1. Federal Update

2. Accomplishments 2016 Ratification of the Treaty
Passage of Bioengineered Disclosure Bill
Maintain definition that exempts PBI

3. Legislative Priorities
Agriculture
ASTA
Trade
Farm Bill
Regulatory Relief
Promoting/Protecting Innovation
Immigration
Trade
Farm Bill
Promoting/Protecting Innovation
Plant Breeding Innovation
Treated Seed

4. Trade
TPP
NAFTA
Bi-Lateral Agreements

5. Farm Bill Titles Title I – Commodities Title II – Conservation
Title III – Trade
Title IV - Nutrition
Title V - Credit
Title VI - Rural Development
 Title VII - Research
Title VIII - Forestry
Title IX - Energy
 Title X – Horticulture
Title XI - Crop Insurance
Title XII – Misc.

6. Farm Bill Big Picture Hot Topics FUNDING! Crop Insurance, Nutrition
ASTA Hot Topics
Title I (Commodity Programs) – Maintain fair treatment for hybrid seed producers
Conservation – CRP cap, conservation compliance for crop insurance
Trade – Maintain Funding for MAP and FMD
$700,000 annual to ASTA’s budget plus $800,000 TASC grant
Regulatory issues as needed
Plant Breeding Innovation

7. Timeline Current Farm Bill expires in 2018
First field hearing to be held in Kansas on February 23
Commodity and conservation organizations are developing policy platforms – to be finalized in March
Next Steps
Seeking volunteers for ASTA working group to be chaired by Bryan Gerard

8. Legislative Priorities
Agriculture
ASTA
Trade
Farm Bill
Regulatory Relief
Promoting/Protecting Innovation
Immigration
Trade
Farm Bill
Promoting/Protecting Innovation
Plant Breeding Innovation
Treated Seed

9. Seed Treatment and Environment Committee: EPA Update
Anderson vs. EPA Lawsuit on Treated Seed
Proposal on Acute Toxicity to Bees
Imidacloprid, Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam risk assessments EPA Initial Risk Assessment
Chlorpyrifos proposed revocation of tolerance
Pyrethroid risk assessment
Managed Pollinator Protection Plans (MP3)

10. Seed Treatment and Environment Committee: Canada – PMRA Update
Imidacloprid
Thiram, Captan, Iprodione
David Jones, Canadian Horticultural Council

11. Questions & Answers