AAI Breakfast At the Capitol
The Annual AAI Legislative Breakfast is on Tuesday, January 24 at 7:30 AM. AAI members will have the opportunity to make connections with lawmakers and elected officials, and thank them for being supportive of agribusiness.
Any AAI member is welcome to come to the capitol for this important event. AAI members will be meeting at the home office before walking over to the capitol. No RSVP is necessary, but if you know you will be attending, please let the home office know so we can be watching for you.
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AAI Travels to Michigan: Speaks at Conference
The Michigan Agribusiness Association (MABA) Winter Conference was the latest speaking engagement concerning the Water Works lawsuit for AAI CEO Joel Brinkmeyer. The case has generated interest across the US from a variety of ag groups wanting to understand the repercussions of the legal action as well as more information about the defense support from Agricultural Legal Defense Fund (AgLDF).
Brinkmeyer outlined the key issues in the case including the contentions about storm water runoff v. groundwater and the apparent desire of the plaintiffs to use the legal system rather than legislation to write law. Brinkmeyer also outlined the full impact this case could have on the millions of acres of tile drained agricultural land - a key reason AgLDF has been involved.
The MABA Winter Conference took place in Lansing, Michigan on January 9, 2017.
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AAI MEMBER ALERT:
Voting Members Encouraged to Attend All Member Meeting
All AAI members are invited to join us for our annual meeting at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at the Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.
The AAI Board of Directors is extending a special invitation to all voting members to attend this meeting. A number of important issues will hinge on action taken during 2017. The Board would like to make assure the engagement of AAI members as AAI looks to grow the future of the state of Iowa.
The annual meeting is free to attend, floor pass is an additional charge. Please click here to view our conference schedule.
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Thank You to Our
2017 ASC Sponsors!
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Former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue Picked for US Secretary of Agriculture
The reported front-runner for weeks,
former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue
was a member of President-Elect Trump's Agricultural Advisory Committee during the general election campaign. If nominated and confirmed, he will take charge of the USDA, an agency with nearly 100,000 employees and a $150 billion budget.
"Governor Perdue has a very good reputation within the ag industry and I look forward to working with him as he leads USDA. He has a strong background in agriculture, having grown up on a farm, is a veterinarian and has worked in the agribusiness sector. USDA is a critically important partner for our Department and I'm excited to continue that strong working relationship around issues of animal health, soil conservation, water quality and many others." says Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.
The next Agriculture Secretary will help shepherd a new Farm Bill through Congress, which is due to update the regulations that govern everything from farm supports to food stamps in 2018 after a contentious bill-making process in 2014. [...] READ MORE.
Related News:
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Vilsack to Lead U.S. Dairy Export Council
Former Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack will become President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council February 1
st. That announcement was made Tuesday confirming rumors Vilsack would succeed Tom Suber , who retired after 22 years.
Vilsack says he is looking forward to the move. "I'm excited about this opportunity because I'm working for people I like and I'm working with people I like, number one. Number two, you know it's a great product. It's very easy to sell and to advocate on behalf of the dairy producers and the processors and the companies of this country." [...]
READ MORE.
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Iowa Learning Farms to host winter cover crop workshops
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will host five cover crop workshops this winter in Floyd, Linn, Marion, Sioux and Hardin counties. The workshops are free, open to the public, and include a complimentary meal.
Workshop dates and locations include:
- February 22, 12:30-2:30 p.m.: Borlaug Learning Center, ISU Northeast Research Farm, 3327 290th St, Nashua, IA
- February 23, 12:30-2:30 p.m.: Central City American Legion Post 421, 6 Central City Rd, Central City, IA
- February 28, 12:30-2:30 p.m.: Marion County Extension Office, 210 N Iowa St, Knoxville, IA
- March 8, 12:30-2:30 p.m.: Dordt College Commons Dining Hall, 498 4th Ave NE, Sioux Center, IA
- March 9, 12:30-2:30 p.m.: St. Paul Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 1105 Washington St, Eldora, IA
Workshops are free and open to the public, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. Contact Liz Juchems at 515-294-5429 or email ilf@iastate.edu.
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The Des Moines Register Top Workplaces 2016
Congrats to the below AAI members who made the list!
- BrownWinick
- FCS of America
- Holmes Murphy
- MaxYield Cooperative
- Monsanto Company
- Nationwide
- Peoples Company
View full list
here.
The Des Moines Register has recognized 150 Companies and Organizations in Iowa as Top Workplaces 2016 . These companies have been recognized as Top Workplaces based solely on surveys about the workplace completed by their employees.
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Tech Advances Spur Ag Innovations
Media calls with Monsanto, the Climate Corporation and DuPont Pioneer in recent weeks have all touched on a similar theme - how computers and advanced genetics are increasingly playing a role in corn and soybean fields around the globe.
On a Monsanto research and development call Jan. 5, Climate Corporation CEO Mike Stern, discussing the growth of Climate's FieldView platform, described a "breakout year" in 2016 with the digital ag platform used across 100 million acres, including 14 million paid acres. [...]
READ MORE.
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Click on the title below to view our info page with sign up and/ or payment options.
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Upcoming Events
& Meeting
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Agronomy Committee Meeting
10:00 AM
January 23
AAI Board Room
AAI Legislative Reception
7:30 AM
January 24
State Capitol
AAI Board Meeting
9:30 AM
January 24
AAI Board Room
NEW AAI Board Member Meeting
2:30 PM
January 24
AAI Board Room
February 14 - 15
Iowa State Fairgrounds
Varied Industries Bldg.
AAI Annual Member Meeting
2:00 PM
February 14
Iowa State Fairgrounds
Varied Industries Bldg.
Upper East Conf Room
Environment
Committee Meeting
10:00 AM
March 27
AAI Board Room
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Thank you for making AAI great!
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