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Grain Committee Holds Joint Meeting with Feed & Livestock Committee
The AAI Gain Committee along with the Feed & Livestock Committee met on March 9, at the AAI office to discuss FSMA Training, an update by IDNR on Air Quality and feed mills, along with the new ISU Feed Mill. Guests included Dr. Charlie Hurburg, ISU, Dr. Dirk Maier, ISU, Brian Hutchins, IDNR, and Randy Watts, IDALS.
The IDNR is working with feed mills around Iowa to help them become compliant with the new rules. It is unknown how many feed mills are left to get into compliance due to variables.
Dr. Charlie Hurburg gave a review regarding Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Dr. Hurburg pointed out that some details of FSMA are on presented on iowagrain.org.
The next meeting was scheduled for July 6.
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AAI Represented at
O'Toole Inc. Annual Customer Meeting
On Thursday, March 3, AAI Membership Director Reilly Vaughan joined longtime AAI member O'Toole Inc. at their annual customer meeting to speak on the subject of the EPA becoming more involved in Ag Retail businesses. To headline the night was Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh a Professor Emeritus at Kansas State University in the Agricultural Economics Department.
Former board member and longtime member, Paul VonTersch with Van Diest Supply Company shared in the discussion. VonTersch discussed the EPA's rules for wind tunnel testing pesticide and herbicide formulas before the formulations can be applied. This is a new, expensive and time consuming overreach by the EPA that only adds costs while delaying new products to market.
Vaughan discussed the Clean Water Rule, more commonly known as Water of the US rule (WOTUS), as it pertains O'Toole's farmer customers. In 2014, AAI launched a multi-pronged member comment solicitation that coupled with the IFBF's "Ditch the Rule" campaign. AAI firmly stands in opposition this
Vaughan also discussed the OSHA PSM interpretation change and how the EPA becomes involved. AAI will continue to work with other state and the national ag groups to fight this. He also touched on the Des Moines Water Works lawsuit. Iowans in the SE Iowa are not as close to this issue and this outlet was a chance to inform fellow Iowans about the severity and ramifications if the lawsuit is lost by agriculture.
AAI would like to thank O'Toole Inc. for their continued support and the opportunity to join them for a great evening.
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Freight Advisory Council Meeting
AAI is a part of the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) Freight Advisory Council, which is comprised of all modes of transportation, communities and industry. This is a great opportunity for agribusiness to share their concerns and compliments to the DOT in a collective setting. The council is a working think tank to address transportation issues across the state and nation at times.
This meeting was focused on the DOT's state freight and rail plan. IDOT representatives talked about modal improvements for air and waterways as well as the value, condition and performance matrix for highway improvements. Council members were each given the opportunity to share how their businesses or constituents were impacted. Everyone and every business is intertwined when it comes to transportation so being able to share on behalf of agribusiness is just as important as listening to the other members.
Dan Franklin with IDOT provided a Federal legislative update and potential uses for the National Highway Freight Program and 10 percent intermodal funds. To wrap up the meeting Bonnie Castillo gave a presentation on the DOTs 511 service for members to think about what is liked and what could be improved or added.
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Oil Pipeline Across Iowa Approved
The Iowa Utilities Board has voted 3-0 to
approve an oil pipeline across the state. Dakota Access had sought permission for the pipeline, which will carry crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois. The line will run for nearly 350 miles through 18 Iowa counties, entering the state in the northwest corner, and exiting in the southeast.
In its decision, the IUB says the permit for the pipeline will only be given once Dakota Access meets several conditions the board outlined today. They include obtaining a $25 million liability insurance policy, guarantee that its parent company will remedy damages resulting from any spill or leak, and file a revised Agricultural Impact Mitigation Plan.
