Bill Talley Owner, Summit Seed Coatings
Bill Talley sits down with Issues Ink President Shawn Brook at the 2015 Annual PSA Convention in Maui, Hawaii from March 2-4, 2015.
Reaction Mixed to European Patent Board Decision
Reaction was mixed to the decision of the Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) of the European Patent Office, which determined that plants or plant products produced by conventional breeding are not excluded from […]
JanWillem Breukink Retires from Incotec Board
Effective April 1, Incotec’s former CEO JanWillem Breukink announced that he will retire from the company’s board of directors. The decision is in accordance with the transition process the Netherlands-based […]
Uncertainty Looms in a Post-Patent World
In transitioning to a period when more biotech traits come off patent, many questions remain unanswered as the Canadian seed industry navigates new waters. _x000D_ _x000D_ When Monsanto’s patent protection […]
The Hunt for Analysts
The seed testing industry works to overcome challenges. _x000D_ One might not think the seed testing industry and an international chain of convenience stores have much in common. But according […]
Scientists Discover Why Plants Bloom Earlier in a Warming Climate
Scientists at the John Innes Centre in the United Kingdom discover why the first buds of spring come increasingly earlier. Researcher Steven Penfield found that plants have an ideal temperature for […]
Proteins Act Like Microscopic Gas Springs Inside Cells
Together with colleagues in Germany and Amsterdam, researchers at the Laboratory of Cell Biology of Wageningen University have shown how the disorderly movement of proteins provides directed forces in cells. […]
Monsanto Partners to Support Monarch Butterfly
Monsanto Company commits to supporting the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and its Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund. As the first company to contribute to NFWF’s Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund, […]
Growing Toward the Future
Starting from scratch, an Ontario seed grower continues to build his business and pay it forward. _x000D_ Three decades ago, Dave Baute made the decision to change his career and […]
FBI Uses Surveillance Act to Gather Seed Theft Evidence
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has invoked its authority under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to gather evidence against two Chinese men accused of plotting to steal patented corn […]
Syngenta Suing Willowood Over Seed Treatment
Syngenta is suing Oregon-based chemical maker Willowood for alleged patent and copyright infringement, as well as unfair and deceptive trade practices. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the […]
Researchers Discover Important Plant Protein
Genetic research led by Japan’s RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science uncovered a novel protein, PUB4, that regulates cell division in root tips. Plant growth requires precise coordination between cell […]
Cornell Aims to Get Next-Gen Seeds to African Farmers
A new Cornell University initiative helps ensure that new seed varieties with higher yields make it through the supply chain from breeders to African farmers. The African Seed Access Index […]
Bee-Tracking Technology Could Help Scientists
Kew Gardens, London’s Royal Botanic Gardens, is collaborating with tech company Tumbling Dice Ltd to trial a 4.8 mm x 8 mm-sized microchip that can be glued to bees to track […]
Kansas Wheat Commission Invests in Celiac-Safe Wheat Research
The Kansas Wheat Commission invests $200,000 in a two-year project headed by Chris Miller, the senior director of research, innovation and quality at Engrain. Miller is laying the groundwork for a celiac-safe […]
Australian Scientist Requests Open Access to Plant Genomes
A plant scientist from Australian National University (ANU) has called upon the United Nations to guarantee free and open access to plant DNA sequences, enabling scientists to continue improving crops […]
ASTA Champions Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act
The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, brought forward by Reps. Mike Pompeo of Kansas and G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina, bypasses a potentially conflicting patchwork of state laws and […]
Servi-Tech Announces Executive Management Team
Servi-Tech president and CEO Greg Ruehle announced the formation of its new executive management team. Joining the company in the newly-created chief operating officer position is Jeff Hiers. He will be […]
New Tools to Boost Global Tomato Breeding
