The AAI Staff would like to wish all of our members a wonderful holiday season. Our office holiday hours will be as follows: 

We will respond to all requests during the next business day. Have a safe holiday season and we wish you a prosperous 2017! Email: office@agribiz.org or phone: 515-262-8323.

Thank You! -  AAI Staff

All members of AAI are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting held at the Varied Industries Building, February 14 at 2:00 pm during the 2017 ASC. Agenda and details will follow in an official member invite via email to all AAI member contacts on file. 

Wednesday, February 14, 2017

2:00 PM - 4 PM

Iowa State Fair Grounds

 Varied Industries Building

Upper East Conference Room 

The Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) is seeking to employ three (3) part-time individuals to serve as regionally-based liaisons between local ag retailer and agronomy companies and the association, including the newly-formed Iowa Nutrient Research & Education Council (INREC).

All current AAI members have received a full description of these open positions this week. If you have questions please call 515-262-8323. 

On December 20, 2016 the US District Court made a unanimous decision denying the Department of Labor (DOL) and the  Occupational Health and Safety Administration's (OSHA) petition for a rehearing ( view here). 

When OSHA issued a change to its guidelines that redefine what business are exempt from the Process Safety Management (PSM) standard in mid 2015, they picked a fight with all the Ag Retailers in Iowa and across the nation.

The Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) supported the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) and The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) in their uphill battle to block the rules enforcement. 

Today, Daren Coppock, President and CEO of the Agricultural Retailers Association comments on the court's decision to deny OSHA, "This decision effectively resolves the issue of process safety management for ag retailers," said Coppock.

TFI reports that they will be on the lookout for OSHA's next move. The agency in its rehearing petition hinted that it may unilaterally rescind or make modifications to the original "retail facilities" interpretive letter issued in 1992. 

Mississippi River Basin states should be given a chance to address nutrient pollution first, before the federal government steps in, a federal court ruled late last week.

"EPA's 'policy' of partnering with the states and maintaining a states-in-the-first-instance approach is . . . an integral part of the (Clean Water Act) as enacted by Congress," U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey said in his  opinion, issued Dec. 15.

Lead plaintiff in the lawsuit was the Gulf Restoration Network (GRN), which was joined by the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Iowa Environmental Council, Tennessee Clean Water Network, Sierra Club and others. They sought an order from the court that would force EPA to adopt numeric water quality criteria for nitrogen and phosphorus in the 10 Mississippi River Basin states. [...] READ MORE.

by: Bloomberg 

President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks raise the threat of a renewable fuel standard overhaul, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a departure from his recent assurances that the biofuel mandate program will survive a Trump presidency.

"I've had concerns about it because there has been an ongoing effort on the part of the oil industry to get rid of the renewable fuel standard, and it's been comprehensive," he told  The Des Moines Register Dec. 19. "They've attacked it from the regulatory system, they've attacked it in the courts and they've attacked it in the court of public opinion." [...] READ MORE.

by: Ethanol Producer Magazine 

The Secretary's Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards is seeking nominations through the end of 2016. 

"Fuel retailers continue to take steps to make ethanol and biodiesel more available to Iowa customers and this award is an opportunity to recognize those who have shown leadership in promoting these renewable fuels and making them more available to customers," Northey said.

Nominations forms can be found on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's website and must be submitted by Dec 31, 2016.  [...] READ MORE.