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4R Advocates Recognized at Commodity Classic
by: TFI
The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) honored five American farmers and their fertilizer retail partners last week at the 2016 Commodity Classic in New Orleans, La. These 2016 4R Grower Advocates are dedicated to the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship: using the right nutrient source at the right rate, the right time, and in the right place. These practices help increase yields, improve soils, and enhance ecosystems. Each of the 2016 4R Advocate growers operate multi-generational family farms.
Darin Stolte of Olin, Iowa and Jimmie Daughtery, Precision Ag Specialist with River Valley Coop in Davenport, Iowa. Stolte, along with his mother and father farm 1,100 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa. Stolte is also the co-owner of a drainage tiling business and owns and operates a cow-calf operation. He conducts many nitrogen trials on his farm which has led to collaboration with the Iowa Soybean Association - On-Farm Network.
The Advocates joined TFI staff in the tradeshow and were recognized by TFI's President, Chris Jahn, at an invitation-only 4R banquet. This year's winners, listed below represent farms from across the United States.
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Iowa Kids Benefit from BASF Partnering with NCGA to Award Scholarships
This year also marks a decade of partnership between BASF and NCGA to provide the William C. Berg Academic Excellence in Agriculture scholarships to outstanding undergraduate or graduate students pursuing degrees in agriculture.
"NCGA is pleased to partner with BASF to offer this scholarship opportunity to another crop of outstanding students," said NCGA President Chip Bowling, a corn grower from Newberg, Maryland. "Our legacy depends on encouraging the next generation to embark on careers in agriculture."
Andrew Lauver of Rockwell City, IA and Bethany Mordhorst of Ute, IA both were among five students that received $1,000 each from the program.
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Iowa Recognizes Importance of Agriculture with New Vanity Plate
A new agriculture license plate is now available throughout Iowa for passenger vehicles, trucks and trailers.
The plate recognizes the important role that agriculture plays in the Iowa economy. Revenue from the sale of the plate will support three youth organizations that help students learn about agriculture, leadership and life skills.
The three organizations are the Iowa FFA Foundation, Iowa 4-H Foundation and Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation.
"Agriculture in Iowa is so important to the state economy," said Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation Executive Director Will Fett. "Having a license plate on your personal vehicle is just a great way to show your support for agriculture and these youth organizations."
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Poll Shows Demand for Soil Health Research
Healthy soil can help out crop yields, reduce chemical input needs, and take care of water quality according to Iowa State University, but how much farmers know about its benefits has not really been researched.
ISU Extension sociologist J. Gordon Arkbuckle Jr. wanted to know and put together the 2015 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, which is designed to find out farmers beliefs about the benefits of soil health.
Arbuckle says knowing what farmers know can help guide research development and programs.
In the poll he found most of the near 1150 farmers who participated view healthy soils as beneficial: 93 percent agree it can lead to better crop yields, 77 percent thought it can reduce the risks of drought conditions, and 75 percent agree healthy soils can reduce crop input needs.
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Iowa Tax Coupling To Benefit Tens of Thousands of Iowans
Iowa legislative committees wasted little time in approving a compromise to fully couple federal income tax changes to the state tax code retroactive to the 2015 tax year.
They also adopted a scaled-back version of state sales tax breaks on consumable supplies used in the manufacturing process.
"We have good news this morning," Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, said in introducing Senate Study Bill 3171 to the Senate Ways and Means Committee Thursday. The change will benefit "tens of thousands of farmers, small business owners and teachers."
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Upcoming Events
& Meeting
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Membership Committee Conference Call
March 11
10 AM
AAI Conference Line
Executive Committee Meeting
March 15
10 AM
AAI Board Room
INREC Board Meeting
March 17
10 AM
Call for Location
Showcase Committee Meeting
March 21
10 AM - 12 PM
AAI Board Room
AAI Services Board Meeting
March 21
(Joint Lunch) 12 PM
AAI Board Room
Office Closed
Observing Good Friday
March 25
AAI Board Meeting
March 29
10 AM
AAI Board Room
Golfing Events
Event 1 - July
Event 2 - August
Events 3 & 4 - September
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