Front Range Seed Analysts Meeting Minutes
January 12, 2000
Submitted by Mike Bricker, FRSA Secretary, USDA-REE-ARS, National Seed Storage Laboratory, Fort Collins, Colorado
The January 12, 2000 FRSA meeting was hosted by Mike Dideriksen of Hilleshog, Longmont, Colorado.
Members present for the meeting were Barbara Atkins, Carri-Ann Bard, Mike Bricker, Jim Bruce, Pat Conine, Mike Dideriksen, Brigette Fishburn, Jane Hall, Billie Lundberg, Mary McMahon, Marilyn Milhous, Annette Miller, and Gil Waibel. One guest was present for the meeting, Tim Larsen, of Hilleshog.
The meeting was called to order by Annette Miller, President, at 1:06 PM MST. The July 1, 1999 FRSA meeting minutes were not available for approval at the October 14, 1999 FRSA meeting due to an oversight on loading the meeting minutes onto the FRSA web site prior to the October 14 meeting. Approval of the July 1 meeting minutes was tabled till the January 12, 2000 meeting. The July 1, 1999 FRSA meeting minutes were approved as loaded onto the FRSA web site. The October 4, 1999 FRSA meeting minutes were approved as loaded onto the FRSA web site. Mike Bricker reported that the Year 2000 membership / supporters / sponsorship letters, with renewal form, had been sent to all prior 1998-1999 members, supporters, and sponsors. Also enclosed in that mailing was a copy of the 1999 FRSA Annual Report.
Pat Conine presented the Treasurer’s report. The report was found to be in good standing. An Audit Committee of Mike Dideriksen and Jim Bruce will audit the 1999 finances and report the committee’s findings at the April FRSA meeting.
Annette Miller presented the Web Site Administrator’s report. Stephanie Townsend, of the National Seed Storage Laboratory, has assisted Annette with updating the format of the home page and rearrangement of the web site. Statistics on web site hits were added as requested at the October 1999 meeting. Annette plans to add the “Seeds of Cultivated Flowers” seed identification plates and complete the loading of the FRSA Seed Forum newsletters to the archives section. There developed a discussion of loading digital photos of seedling germination problems encountered at membership labs which would be of interest to analysts. Annette is to research the idea.
Old Business
Jane Hall and Carri-Ann Bard reported that there has been no progress
on the Continuing Education Points Application Form Committee. Jane
asked for ideas to help the committee develop a working plan.
Jim Bruce and Gil Waibel reported on the progress of the Distance Education Seed Analysts Course. Presently, there are four classes available through the Colorado State University Distance Education Department. The current project is the writing of seed descriptions for the 800 seed species that have been photographed. Inquiries have come from Australia and Europe to develop a companion training program using the courses that will align with ISTA Rules. There would be two programs, one geared toward Australia and Southeast Asia, the other program geared toward Western Europe. Seed Workshops on Purity and Germination have been tentatively set for July 10-21, 2000.
An update on the Colorado Noxious Weed List was provided by Annette. Annette generated a list of the new species on the list and asked those members present if there were any additional species that should be added. This list along with clear plastic coin envelopes, a bulk seed envelope for each species listed, and species identification labels are to be sent to Eric Lane, Colorado Department of Agriculture, in hopes Mr. Lane will provide seed samples of the species listed. Gil Waibel attended a meeting held by the Colorado Department of Agriculture on invasive plant species. At the meeting, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) requested that future problem species have a scientific basis for classification on any of the generated lists for either invasive plants or noxious weeds instead of following a course of action created through a recommendation that a species be added to a problem species list.
Gil Waibel reported that the selection committee for interviewing applicants for the position of director of the Colorado Seed Laboratory has a prospective candidate and hopes to announce, in the near future, that the individual has accepted the position.
Billie Lundburg reported that the status of the Wyoming Seed Laboratory is still in flux. The Wyoming Expenditures Committee has recommended the budget be cut off for the seed lab for budget year 2001, effective July 2000.
Annette developed a format for a FRSA Information Brochure and a copy was provided for review. The brochure was made available at the Colorado Seed Growers Association Annual Meetings held in December 1999. Plans are to have the brochure available for the Yr. 2000 AOSA/SCST Annual Meetings.
The Year 2000 Seed Analyst Wage Survey Committee report was provided by Annette Miller, committee chair. The committee decided that the survey would be provided over the internet. Cost of the internet service is $150.00. The membership approved the $150 cost for using the internet service. Announcement of the wage survey will be posted on the FRSA web site and the SCST web site. A hardcopy of the survey will be published in the February 2000 issue of the AOSA/SCST publication, The Seed Technologist Newsletter. The survey will be posted on the internet during the months of March and April, 2000. There will be no general mailing of the wage survey.
New Business
Gil Waibel reported on the December 1999 Annual Meetings of the Colorado
Seed Growers Association. The continuing education program at the
meeting was on Biotechnology. Gil requested that FRSA consider providing
the continuing education program at the 2002 or 2003 Annual Meetings.
The membership said it would take the request under consideration.
The Year 2000 Anna Lute Award Nominations Committee was formed. Committee members are Marilyn Milhous, AOSA member representative; Jane Hall, SCST member representative; and Dee Peck of Arkansas Valley Seed Company, Seed Industry representative. The nomination deadline for the Anna Lute Award is March 15, 2000. All nominations are to be sent to Mike Bricker, FRSA Secretary, USDA-REE-ARS, National Seed Storage Laboratory, 1111 So. Mason Street, Fort Collins, CO 80521-4500.
A discussion of ideas for the July 14, 2000 Seed Analysts Forum was tabled till the April 12, 2000 FRSA meeting.
Annette reported that the AOSA Tetrazolium Handbook has been completed
and is in the process of being printed for distribution.
Barbara Atkins reported that there is to be a revision of the old Agricultural
Handbook No. 30. Barbara was not sure when the revised version would
be ready for release.
Marilyn Milhous, at the request of Arnold Larsen, informed the members present of the death of Wendell H. Bragonier of Fort Collins, Colorado. Mr. Bragonier was a professor and department chairman in botany and plant pathology at Iowa State University, and later, dean of the graduate school at Colorado State University until retiring in 1976. Mr. Bragonier was active in the American Seed Trade Association. Mr. Bragonier was supportive of establishing the Seed Analysts Program at the former Larimer County Voc-Tech Center, Fort Collins, Colorado. The members present approved a donation of $20.00 to each of three memorial funds, the First United Methodist Church, the Rotary Read Program, and the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of Mr. Bragonier.
There being no additional business the meeting adjourned at 3:15 PM. Immediately following the meeting, Mike Dideriksen presented a video an “Growing Sugarbeet Seed in the Willamette Valley”.
The next FRSA meeting is April 12, 2000 at 1:00 PM MDT. The Colorado Seed Laboratory will host the meeting. The meeting is to be held in the Plant Science Building at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. Contact Marilyn Milhous at (970) 491-6406 for additional information.