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AAI Makes Iowa Member Visits
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Pictured above left to right: AAI Membership Director Reilly Vaughan, Greg Kennette and Nick DeRoos of CF Industries, AAI CEO Joel Brinkmeyer, and Past AAI Chair Mark Rosenbury at the CF industries fertilizer plant in Port Neal, Sergeant Bluff, IA.
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In April, AAI CEO Joel Brinkmeyer and Membership Director Reilly Vaughan made member visits to the CF Industries fertilizer plant in Port Neal and the OCI Fertilizer sales offices in Sioux City.
CF Industries Fertilizer Plant, Port Neal:
On April 9, Brinkmeyer, Vaughan, and Mark Rosenbury, former AAI Chair and former CFO of Terra Industries (now CF Industries), met with
CF Industries plant manager
Nick DeRoos at the Port Neal plant, along with P
lant Production Manager
Greg Kennette and members of Nick's team.
The AAI team had an opportunity to tour the modernized and expanded facility that had an overall construction cost of more than $1.8 Billion and is now in full production. The plant produces anhydrous ammonia, urea, liquid nitrogen, and other co-products, and is one of the largest and most modern fertilizer manufacturing facilities in the world.
CF Industries is an active AAI member, and has recently partnered with The Nature Conservancy to develop the 4R Plus program in Iowa, along with The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) and AAI's support.
OCI Fertilizers, Sioux City:
Vaughan, Brinkmeyer, and Rosenbury met with AAI member, David Schramm and his sales staff at OCI Fertilizers in their sales offices in Sioux City, Iowa. The group discussed the competitive nature of the industry, OCI's world class new fertilizer manufacturing facility in Wever, Iowa, and new opportunities ahead for the fertilizer industry in general.
The plant in Wever, Iowa, is the first greenfield nitrogen fertilizer facility constructed in the United States in more than 25 years.
The Wever facility is now fully operational serving Iowa and the upper Midwest ag industry. The group also discussed AAI's recently developed of the Iowa Agribusiness Environmental Partnership (IAEP), membership activities, and issues of importance to the fertilizer industry.
Last month
, Iowa Fertilizer Company (OCI), was named the winner of the Exida Safety Award, recognizing the company's longstanding commitment to the safety of its operations, employees, and the community at large.
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AAI Board of Directors Approve New Environmental Partnership Members
The AAI Board of Directors met this week for their quarterly meeting. The board received updates on the Agribusiness Showcase and Conference, plans being made to celebrate AAI's 25th anniversary, and reports from the various committees and ex-officios in attendance.
New IAEP Members
The Iowa Agribusiness Environmental Partnership was developed by the Agribusiness Association of Iowa Agronomy Committee. It clearly identifies the environmental guidelines agronomic advisers use when making recommendations to crop producers.
Partners in the program provide growers and the general public a clear understanding of the agribusiness sector's shared environmental values and commitments, leadership to assist farmers and landowners in advancing environmental stewardship, and progress toward meeting environmental goals.
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Pictured above left to right: CEO Joel Brinkmeyer, Board Member Troy Collins, and AAI Chair Mark Morrissey; Troy Collins accepted the IAEP member plaque on the behalf of CoBank, a longtime member and supporter of the association.
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IAEP Member Notice: Plaques and other materials for partnership members are being mailed from the AAI office this week. If you have any questions on the materials received, contact
tteske@agribiz.org or 515-262-8323.
To view full list of the IAEP company list and more information on the partnership, please visit agribiz.org/iaep
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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 - Norwalk
- September 13 | TBD
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Tariff/Trade Follow Up Articles:
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Online Dicamba-Specific Applicator Training Now Available
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced that online dicamba/auxin trainings have been approved for farmers and applicators who wish to use dicamba products.
Farmers and applicators can access the online trainings or find details about any upcoming in-person trainings at
http://DicambaTrainingIowa.org. The expanded training requirement is based on the need to provide Iowa farmers and applicators with training around the risks associated with dicamba and should help reduce problems associated with off-target movement.
XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology Herbicide, DuPont FeXapan Herbicide Plus VaporGrip Technology, and Engenia Herbicide are restricted use pesticides that can only be applied by certified pesticide applicators that have completed the auxin-specific (dicamba) training.
