Salem, Oregon, USA
February 12, 2013
The Oregon Seed Association (OSA) is a non-profit agricultural trades association whose members market and distribute Oregon grass and agricultural seed to over 70 countries on six continents. OSA has yet to find a market on the continent of Antarctica, but through continued research and innovation, even the seventh continent may be within reach someday!
The OSA Mid-Winter Meeting is a one day event which includes a mix of committee meetings, association business, seminars and updates from state agencies. Over 130 people registered for the event. Participants discussed issues related to seed testing, international shipping, domestic and regional concerns as well as the approval of new OSA members.
One of the major positions that was affirmed by the OSA at the Mid Winter meeting has to do with a rule amendment that the Oregon Department of Agriculture has put forth to allow the propagation of a limited amount of canola in what is currently an exclusion zone in the Willamette Valley. The current rule, put in place in 2005, was done so based upon scientific findings that conclusively demonstrated canola can have a devastating effect on certain Brassica/Crucifer species grown in the Willamette Valley. Production of canola in European countries has demonstrated, in real life, the invasive nature of canola. Entire European vegetable seed industries have been decimated by canola leaving Oregon as the primary provider of certain species of the world’s vegetable seed. OSA opposes the current rule for three specific reasons:
- The new rule proposal is not based upon science, but market forces which is outside of the purview of the ODA in rulemaking.
- The proposed rule does not adequately address the issue of crop management if an inadvertent escape should occur.
- The Oregon Seed Association supports co-existence of crops, but in a responsible manner that is mindful of regions which are appropriate for certain crops and established industries that have a worldwide reach.
The highlight of the meeting was the award of over $3,000 in scholarships. The OSA has a bi-annual scholarship program. Awards are given out at the Mid Winter Meeting and Summer Convention. Scholarship recipients were invited to attend the meeting to accept their scholarships. Larry Dean, Oregon Seed Services Inc., presented scholarships with Pat Miller, American Seed Trade Association. The recipients were: Shay Nolan $1,000.00, Tiffany Harper $800.00, Christy McCarthy $800.00 and Ann Bernert $500.00. In addition, Sarah Wright was awarded the William Kent Wiley Jr. Fellowship.
For more information on any of the topics addressed above, please contact OSA President, Duane Klundt. Klundt may be reached at 503-566-9900.
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