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Before rejoining the family seed business in 2003, I worked in PR, researching clients online. Today, AI tools like ChatGPT are replacing traditional search engines, with Google seeing its first monthly query decline on Safari.

E-commerce, Opportunities and (Many) Risks for the Seed Sector

E-commerce—buying and selling products online via websites, apps, or marketplaces—has grown rapidly since 2000, offering opportunities but also risks for sectors like the seed industry, with transactions spanning B2B, B2C, and peer-to-peer across countries.

Orange Blossom Special: The Rust Stops Here

For a new wheat cultivar like Orange Blossom CL+, OFSS handles the initial seed increase, enabling limited quantities to be made available to certified seed growers ahead of full commercialization.

This early distribution accelerates the time from cross to commercial grain, in part by overlapping foundation seed production with later-stage field trials—a shift that has reduced commercialization

A Launchpad for New Varieties

wheat

Oklahoma State University’s latest Clearfield wheat release, Orange Blossom CL+, enters the landscape with a familiar genetic base — and a few new traits aimed squarely at today’s rust-related risks. The release follows years of internal development and field trials. The variety features a familiar genetic backbone and brings a combination of higher yield, early stripe rust resistance, and test weight comparable to its predecessor, Doublestop CL Plus.

Lessons from Expanding into South America

Expanding globally brings opportunities and challenges, from regulations to payment complexities. Agronomix has focused on South America, offering Spanish-optimized software and support to help plant breeding programs succeed, despite occasional payment uncertainties.

Is it Time to Reimagine Cover Crops?

Cover crops are now a key solution for soil health, nutrient retention, and sustainability. Iowa State’s Seed Science Center is exploring perennial cover crops that stay in the field year-round, reducing disturbance and inputs while boosting farm resilience.

Why Weird Corn Matters

A proposed USDA consolidation threatens the Maize Genetics Cooperation Stock Center, home to 100,000 mutant corn lines critical to seed innovation. Researchers warn that relocating the collection from the University of Illinois could disrupt decades of progress in crop genetics.

The Built-In Chill Factor

University of Missouri researchers have discovered that soybeans use a stress survival strategy called differential transpiration to protect flowers and pods during heat and drought. This physiological trait prioritizes cooling of reproductive tissues and could be enhanced through breeding or gene editing. As climate change intensifies, scientists and seed companies are exploring how to integrate this mechanism into elite soybean varieties to preserve yield under extreme weather.

USDA Reorganization Raises Questions for Agriculture and for the Seed Sector

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is undergoing a major reorganization aimed at reducing costs, streamlining operations, and relocating thousands of federal employees from Washington, D.C., to five regional hubs. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the changes are designed to refocus USDA on its core mission: supporting American farmers, ranchers, and foresters. While the department has emphasized continuity of critical services, the realignment raises questions for sectors like seed, where timely regulatory approvals, research partnerships, and export processes are vital.

For the seed industry, this shift could impact access to USDA agencies such as APHIS, AMS, and ARS, which oversee functions from phytosanitary inspections to biotech trait approvals. The closure or relocation of facilities—including Beltsville Agricultural Research Center—may disrupt ongoing breeding collaborations and affect public-private research programs. Meanwhile, seed exporters could face challenges if USDA’s trade offices experience staffing gaps or delays.

New Study Pinpoints Allergy-Triggering Proteins in Barley

Researchers have, for the first time, precisely measured allergy-triggering amylase/trypsin-inhibitors (ATIs) in barley—proteins linked to symptoms like bloating, headaches, and brain fog in people with food sensitivities. Led by Katharina Scherf at the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology, the study analyzed 181 barley accessions from around the world and identified ten specific ATI types. Using a new LC-MS/MS method, the team found ATI levels ranged from 1.1 to 5.2 milligrams per gram of flour, representing up to 3.6 percent of total protein content. These findings are a breakthrough in understanding barley’s role in non-celiac wheat sensitivity and could help breeders select varieties with naturally lower ATI levels.

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