 2015 annual meeting in Washington, D.C., we had more than 125 seed advocates “Storm the Hill.” In 2016, nearly 50 members returned to the nation’s capitol just to lobby. Furthermore, a group of leaders, spearheaded by John Latham, launched the SeedFirst PAC to provide more opportunities for face-to-face education with members of Congress. In addition to the grassroots efforts, ASTA’s government affairs team has been hard at work. Voices Lead to Victories During this Congressional session, we have already scored major victories. Ratification of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) has been a top priority for ASTA since the late 2000s. After an initial hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2010, momentum stalled, and we did not see any movement on the treaty until earlier this year. Then, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the treaty May 19, and former ASTA Chair John Schoenecker testified about the importance of securing access to international sources of germplasm for ASTA and all of agriculture. On June 23, the full committee recommended ratification of the ITPGRFA Progress on Capitol Hill