ALEXANDRIA, VA - The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is upgrading its toolkit for farmers, landowners, and others. Recently, the organization revealed that it is improving its interactive Environment, Conservation, and Cover Crop Seed Resource Guide, which helps buyers find dealers for specific seed types by location to support production and sustainability goals.

“It’s important to plan proactively, and as far in advance as possible, to ensure your local, professional seed dealer has your selection of seed in stock when and where you need it,” said ASTA President and Chief Executive Officer Andy LaVigne. “Professionally produced and processed seed is designed to help farmers achieve success through managing the use of the right seed, at the right place, at the right time. It has been selected, harvested, cleaned, analyzed, processed, and packaged for performance, and it has been tested for purity and germination. All of this helps ensure you get the best quality seed to meet your production and sustainability goals while minimizing the presence of invasive and other weeds.”

Every year, ASTA works with its members to update the map, ensuring that farmers, landowners, and other interested parties have access to the latest information and local, professionally produced environment, conservation, and cover crop seed.

A recent survey by the organization found that an added 10.5 million acres of cover crops will be planted in the next five years as a result of USDA’s Partnerships for Climate Smart-Commodities projects, a release explained. This demand demonstrates the benefits of conservation resources like the map and supports ASTA’s efforts in sustainability advocacy for cover crop seed.

Click here to view the guide.

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