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15 Iowa Community Colleges Thank
Farm Credit Services of America for 5 Years of Supporting Ag Education
Pictured above: DMACC President Rob Denson, Andy McKay, Jason Johnson, AAI CEO Joel Brinkmeyer
Long time AAI member Farm Credit Services of America received special recognition from 15 Iowa Community Colleges for their ongoing support of the Agribusiness Career Day.
Representatives from
Farm Credit Services of America received an official proclamation, signed by the presidents of the 15 community colleges, for being the primary sponsor of the Agribusiness Career Day for each of the past five years. The event for community college students enrolled in agriculture majors is hosted by the AAI Foundation every February during the Agribusiness Showcase and Conference.
The
proclamation thanks Farm Credit Services of America for their contribution and dedication to ag education. The proclamation states "The Agribusiness College Career Day has provided opportunities to Iowa Community College students across Iowa to meet Iowa agriculture leaders, and learn about the agriculture industry in Iowa, nationally, and globally."
"Farm Credit Services of America's sponsorship of the Agribusiness Career Day has contributed to the education of well over 1,100 Iowa Community College students resulting in $75,000 in scholarships...assisting the education of 75 community college students."
During the Agribusiness Career Day, the AAI Foundation also thanked the 5 Star Sponsors: Eldon C. Stutsman, Iowa Biotech Association, Growmark Foundation, and Heartland Co-op for donating over $5,000 to the foundation to provide scholarships.
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Brinkmeyer Addresses Aerial Applicators at Annual Discussion
The Iowa Aerial Applicators Association (IAAA) Spring Safety Meeting was held at PrairieMeadows on Thursday, March 22. Joel Brinkmeyer, AAI CEO, was invited to speak during the event. Brinkmeyer covered the current agricultural retailer merger and consolidations happening in today's ag industry.
This meeting was hosted by the Des Moines FSDO and FAASTeam.
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Vaughan Attends ACSD Meeting
This week, the Ag Cooperative Safety Directors of Iowa met in Story City to discuss agricultural topics and safety issues. AAI was represented by Reilly Vaughan, AAI Membership Director.
The Iowa DOT discussed CDLs and seasonal CDLs, HazMat, and other ag topics. Randy Carlholm, General Manager of ECI, discussed grain bin fatalities, and Neal Vaughan, IDALS, covered NH3 issues and information.
AAI works closely with the Iowa DOT, Iowa OSHA, and other organizations to provide insight to our members interests and needs. If members have questions regarding items pertaining to operations, regulations, etc., they are welcome to contact Reilly Vaughan or the AAI office 515-262-8323.
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Livestock Trucking Mandate Exemption Extended
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted a limited waiver for electronic logging devices (ELDs) to certain transporters of agricultural commodities.
Below is a link to the recently issued waiver that is in effect from March 18, 2018 to June 18, 2018.
Please visit the webpage often for the most recent information on ELDs. If you have any questions or would like to visit about having the DOT office provide training on ELDs or other Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, contact Shirly McGuire (515) 233-7400 shirley.mcguire@dot.gov.
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Save these Dates! 2018 Summer Golf Tournament Dates and Locations
Our golf tournaments are a great way to network and grow your connections in the agribusiness community.
We host four golf tournaments in the state of Iowa, two in July, one in August, and one in September. Save these dates!
- July 24 | Fox Ridge Golf Course - Dike
- July 25 | Emerald Hills Golf Course - Arnolds Park
- August 9 | The Legacy Golf Club - Des Moines
- September 13 | TBD
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Chinese Buyers Want Soybeans Out of Politics
by: Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network
Iowa soybean growers worry about Friday's imposition of tariffs on Chinese metals.
A delegation from the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is in China. The delegation gave an accounting of the Chinese's reaction to the import tariffs and the hard fought relationship.
No one knows what action China will take when the United States imposes tariffs on imported steel and aluminum Friday. However, the U.S. soybean industry is likely a key target. China is expected to buy 3.7 million bushels of soybeans this year, with 40% coming from the United States and South America.
Read More
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Omnibus Bill Includes 199A Change
by: AgWeb
The omnibus spending bill before Congress this week does include a change to Section 199A of the President's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
The hotly debated 199A provision gives farmers a financial incentive to sell to cooperatives instead of private companies.
According to Pro Farmer's Washington Policy Analyst Jim Weisemeyer, the 199A language change would repeal the 20% deduction of gross sales to co-ops.
"This currently gives co-ops an edge over other types of businesses because farmers who sell their commodities to grain firms can deduct only 20% of their net business income," he says. "Some farmers could write off their income entirely using the gross sales deduction." Read More
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Many Agree, Ethanol Could Save Farm Economy
by: Successful Farming
With crop prices depressed, the best solution for a struggling farm economy would be allowing expansion of 15% ethanol-gasoline blends, the leader and founder of one of the world's largest ethanol companies told the Iowa Biotechnology Association in Ankeny, Iowa, Wednesday.
"We were pleased to have such a great showing of innovative companies showcasing their technologies at this event as well as so many great presenters like Jeff Broin. We feel it as a great success as we had record attendance on both days of the event," said Joe Hrdlicka, Executive Director, Iowa Biotechnology Association.
Biofuels have been the only significant growth market for corn over the past two decades, said
Jeff Broin, the founder and CEO of POET, an ethanol producer with headquarters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Broin, who is also chairman of the ethanol trade group, Growth Energy, was among a group of ethanol and oil industry leaders who met with President Trump on March 1.
Read More
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Watersheds reduce flooding, improve water quality
by: Wallaces Farmer
Clear Creek Watershed in Johnson and Iowa counties is one of nine watersheds participating in the Iowa Watershed Approach project, a statewide $96.9 million flood reduction and water quality improvement project funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development that began in 2016. Landowners in this watershed have an opportunity to implement conservation practices on their farms that will reduce downstream flooding as well as improve water quality.
"This project is such a great opportunity to work as part of a collaborative team," says John Rathbun, project coordinator. "I have met so many great people who are excited about being a part of the overall project, from their land to the watershed to the state and beyond."
Read More
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Stay Connected
Stay Informed
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Strategic Partners Bring Service and Savings to AAI Members
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Dicamba/auxin training sessions can be found at:
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Upcoming Events
& Meeting
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March 30
Good Friday - Office Closed
April 3
Early Closure at 3:00 PM
AAI Executive Committee Meeting
10:00 AM
April 10
AAI Board Room
AAI Board Meeting
10:00 AM
April 17
AAI Board Room
Agribusiness Showcase & Conference Committee Meeting
10:00 AM
May 8
AAI Board Room
Office Closures
May 28
Memorial Day Monday
Summer Hours Begin
(M-Th 8-4:30 PM; F 8-12 PM)
July 4
Independence
Day
AAI Golf Tournament #1
Co-host: AGP
TBD
July 24
Fox Ridge Golf Course
Dike, IA
AAI Golf Tournament #2
Co-host: AGP
TBD
July 25
Emerald Hills Golf Course
Arnolds Park, IA
AAI Golf Tournament #3
Co-host: USA
Shotgun Start: 10AM
August 9
Des Moines, IA
Agribusiness Showcase & Conference Summer Workshop
TBD
August, 2018
Office Closures
September 3
Labor Day Monday
Summer Hours End
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