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: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?