CPDA wrapped up its very successful 2019 Summer Conference & Annual Meeting, held August 19-21 at the Hyatt Centric Park City in Park City, Utah – a beautiful resort town nestled in the scenic Wasatch Mountains. The conference featured a comprehensive speakers program focusing on issues crucial to the business operations of companies in the agrotechnology industry. The meeting also provided opportunities for networking during which attendees had the chance to reconnect with long-known industry colleagues and to make new business contacts within a congenial, social setting.
This year’s keynote address was given by Dr. Nathan Kauffman, Vice President and Omaha Branch Executive with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City who provided his perspective on how economic, trade, and other factors are affecting the farm economy.
The Summer Conference & Annual Meeting covered many other important topics including the very good working relationship that CPDA has established with both the states of California and Washington, providing information and comments on proposed regulatory actions that could affect the registration of adjuvants. Other discussion focused on the challenges facing the ag retail-distribution industry, regulatory initiatives from EPA and other federal agencies impacting the agrotechnology industry, opportunities in the biostimulants market, and newly adopted changes to the Canadian data compensation process for pest control products – just to name a few.
We were also pleased to feature on our program representatives from two of our allied trade association partners that we work closely with – CropLife America (CLA) and the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA). We extend our thanks to Chris Novak, Beau Greenwood and Dr. Ray McAllister from CLA and to Richard Gupton from ARA for providing the audience an overview of the initiatives on which we have collaborated jointly in crafting solutions to challenges common to our respective memberships.
CPDA President Gary Halvorson Welcomes New and Returning Members to CPDA
In delivering his opening remarks at the Summer Conference & Annual Meeting, CPDA President Gary Halvorson offered a warm welcome to the following companies that have either joined CPDA for the first time or rejoined as a returning member since January of this year: Brandt Consolidated, Inc.; Earth Science Laboratories; EGE Products; Ethox Chemicals, LLC; R3 Ag Consulting, LLC; Wilbur-Ellis Company; and Winfield United. Please join us in welcoming these companies to the CPDA membership.
The 2019-2020 Roster of the CPDA Board of Directors is Announced
The next order of business at the Summer Conference & Annual Meeting was the adoption of the new roster of members of the CPDA Board of Directors for 2019-2020. We are happy to announce an expansion of the Board of Directors from 11 seats to its current roster of 16 seats. The expansion of the Board will enhance our ability to represent all segments of the CPDA membership and to develop Council positions and strategies that are reflective of the diverse makeup of our members. Please join us in thanking what is a very active and engaged group of individuals for their willingness as members of the Board to dedicate their time, talent, energy, and expertise in ensuring the continued growth and success of CPDA.
CPDA Honors Individuals at its Annual Awards Banquet
Every year at the Summer Conference & Annual Meeting, CPDA recognizes selected individuals for an achievement, contribution, or service provided to the Council. This year, meeting attendees gathered on the night of Tuesday, August 20th at the Hyatt Centric Park City for the annual CPDA Awards Banquet to recognize and celebrate four individuals whose many accomplishments have benefited members of CPDA and the agrotechnology industry. Master of Ceremonies at this year’s event was Gary Groves (Solvay).
Among this year’s award recipients was Robert Ehn, R3 Ag Consulting, LLC, who was given the CPDA “Service to the Industry Award” in recognition of his work with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation in helping to shape policy and support industry registration submissions for adjuvants and other agrotechnology products. Presenting the award was CPDA President Gary Halvorson who expressed his deep appreciation for the strong relationship the two of them have enjoyed going back to when they worked together during the early days of their careers.
The CPDA “Service to the Industry Award” was also bestowed upon Dr. Ray McAllister, CropLife America, in honor and recognition of a career spanning three decades devoted to advocating for science-based regulation of crop production products and technologies. In presenting the award, CPDA President Gary Halvorson highlighted Dr. McAllister’s collaboration in working closely with the Council membership to achieve successful outcomes on several regulatory initiatives of crucial importance to both associations.
Dr. Kevin Crosby, Adjuvants Unlimited, LLC, received the CPDA “Service to the Council Award” in honor of his dedication and leadership working with the state of Washington in developing appropriate naming for the principle functioning agents used in adjuvants. Presenting the award was Carmine Sesa, AgMarket Results, who thanked Kevin for serving with him as co-chair of the CPDA Inerts Working Group and for his many efforts that led to CPDA’s re-engagement as a principle member of the CPDA/CLA Joint Inerts Steering Committee on which Kevin also serves as co-chair.
Carmine Sesa not only presented an award, but he was also the recipient of the CPDA “Service to the Council Award” given to him in honor of his long-time leadership on inert ingredient issues that helped the association move forward with its current mission dedicated to promoting the importance of these products in agricultural production. Presenting the award was Master of Ceremonies Gary Groves (Solvay) who recounted fond memories of the time he and Carmine worked together and who expressed his deep admiration and respect for Carmine emanating from a long-standing professional relationship and friendship that continues to grow today.
CPDA Thanks the Sponsors of the 2019 Summer Conference & Annual Meeting!
CPDA would like to extend its sincere thanks to the sponsors of the 2019 Summer Conference & Annual Meeting. Sponsorship plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality and value of CPDA meetings. Please join us in recognizing the following companies for their generosity in sponsoring this year’s summer meeting:
Diamond Level: Chemorse
Platinum Level: Precision Laboratories, LLC
Gold Level: Adjuvants Unlimited, LLC; Helena Agri-Enterprises; KALO, Inc.; and Rosen’s, Inc.
Silver Level: Clariant Corporation, Ethox Chemicals, Exacto, Inc.; Stepan Company; and Stillmeadow, Inc.
Speaker Presentations
The speaker presentations from the 2019 CPDA Summer Conference & Annual Meeting may be accessed by clicking the links below.
“The Outlook for the Agricultural Economy,” Dr. Nathan Kauffman, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Omaha Branch
“The Growing Benefits of CPDA Membership,” Arthur Bass, Chair of the CPDA Membership Committee, Chemorse
“Socializing Application Enhancement Certification,” James Reiss, Chair of the CPDA Board of Directors, Precision Laboratories, LLC
“Adjuvant Registration in the State of Washington,” Dr. Kevin Crosby, Adjuvants Unlimited, LLC
“Efficacy Data for Adjuvants and California Registration Requirements,” Robert Ehn, R3 Ag Consulting, LLC
“Better. Together.,” Chris Novak, President & CEO, CropLife America
“CropLife America’s Regulatory Initiatives, Large and Small,” Dr. Ray McAllister, CropLife America
“An Overview of the CPDA/CLA Joint Inerts Steering Committee (JISC),” Dr. Kevin Crosby, Co-Chair of the JISC, Adjuvants Unlimited, LLC
“Plant Biostimulants: Current State and Future Directions,” Dave Lanciault, Agricen
“Biostimulants: An Evolving Regulatory Arena,” Shannon Bryant-Spas, TSG Consulting
“Policy Challenges Facing Ag Retail-Distribution Industry,” Richard Gupton, Agricultural Retailers Association
The 2019 CPDA Summer Conference & Annual Meeting Offered Opportunities to Network with Familiar Faces and to Make New Contacts!
