Florida Proposes Changes to State Seed Law; Illinois Resolution Honors Tom Burrus

Things are relatively quiet in the states as it’s still early in the bill pre-filing season for 2018 legislative sessions. However, in Florida, HB 553 and its companion, SB 740, got an early start as part of an omnibus bill on behalf of the state’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. A small portion of the 113-page bill is the result of over two years of effort by the state’s seed council to provide a comprehensive update to the state’s seed law.

Proposed changes address: terminology, exemption clarifications, certification, recordkeeping requirements, arbitration procedures, member terms and purpose, noxious weed seeds, local-law preemption, and more. The Department and the Seed Council put forth a great deal of effort into crafting a proposal that would ensure consumer protection while considering the latest seed technologies. ASTA supports the seed-related portions of the bill.

In Illinois, SR 1061 has been introduced to recognize the life and accomplishments of Tom Burrus, who recently passed away. A longtime ASTA member and friend, Tom spent most of his career at Burrus Seed. In addition to listing numerous honors and accolades of Tom’s life and career, the resolution rightly notes that he “will leave an indelible mark on the industry that he loved.”