b'department at Purdue University and director of the Purdue Soybean Center, says. My research program at Purdue is entirely competitively funded, though I also rely heavily on the critical land grant infrastructure.Though Purdue has a lot of sup-port infrastructure to aid professors and researchers, Rainey still needs to seek funds to implement the research thats needed for her lab.A good portion of the funding and support my lab receives is from the private sector, but I also leverage my breeding pipelinemy soybean breed-ing pipelineto bring in federal dollars, she says. In early December 2022, Rainey attended the Senate Ag Committee hearing called Farm Bill 2023: Research Programs and testified on behalf of ASTA for the foundational role of agri-Katy Martin Rainey testified on behalf of ASTA at Senate Ag Committee hearing calledculture research in the 2023 Farm Bill. Farm Bill 2023: Research Programs.PHOTO: ASTA There, on top of sharing more about her personal needs for funding, she testified on how public and private breeding pro-Committee to figure out how to take caretant pieces from the farm bill, Brady saysgrams rely on the need for more research of that challenge, knowing that the needsASTA continues to focus on one thing:fundingespecially in the seed sector.are so large.innovation. In the 2023 Farm Bill, we need a high Beyond ag research, ASTAs beenTheres not an innovation title in thelevel of funding for agricultural research focusing on looking at things within thefarm bill, but innovation continues to bein the public sector to support a range conservation space, as conservation hasso important to the seed industry, sheof topicsconservation, food security, continued to grow as a priority. ASTA hassays. We looked at innovation through- commercialization of technology, risk been looking at how conservation policiesoutwhether its the conservationmanagement for farmers The list of might impact or provide opportunities forspace, the research space What are weneeds is sizeable, she says. the seed sector. This includes existing anddoing to ensure that were prioritizingBut, in addition to supporting all of new programs that promote increasedplant breeding innovation and continuedthe on-the-ground needs in the U.S., cover crop acreage as well as any poten- advancements in technology?Rainey says its important to consider tial changes to existing programs, like theother countries as well. Other countries, Conservation Reserve Program, to ensureResearch Funding Remains a Must especially China and Brazil, are spending that the seed sector has the tools neededAs ASTA continues to plow forward andmore than the U.S. on food and agricul-to prepare.educate new members of the House andture research and development. What sort of legislation do we needSenate on the importance of the farm bill,Though that might not sound like that will provide a little bit of predict- the needs of the seed sector and needsan immediate concern, there are some ability and transparency so that ourof the greater agriculture sector, spe- risks of falling behind and underfund-companies can make business plans intocifically research funding remain a hugeing ag programs. The two biggest risks the future, and make sure we have thepriority. Why?Rainey sees on the horizon? Leaving the ability to produce the right seed and theFor public breeders and researchers,country vulnerable to extreme weather right amounts of seed to work for theselike Purdues Katy Martin Rainey, fund- and climate changes and falling behind programs and ultimately work for theing dollars often come from governmenttechnologically. farmers planting the seeds? Brady asks,programs and government grants.With those two risks looming over the adding that the ASTA team is working onI cant do my research without fund- U.S., Rainey says that there need to be keeping those types of questions at theing that Im awarded as a result of grantnew technologies to help growers and forefront when talking with legislators.writing, Rainey, a professor of soybeanagribusiness companies combat food And, along with many other impor- genetics and breeding in the agronomyinsecurity. 16/ SEEDWORLD.COMJUNE 2023'