Alexandria, Virginia, USA
March 13, 2023
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) today released its policy recommendations for the 2023 Farm Bill. The recommendations fall under the following priority areas: 1) conservation; 2) agriculture research; 3) trade; 4) innovation; and 5) risk management.
“Farm Bill programs play a pivotal role in ensuring certainty for producers across all regions and sectors of U.S. agriculture, and provide for a more nutritious and food-secure future both at home and abroad,” said ASTA President & CEO Andy LaVigne. “Resiliency and prosperity in agriculture starts with seed. Better seed produces better crops for a better quality of life.”
CONSERVATION: The seed industry plays a unique and critical role in supporting conservation programs by developing and providing diverse, locally and broadly adapted, high-quality seed, enabling farmers to both increase agricultural productivity and conserve natural resources. ASTA’s Farm Bill priorities for conservation include:
- Provide new approaches to expand cover crop adoption
- Ensure access to the highest quality, professionally produced cover crop seed
- Offer flexibility in conservation program delivery
- Enhance carbon sequestration & land resilience by harnessing plant diversity
AGRICULTURE RESEARCH: Efficient and productive agriculture systems start with seed. The U.S. seed industry relies on the support of Farm Bill funding and programs to ensure continued leadership as the provider of the best seed to the world. Strong investments in research from discovery through development lead to better seed, which means better outcomes for farmers, consumers, the environment, in the short and long-term. ASTA Farm Bill priorities for research include:
- Ensure robust funding for primary USDA research
- Strengthen support for the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS)
- Reauthorize the Agriculture Genome to Phenome Initiative
- Continue support for university research
- Gather and provide access to needed cover crop data
- Reauthorize and fully fund the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA)
TRADE: Exports are a vital part of the U.S. economic engine, and agricultural exports continue to be among its strongest components. To continue to expand U.S. agricultural exports, protect and create American jobs, strengthen farm income, and help offset the government-supported advantages afforded to international competitors, the Farm Bill must include investment toward public/private partnerships designed to support these efforts. When it comes to trade, ASTA’s top Farm Bill priority is:
- Increase funding for agricultural trade promotion and facilitation, including MAP and FMD
INNOVATION: Continued innovation in plant breeding and seed-variety development are crucial to ensuring long-term economic, social and environmental sustainability. The seed industry is founded on innovation, and innovation is a part of everything we do – from plant breeding and seed treatments, to soil health and habitat restoration. To support these efforts, ASTA recommends the following:
- Create systems that foster innovation in plant breeding
- Provide clarity around biostimulants
RISK MANAGEMENT: To ensure economically sustainable domestic agriculture production, ASTA supports maintaining and strengthening Farm Bill commodity programs. We look to our grower partners in the commodity organizations and general farm organizations as they identify specific recommendations on policy.
- Protect, preserve, and strengthen farmer safety nets
Learn more in ASTA’s 2023 Farm Bill Issue Paper.
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