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allows a contracting party to permit a fanner the ability to save seed for use on his holdings. 

 Because of the recognized tradition and accepted necessity of farmers to save seed, the 

 Convention made special reference to this American practice as a means of insuring our fanners 

 this important right. 



It should be noted, Mr. Chairman, that the farm-saved seed provision in the new 

 Convention does not permit the selling of farm-saved seed. In order to be in full compliance 

 with the Convention, H R 2927 contains a provision that stipulates that sales of protected 

 varieties of seed are dependent on permission granted by the owner of the protected variety. 



Mr. Chairman, it has become increasingly apparent that of all the issues before this 

 subcommittee, the most widely discussed component of H R 2927 has centered on this provision. 

 While these discussions have enabled the ASTA a forum to reaffirm our strong support of farm- 

 saved seed, it has served another important purpose. It has allowed the ASTA to work more 

 closely with the farm organizations and commodity groups and to forge new alliances on a 

 common theme — advancing American agriculture. j ... 



Truly, the recognition of farm-saved seed is good for the plant breeders and for the 

 farmer. The language outlined in H.R. 2927 speaks clearly to the ability of a farmer to save seed 

 and utilize it on his own holdings. This allows all parties to know the rules and further confirms 

 the partnership between the seed industry and the fanning community. 



Mr. Chairman, these changes, as reflected in H R 2927, are necessary for the continued 

 health and stability of American agriculture. Acceptance and adherence to the 1991 UPOV 

 Convention is in the best interest of all of us who are committed to the farmer and to the breeder. 



Like any business, or area of intellectual property, though, protection and incentive go 

 hand-in-hand. Risk of capital and market share is real and is measurable. An inability to protect 

 runs contrary to the spirit of the UPOV Convention and our ability as an industry to foster a 

 partnership with the fanner. Seed companies must know that their investment of time, research, 

 and capital is truly protected without exception. We believe that H.R. 2927 accomplishes this. 



SWIFT APPROVAL OFH.R. 2927 WILL BETTER POSITION 

 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE 



Yield and performance have always been the criteria a farmer uses in seed selection. 

 Farmers know that many things go into that bag of seed. Within that bag is considerable 

 research, marketing, development, and an expectation for performance. In developing new and 

 improved cultivars, plant breeders plan for the future. And, as they seek protection, the concept 

 of essentially derived will unfold, and the merits of H.R. 2927 will continue to be revealed. 



H.R. 2927 provides meaningful protection and assurances to plant breeders and the 

 American fanner. Its benefits are more easily measured in the long-term, but the short-term 



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