1

Hoffman, Neil E - APHIS

From: Nick Tichinin <nick@universalseed.com>

Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 5:32 PM

To: Hoffman, Neil E - APHIS

Subject: RE: dates for surveys

Hello Neil, 

So...when I go back to the original test data I find that there are still corrections to the data. Here is the final word. In 

2010 we in fact tested only 22 fields-not 24. Two fields were tested twice and counted as separate tests when in fact they 

were retests. Therefor the results are as follows: 

2007 – 13 fields tested – 1 positive 

2008 – 6 fields tested – 1 positive 

2009- no fields grown or tested 

2010- 3 fields tested- 0 positive 

2011- 6 fields tested- 0 positive. 

Best regards, 

Nick Tichinin 

From: Hoffman, Neil E - APHIS [mailto:Neil.E.Hoffman@aphis.usda.gov] 

Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 9:32 AM 

To: Nick Tichinin 

Subject: RE: dates for surveys

Dear Nick,

I’m not sure if I understand correctly and would appreciate some additional clarification to help me reconcile our phone

conversation of November 28 with your latest email. Particularly, I want to make sure I understand which years’ seed

harvests tested positive for the H7‐1 trait and how many fields were tested in a given year if that information is

available.  

My understanding is that in 2010, 24 samples of seed were tested corresponding to 24 different seed fields from 3 years

of seed harvest: 2007, 2008, and 2010.  Samples corresponding to two of the fields (1 from 2007 and 1 from 2008)

tested positive. Therefore 2 of the 24 fields, or 8.3% of the fields tested in 2010 tested  positive for the H7‐1 trait.  

Would you be so kind as to confirm whether my understanding is correct and supply the number of fields tested in a

particular year if that information is available.  

2007: tested positive. 1 positive. How many fields were tested?

2008:tested positive. 1 positive. How many fields were tested?

2009: no fields were tested because no vegetable beet seed was grown

2010:tested negative. How many fields were tested?

2011: tested negative. 6 fields were tested.

Thanks so much for your help.

Best regards,  

Neil
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From: Nick Tichinin [mailto:nick@universalseed.com] 

Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 6:42 PM 

To: Hoffman, Neil E - APHIS 

Subject: Re: dates for surveys 

Hello Neil,

The first set of tests we ran in 2010 were for production years 2007,2008,2010 we found 2 positives in 24 different

fields.  8.3% .  We did not test any lots from 2009 because we did not have any fields in that year.

We tested 6 crops from 2011 crop. 0 positives.

Best regards,

Nick Tichinin

From: "Hoffman, Neil E ‐ APHIS" <Neil.E.Hoffman@aphis.usda.gov>

Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:18:04 +0000

To: Nick Tichinin <nick@universalseed.com>

Subject: dates for surveys

Hi Nick,

  

Nice talking to you earlier. We would appreciate if you could verify the years that seed was tested and turned out to be

positive for the H7‐1 trait from Roundup Ready sugar beets. According to my notes, positives were obtained in seed

harvested in 2007 and 2008, no testing was done in 2009, and no positives were found in 2010 and 2011.  

  

According to Ted’s comment which I have attached, positives were obtained from seed harvested in 2009 and 2010.

Please update me with the correct information. Thanks in advance for your help.  

  

  

Neil E. Hoffman

Science Advisor

Biotechnology Regulatory Services

USDA APHIS

4700 River Road, Rm 6C‐03B

Riverdale, MD 20737

(p) 301.734.6331

(f) 301.734.3135

  

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