Enhancing farming sustainability - ASTA's online seed guide

Apr 03, 2024

By Farms.com

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) introduces an online seed guide facilitating farmers' access to professional seed suppliers. This resource simplifies seed selection for environment, conservation, and cover crops, promoting sustainability in agriculture.

ASTA President Andy LaVigne stresses the significance of proactive planning in seed procurement. Professional seeds are meticulously processed and tested, ensuring optimal performance and minimizing weed presence, thereby supporting farmers' success and sustainability goals.

The guide, regularly updated with input from ASTA members, offers the latest information on locally sourced seeds. Survey findings suggest a rise in cover crop planting, driven by USDA initiatives. This underscores the guide's importance in advocating for sustainability and meeting the increasing demand for conservation resources.

Video: Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard

On Friday, April 24, 2026, from 12 noon–1:00 ET, the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s (PDA) Agricultural Business Development Center (ABDC), presented this webinar in the Understanding Agricultural Law Educational Series, a course designed to develop subject matter literacy and competence on fundamental issues of agricultural law for attorneys and business advisors who work with or represent agricultural or rural clients but may not necessarily specialize in agricultural law:

“Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard”

The Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program requires transportation fuel sold in the United States to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, or advanced biofuels. Established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and later expanded by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the RFS is implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collaboration with the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This webinar provides an overview of the legal authority and structure for the RFS program and explain how it works, including the program’s system of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) and categories of renewable fuels. Additionally, this webinar addresses EPA annual volume requirement rulemaking and associated recent legal issues.