The topics that are covered in the training are:
- New Use Pattern for Dicamba-Tolerant Soybeans
- Application Requirements to include Wind Speed and Direction, and Use of a Buffer
- Temperature Inversions
- Changes in Record-Keeping Requirements
- Sprayer Tank Clean-Out
- Off Target Movement
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's Pesticide Bureau is responsible for responding to complaints and investigating potential misuse of pesticides. It is important all applicators read and follow the label directions on any pesticide when using. It is a violation of state and federal law to use a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with label directions.
Read More
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Study Finds Return on Investment a Stumbling Block for Widespread Adoption of Cover Crops
by: ISU Extension
Despite farmers' positive perceptions about cover crops and the availability of cost-share programs to incentivize their use, an Iowa State University study shows the return on investment may be the biggest hurdle to overcome for widespread adoption of the practice.
In 2017, Iowa fields planted to cover crops grew to 760,000 acres, with less than half receiving federal or state cost share. But with millions of acres of crops, Iowa - and other Midwestern states - has yet to see widespread adoption of cover crops to reduce nitrates in water from crop fields and to conserve and build healthy soils.
"We have a substantial body of research that shows cover crops have positive long-term benefits for water quality, soil health and the environment," said Alejandro Plastina, assistant professor of economics and extension economist. "Farmers also have positive perceptions about the value of cover crops and can take advantage of cost-share programs that incentivize their use."
"But it's likely that the number of acres planted won't substantially scale up if the practice doesn't at least break-even in the short term," he added. Read More
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House Farm Bill Tees Up Fights Over Funding, Policy
by: Agri-Pulse
The House Republican farm bill has drawn Democratic anger over its reforms to food stamps, but the legislation also would make significant changes in policy and funding across many other sections, including conservation, rural development and horticulture.
The bill includes many provisions that would be relatively noncontroversial, including enhancements to the Price Loss Coverage program, the first updates to USDA farm lending limits in 16 years and full funding for trade promotion programs and specialty crop assistance.
But House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway has set up a number of issues, both large and small, besides nutrition, for tough negotiations with the Senate. Among them: His bill would eliminate the Conservation Stewardship Program, saving $12.6 billion to use for other priorities; expand the Conservation Reserve Program; and defund energy programs as well as some other programs that benefit small-scale or organic agriculture.
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EPA Asked to Stop Issuing of Biofuel Blending Waivers
by: Feedstuffs.com
Recent reports indicate that dozens of waivers intended for small refineries have been granted to large, multi-billion dollar companies. Senators from the Midwest argue these waivers hurt biofuel producers and farmers across the country by effectively reducing biofuel demand by 1.5 billion gallons and undermining the renewable fuels standard mandate. As such, they've asked the Environmental Protection Agency to stand up for the intent of the program.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R, Iowa) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) led a bipartisan group of 13 senators in writing to EPA administrator Scott Pruitt requesting the agency cease issuing so-called "hardship" waivers exempting obligated parties from the renewable fuel standard, provide topline information about the waivers already issued, disclose whether or not the agency redistributed the waived volume obligations among the non-exempted obligated parties and outline the agency's plan to make the waiver process more transparent.
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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Upcoming Events
& Meeting
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Agribusiness Showcase & Conference Committee Meeting
10:00 AM
May 8
AAI Board Room
Office Closure
May 28
Memorial Day Monday
Summer Hours Begin
(M-Th 8-4:30 PM; F 8-12 PM)
4R Nutrient Steward Summit
June 11-12
Embassy Suites
Des Moines
Independence
Day
AAI Golf Tournament #1
Co-host: AGP
11:00 AM
July 24
Fox Ridge Golf Course
Dike, IA
AAI Golf Tournament #2
Co-host: AGP
11:00 AM
July 25
Emerald Hills Golf Course
Arnolds Park, IA
AAI Golf Tournament #3
Co-host: USA
10:00 AM
August 9
Norwalk, IA
Chicago, IL
August 1-3
AAI Member $100 Off
Discount Code: G&F
Agribusiness Showcase & Conference Summer Workshop
TBD
August, 2018
Office Closure
September 3
Labor Day Monday
Summer Hours End
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WATCH THE AGRIBUSINESS REPORT
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Dicamba/auxin online training options can
be found at:
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SAFE & SOUND ONLINE TRAINING
by Asmark
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