LGC has announced the launch of its KASP assay library for tomato genotyping. Developed in conjunction with the Solanaceae Coordinated Agricultural Project (SolCAP) consortium, this validated panel of 384 carefully selected KASP SNP […]
NorthStar Genetics Announces New Sales Manager
Dan Hogstad, CEO of NorthStar Genetics, announced that Lyle Marcus has been promoted to national sales manager for the company and its brands. “Lyle brings 30-plus years of experience in […]
Gene Silencing Confers Fusarium Resistance in Wheat
A research team from the Huazong Agricultural University in China studied the expression of RNA interference (RNAi) sequences from a Fusarium graminearum virulence gene, chitin synthase (Chs) 3b, to enhance wheat resistance to fusarium head blight […]
Elite Beans Can Beat the Heat
Responding to fears that bean production will take a big hit from global warming, scientists from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) have identified about 30 “elite” lines showing […]
North Dakota Encourages Improved Seed Varieties
The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) is now accepting applications for 2015 specialty crop grants. Organizations, institutions and individuals are encouraged to submit proposals on their own or in partnerships. Eligible […]
Industry Marks Borlaug’s 101st Via Twitter
Today would have been the 101st birthday of Norman Borlaug, the father of the Green Revolution. Borlaug got his start with DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware, prior to the bombing of […]
New Research May Boost Texas Corn Yields
A ground-breaking Texas A&M AgriLife Research-led study on corn has identified useful gene variations for yield increases, drought tolerance and aflatoxin resistance that could make a real difference to Texas […]
Bee Apocalypse? Honey Production Up 19 Percent
The United States Department of Agriculture released its honey report for 2014, and found that despite warnings about an impending “bee apocalypse”, the pollinators are doing just fine. Honey production in […]
Study Shows Optimum AQUAmax Yields Better in Water-Limited Conditions
The Journal of Crop Science has published results of a multi-year study conducted to evaluate maize (corn) hybrids under drought-stress, or water-limited, conditions. Findings scientifically demonstrate the efficacy of Pioneer […]
Messenger RNAs are Long-Distance Travelers
Using bioinformatic data analyses, an international team of scientists could discover thousands of mobile messenger RNAs. In a research study at Germany’s Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, seedlings were […]
S&W Seeds Completes Imperial Valley Farmland Sale
S&W Seed Company announced it has completed agreements to sell 759 acres of farmland in Calipatria, California, for $7.1 million. Following the repayment of the existing $2.2 million mortgage on the […]
Limagrain Gifts $500,000 to UC-Davis
With a fundraising goal of $2.5 million, the University of California, Davis, Seed Biotechnology Center aims to establish an endowed chair position recognizing the contributions of Kent Bradford, a plant […]
Evogene Collaborates to Improve Crop Productivity
Evogene Ltd., a leading company for the improvement of crop productivity and economics for the food, feed and biofuel industries, disclosed its first collaboration agreement with a multinational food company. […]
AgVenture Unveils New Seed Treatment Options
The Indiana-based AgVenture McKillip Seeds unveiled state-of-the-art seed treatment equipment that will greatly enhance options for their farmer customers across Indiana and Ohio. “This is an exciting step forward. We’re proud […]
Adama Reports North America Sales Jump
Adama Agricultural Solutions Ltd., the leading global off-patent provider of crop protection solutions, reported revenues in North America for the year 2014 increased by 5.5 percent to $544.8 million, compared with […]
Flower-Enriched Farms Boost Bee Populations
A two-year study of farms in the U.K. found that common bumblebee species saw significant population growth where targeted, bee-friendly planting schemes were in place. A number of ‘agri-environment’ schemes have […]
Researchers Develop Genetic Map of World Wheat Varieties
Kansas State University scientists released findings of a complex, two-year study of the genomic diversity of wheat that creates an important foundation for future improvements in wheat around the world. […]
StollerUSA Hires New General Sales Manager
StollerUSA has named Jeff Middleton as its new general sales manager and director of sales for the eastern United States. “I am excited about the opportunity to be a part […]