64 / SEEDWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER 2018 This couldn’t be more true than with the trade issues impacting the markets today. “Those of you in the soybean and corn business can see how concerned your customers are about losing potential mar- kets: Mexico, Canada, China,” he said. Other important topics include plant breeding innovation and gene editing, the reauthorization of the farm bill, seed treat- ments, labor and market disruptors. During the conference, participants heard a lot about plant breeding innova- tion and gene editing. “We’ve got to get it right; we can’t miss this opportunity,” he said. “It’s going to cost us time and money, but we’ve got to invest and do it.” Regarding the farm bill, the Senate Agriculture Committee took it up just as ASTA members were Storming the Hill. Then there is the issue of labor. “I don’t care where you are in agricul- ture today, labor is an issue,” LaVigne said. “We’ve got to be there at the table talking about what it means to our industry and how to go forward.” Quoting Webster’s dictionary, LaVigne said: “Advocacy means public support for, or recommendation of, a particular cause or policy. That’s what you are here for. What’s that particular cause or policy that impacts your business? “Once you leave here, don’t just check out. As former U.S. Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill said, ‘all politics is local.’” LaVigne said you’ve got to set yourself apart from all the other groups doing the exact same thing, and that happens at the local level. “When you get back home, call your representative and let them know you just met with your congressman in Washington,” he said. “Let them know you’re there and that you are a resource. Those kinds of things are absolutely essential. “I challenge you all to be an advocate. Be an advocate for what you believe in.” Members Approved New Strategic Plan On June 11, ASTA members approved the framework for a new strategic plan to help guide the work of the association in the coming years. The vote took place during the annual business meeting. Core areas of the strategic plan include: domestic policy, innovation, communica- tions, intellectual property rights, interna- tional, membership and internal matters. Tracy Tally, now a past chairman of ASTA and owner of Justin Seed Company, and ASTA Chairman Jerry Flint of Corteva Agriscience, the agriculture division of DowDuPont, sat down with Seed World to talk about the strategic plan and discuss some of the work done behind the scenes. Tally explained that the new strategic plan allows for more flexibility that the previous five-year strategic plan. In today’s world, Tally believes we need to be flexible. We changed the wording in the strategic plan so that the objectives aren’t so pinpointed but more open. Additionally, we will be review it every three years versus five years. “The technology, just our plant breeding initiatives – that area the technology is growing and changing so quick,” Tally said. “We can’t think where we are going to be in five years because we are just learning what it can do, so we are going to have to be more flexible around that. That trickles down through all the international aspects and all the domestic aspects, our membership aspects, with the mergers that will be affecting our companies and where we need to use our resources.” As the new ASTA chair, Flint said that it’s his job to implement the plan the members just adopted, working within the committee structure and using the talents within those committees. Areas of focus include policy, commu- nications to internal and external audi- ence and leadership development. The strategic plan is still a work in progress. The membership was presented with a framework and now work plans will be developed around those key areas. ASTA and FFA Sign Historic Memorandum of Understanding The National FFA Organization and the ASTA signed a memorandum of under- standing, which aligns ASTA’s strategic goals and resources with the three- component model of agricultural educa- tion, providing teacher curriculum and resources; supervised agricultural experi- ence support and mentors; and leader- ship and career development. “This Memorandum of Understanding Incoming ASTA Chair Jerry Flint thanks Tracy Tally of Justin Seed Co. for his work as chair during the 2017-18 year. You can listen to the interview with Tracy Tally and Jerry Flint at seedworld.com/dc-asta-members-approved-new-strategic-plan.