February 8 , 2018
WHITE
A five-minute summary of AAI, regulation, and industry activities for members of the largest state agribusiness association in the nation.
In This Issue
AAI IN ACTION
 
Sen. Ernst's Office Gets Feedback from AAI on 199A

The Special Assistant for Agriculture from Senator Joni Ernst's staff met with CEO Joel Brinkmeyer and Membership Director Reilly Vaughan late last week. 

The meeting was an opportunity to share AAI's position on the Section 199A tax code issue, and to learn about AAI members' responses. The staff member said the senator is very aware of the issue and willing to work to resolve it in the best way possible for her constituents.

Also discussed during the meeting were NAFTA, the potential for federal infrastructure funding, and triple axle trailers on federal Interstates. 

Dicamba Training at ACS 2018 - Additional Registration Required

Monsanto will be offering a Dicamba Training session during the 2018 Agribusiness Showcase & Conference. The Wednesday, February 14 session starts at 10:00 AM.  

Attendees must register directly with Monsanto for the dicamba training session, even if you have already registered for the Showcase.

Those wishing to attend can register online at the following link: Dicamba Session Registration.
Fabulous Experiences Available -
Online PAC Auction Feb. 13-14

The Agribusiness Association of Iowa will be holding a silent online auction next week with all proceeds benefitting the Iowa Agribusiness PAC. 

Anyone is able to participate regardless of attendance at ASC 2018. Items will be available for bid from 4:00 PM on February 13 until 3:00 PM on February 14.

The list of items includes:
  • Hosted Golf Packages with Lunch 
    Three options - Des Moines Golf and Country Club with Mark Morrissey; Echo Valley Country Club with David Pieper; Blue Top Ridge with Mark Stutsman
  • One week's use of a Key West home. Includes a fishing expedition.
  • Certified Angus Beef quarter
  • Football signed by the Liberty Bowl winning Iowa State Cyclone football team
  • St. Louis Cardinals home game tickets
  • Gourmet Dinner at the Iowa Culinary Institute
To view auction items, and to register to bid, click this link:  AAI PAC Auction
Environmental Partnership Founding Members to be Recognized at AAI Annual Meeting

More than 40 businesses will be recognized for their leadership as Founding Members of the Iowa Agribusiness Environmental Partnership (IAEP) during the AAI Annual Meeting on February 13, 2018.

The IAEP Founding Members signed on to the partnership during the Founder period that ended December 31, 2017. IAEP member companies commit to upholding the Guiding Principles of the IAEP. The program values actions that support nutrient stewardship and is only available to AAI members.

The IAEP advances environmental progress and clearly identifies the important environmental principles in agronomic management used by our members. 

The partnership provides an option for every AAI member company to participate. The AAI Board of Directors aims to have every AAI member join the partnership. 

AAI member companies who have not signed up for the IAEP can do so at this link:  IAEP Information Page

Agribusiness Showcase & Conference Next Week

Find everything you could possibly want to know about the ASC 2018 at http://agribizshowcase.com.

Full schedule of events, speaker bios, and more can be found on the website.

Special Wednesday Sessions: 
  • Field Steps Demonstration of Retailer/Grower Software
     
  • Conservation College
    - First 40 participants will receive a free bluetooth    speaker!
Planning to attend? Download the Agribiz Showcase App:  https://attendify.com/app/3rg5ai 


Click or Scan to download app.

IN THE NEWS
 
Former Iowa governor boosts U.S. ag profile in China
by: Global Gazette 
Ever since Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad was named as the Trump administration's ambassador to China last year, farm organizations have talked about how useful it could be to have a Midwesterner and a person knowledgeable about agriculture as the U.S. voice in Beijing.

Iowa farm leaders have been especially excited about the possibilities.  Branstad has been in China since last spring, and many of those leaders say it is still too soon to point toward concrete trade deals or changes, but they remain excited about the influence his appointment has. Read More

New Director for ISU Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation

 
Kristine Tidgren has been named the director of the Iowa State University Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation.

Tidgren joined the extension-focused center in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as a staff attorney in 2013, and has been serving as its assistant director for the past two years. William Edwards, an emeritus professor of economics and extension farm economist, had served for the past year as the center's interim director. Read More

Leopold Center Supporters Ask Legislators for Funding
by: Iowa Public Radio 

Supporters of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, based at Iowa State University, are making their case at the statehouse for reinstating the center's funding.

Many people in Iowa agriculture, and across the region, expressed shock when the legislature took away the funding for the Leopold Center last spring. The center's existence remains, thanks to a veto from then-Gov. Terry Branstad, but the state funding that made up the bulk of its budget was zeroed out. Read More

Soil Health Summit honors 'Best in Soil Health'
by: Farmer Today

Innovators. Educators. Communicators. Those are just some of the words used to describe the four recipients of the new "Seeds of Change Awards" at the 2018 Soil Health Partnership Summit, Jan. 18-19 in Chicago. 

Champion Communicator: Mark Mueller, Waverly, Iowa.
Mueller often takes the initiative to tell the story of what's happening on his farm. In the last year, he was a weekly CropWatch reporter for Iowa Farmer Today. Read More

Items of Interest

The Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council has a project coordinator position available:

The Soil Health Partnership is hiring a Field Manager:



MEETINGS & EVENTS
Dicamba/auxin training sessions can be found at:
Upcoming Events
& Meeting
Agribusiness Showcase & Conference
Feb 13-14
VI Building, Iowa State Fairgrounds

AAI Annual 2018 Member Meeting
Feb 13
2:00 PM
VI Building, Iowa State Fairgrounds

Agronomy Committee Meeting
10:00 AM
Feb 28
AAI Board Room

AAI Executive Committee Meeting
10:00 AM 
April 10
AAI Board Room

AAI Golf Tournament #1
TBD
July 24
Fox Ridge Golf Course
Dike, IA

AAI Golf Tournament #2
TBD
July 25
Emerald Hills Golf Course
Arnolds Park, IA
Strategic Partners
Strategic Partners Bring Service and Savings to AAI Members


 

2018 ASC Sponsors
Because of the support of our sponsors, AAI is able to bring you an innovative conference! Thank you!
WATCH THE AGRIBUSINESS REPORT 




Agribusiness Association of Iowa 
515-262-8323 |   aai@agribiz.org |  www.agribiz.org
900 Des Moines Street |  Des Moines, IA 50309