Each year, at ASTA’s annual convention, leaders in the seed industry who have contributed significantly to advances in their areas of expertise, to their business sectors and/or states or regions, and to the efforts of ASTA to serve their industry are recognized by their peers with the highest honors bestowed by the seed industry.
Industry Honors
Distinguished Service Award
The ASTA Distinguished Service award was presented to Dr. Steve Malone, USDA-AMS-S&T SRTD. The award recognizes those whose efforts have made a significant contribution to the association and the U.S. seed industry.
Dr. Steve Malone received his B.S.A. in Agronomy and M.S. in Crop Science from the University of Arkansas and Ph.D. in Crop Production & Physiology from Iowa State University, with an emphasis on seed physiology.
After receiving his Ph.D., Malone worked at a number of universities and USDA-ARS in a postdoctoral research associate position and as an assistant professor. In 1998, he began working in the seed industry as a product development agronomist with RiceTec. Before moving to USDA in 2015, Malone also held positions with Syngenta Crop Protection and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Currently, he is the U.S. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Seed Schemes Program Manager and the USDA-AMS-S&T-Seed Regulatory & Testing Division (SRTD).
In Steve’s role as OECD Seed Schemes Program Manager, he is responsible for assisting seed certifying agencies and companies in the U.S. in complying with the OECD Seed Schemes rules and regulations when shipping seed internationally to OECD Seed Schemes member countries. He also represents the U.S. in seed schemes meetings and working groups. His work has contributed to promoting the quality of U.S. seed and facilitating market access for U.S. seed producers and has helped strengthen the competitiveness of American seed exports globally. Malone has been a member of American Society of Agronomy (ASA) for 42 years and Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) for 37 years. Through these memberships, he has held several leadership positions. He has served on the CSSA Board of Directors for many years, including serving as a C-4 (Seed Physiology, Production & Technology) Representative from 2014-2016 and 2020-2022, the Budget & Finance Chair from 2023-2025, and the C-4 Division Chair in 2010. He has also served as the Association of American Seed Control Officials 2nd Vice President in 2009-2011, 1st Vice President in 2011-2013, and President in 2013-2015.
To see past recipients, click here.
Dr. Steve Malone | USDA-ARS-S&T-SRTDA
Honorary Lifetime Member
The ASTA Honorary Lifetime Member award was presented to Dr. Ray Dobert, Bayer/Monsanto. Honorary Members distinguish themselves through leadership, vision and service.
Dr. Raymond Dobert is currently the owner of Harambe Ag Consulting, LLC, working with his clients to find regulatory policy solutions. Prior to “retirement” in the fall of 2024, Ray worked at Monsanto and Bayer CropScience for over 26 years in a variety of biotech regulatory policy and affairs roles based in St. Louis, Missouri. As a Senior Science Fellow, he represented the company in seed and biotech industry organizations. Prior to moving to the private sector, he was at USDA-APHIS as a Biotechnology policy specialist and was the Coordinator of USDA-ARS’s Biotechnology Information Center. Ray received his Ph.D. in Agronomy at the University of Missouri. Early in his career, he was an AAAS Congressional Science Fellow working in the office of Senator Tom Daschle. A native of New York, he received his undergraduate degree in biology from St. Lawrence University.
To see past recipients, click here.
Dr. Ray Dobert | Bayer/Monsanto
ASTA Lifetime Industry Achievement Award
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