Does the seed industry need its own XML language?
by Rick Mason
SeedChoices.com
USA

Most trade between companies in the seed business couldn’t take place without standards put in place by ASTA and other groups.

But to allow the computers of one company to talk to another you also need a standard or shared language to describe the transaction.

XML provides the framework to describe the business rules of a given industry.  The fertilizer retailers are already building a standard as well as the grain companies.  It’s been my mission for over two years to get the seed companies to do the same.

I think it’s in the seed industry’s best interest to see this standard created as soon as possible.  I’m willing to help in any way I can.

Rick Mason can be contacted at rick@seedchoices.com 

May 2004