On Monday, February 22, AAI leadership was among a very diverse group of attendees who participated in a Transportation Roundtable, hosted by Congressman David Young.  

Ag and Transportation leaders meet at Iowa Farm Bureau to discuss industry issues and solutions. Photo by Ben Nuelle.

 

The meeting was designed as an information and needs gathering session for Congressman Young, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, who has charged USDA with creating a long term infrastructure plan designed to prevent transportation disruptions and to ensure global market access for ag products and value added goods. A very broad array of items were discussed, including surface transportation issues; CDL restrictions and pilot programs, weight limitations on Federal Interstates, truck safety issues, the Positive Train Control system, the needed repair and upgrades for locks and dams system, Rail accessibility and needs for agriculture commodities, the Shippers Liability System and many other items.    

Also attending the meeting with Congressman Young, were Arthur Neal, Deputy Administrator of the Transportation and Marketing Program, USDA, and Larry Minor, Associated Administrator for Policy at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, (FMCSA).  AAI was represented at the meeting by Kevin Gray, AAI Transportation Committee Chair, Mark Morrissey, AAI Legislative Committee Chair, Joel Brinkmeyer AAI CEO, and Reilly Vaughan, AAI Membership Chair.   The meeting was hosted by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation in West Des Moines, IA. 

by: Iowa Farm Bureau 

"A global glut of food production has sent U.S. farm revenues down sharply," noted AFBF President Zippy Duvall in a February 10, 2016  statement . Farm income is down 56 percent in the past two years alone. "Yet, the president's just-released budget would cut 27 USDA programs, including a 10-year, $18 billion cut to the federal crop insurance programs so important to farmers," Duvall said.

Al and Ruth Schafbuch see the three saturated buffers on their farm northeast of Dysart as a way to show farmers are responsible stewards.  "The three saturated buffers will not increase our income in any way," Al said.  The buffers will manage the nitrate coming out of tile water before it flows into a tributary of Pratt Creek. Farmers are under fire to reduce nitrates flowing out of drainage tiles into rivers and streams.

Research by Tom Isenhart, of Iowa State University, and Dan Jaynes, of the USDA National Laboratory for Agriculture and Environment located at ISU, shows most nitrate entering the saturated buffer will be removed by plant uptake, microbial immobilization and denitrification. The existing grass buffer removes sediment, phosphorus and pesticides and provides wildlife habitat.

Gov. Terry Branstad of Iowa was presented with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) 2016 Industry Award in recognition of his years of support for the U.S. ethanol industry.

Absolute Energy president Rick Schwarck presented the award, which is given to individuals annually for outstanding dedication and innovation in the industry.

"Gov. Branstad, you have been one of the most passionate, articulate, and effective advocates for value-added agriculture, farmers, and ethanol," Schwarck said. "You have fought in our state to build and maintain the nation's largest and most competitive ethanol industry. You have fought the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as it has tried to undermine the effectiveness of renewable fuels programs. And you have made ethanol a defining issue in Iowa and across the country in this year's presidential campaign."

Grain bin entrapments and other confined space accidents on the nation's farms fell to their lowest level in a decade last year, a Purdue University study has found.

The U.S. had 47 accidents in grain bins or other confined spaces in 2015. That's 34 percent less than 2014's 71 such accidents and the fewest since 46 were recorded in 2006, the study found.

Last year's accidents were reported in 13 states, mostly in the Midwest's Corn Belt region. Iowa led the nation with seven accidents.

Join more than 200 women for the annual bi-state Women in Agriculture Conference on Friday, March 18, at the day-long conference at Jumer's Casino and Hotel, 777 Jumer Drive, Rock Island. This year's featured speaker is Laura Daniels.  Daniels is a mother, wife, farmer, dairy consultant and agriculture advocate. Daniels will share her refreshingly honest views about life's ups and downs and will help you see that you need tools to cope, because life isn't all sunshine and roses.