Seed Today - Q2 2008 - (Page 32)

AOSCA Notes Moline, IL • 309-736-0120 www.aosca.org Who Will Tell the Rest of the Story? hings are changing so rapidly in agriculture that this column may be outdated by the time it is printed. Growers in many parts of the United States are facing a delayed start to planting the 2008 crop while the media inundates us with stories centered on the “fuel versus food” debate. Admittedly, increased commodity prices contribute to a portion of higher food prices, but most people unfortunately want an easy answer that simply does not exist to the question of why they are paying more for food at the check-out counter. Congress held hearings and politicians are facing pressure to rescind the commitment it made toward the development of renewable fuels as part of a long-term energy policy. T “fuel versus food” debate. I keep hoping that someone, in Paul Harveylike fashion, will step up and tell “the rest of the story”. I would like them to clearly explain that food prices are determined not only by the price of basic commodities, but that all of us live in a global economy where we are sharing the table with consumers from China and India who now have the money to bid against us for the world’s limited resources. I would like them to explain that the lower value of the U.S. dollar drives up the export demand for U.S. grain, and that the impact of high oil prices on processing and transportation costs has a lot more to do with the cost of milk and eggs than does the cost of corn. First, the Seed Industry-wide Effort Needed So, what does any of this have to do with Commodity organizations and a few econothe seed industry? The mists are trying to educate motto used by our friends consumers, who happen to at the American Seed Trade also be voters, but underAssociation sums it up perstanding what drives food fectly… ”First, the seed.” prices and what is at stake Not just in the United in the long run requires efStates, but around the fort. globe, agriculture could be In the end, it is up to well-positioned to play a each one of us with a vested significant role in decreasinterest in the seed indusing the world’s dependence try, and agriculture as a on oil. whole, to tell our own We won’t solve the enstory. Chet Boruff, AOSCA CEO tire problem, but the poThe facts are there for tential exists to be part of us to use and make our a balanced solution. New case, but if we depend seed varieties and technologies will be needed upon someone else to protect our interests we to meet the growing demand for all sorts of could very easily see our opportunities slip farm-grown food, feed, fiber, and especially, away. fuel. If that happens, when will opportunity ever We won’t meet the output demands of the come again? future by using old and existing technologies. The seed industry could be center stage in Chet Boruff solving the challenges we’ll face. Chief Executive Officer Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) Tell The Rest of the Story 309-736-0120 But here is where I fear the wheels might cboruff@aosca.org fall off of the wagon. Even here in the heart of the Cornbelt, our industry cannot get a fair and balanced story when the news covers the “Understanding what drives food prices and what is at stake in the long run requires effort.” 32 Second Quarter 2008 http://www.aosca.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Seed Today - Q2 2008

Seed Today - Q2 2008 Contents Editor’s Notes Cover Feature IKR BÁBOLNAMAG AOSA/SCST Gary Biel Bill Latham According to ASTA AOSCA Origin AgriTech Ltd. Pipeline Auditec Power Seeds, Inc RSI Systems LLC Mill & Elevator Supply Co. Agronomix Software, Inc Green Age® Products and Services USDA Crop Projections Buyers’ Guide Ad Index

Seed Today - Q2 2008

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