“The support for breeding programs and for research is less than it has been and it looks like it is going to suffer in the next few years.”

– Peter Bretting of USDA’s Agricultural Research Service

“Keep your playbook small…it’s really about defining your market and executing on that plan. Too many companies have a very diverse playbook with a lot of plays and try to run all of them at the same time.”

– Jim Schweigert of Gro Alliance and Seed World’s 2009 Future

Hear more views from Bretting and Schweigert on issues ranging from research funding to independent retailers at

First the Seed The First the Seed Foundation has launched a web site promoting education and outreach on the importance and value of seeds. The new site, www.firsttheseedfoundation.org, will be a tool to advance projects now underway.

Pesky Problem

Black cutworm is the first member of the multi-pest complex to arrive in grower’s corn fields. Significant black cutworm infestations have been found in the southern growing areas of the U.S., and late planting in the northern growing areas will increase infestations there as well. To showcase the damage that black cutworm can do, Syngenta has released this video:

http://agrisuretraits.com/ Traits.aspx?Status=Play.

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