A five-minute summary of AAI, regulation, and industry activities for members of the largest state agribusiness association in the nation. | |
|
The Board of Directors election closed on August 15 with the following candidates elected to the listed seats:
Animal Sciences Director
- Al Muhlenbruck, TriOak Foods
Affiliate Director
District 3 Director
- Kent Bennis, Corteva Agriscience
At-Large Directors
- Brent Schwenneker, Bayer
- Renee Hansen, Sukup Manufacturing
- Sue Tronchetti, Landus
Thanks to everyone who voted and to those who were willing to serve in these positions. The newly elected directors will take part in the September board meeting along with the current board, and will officially begin their tenure in October.
| | |
EPA Officials Visit Melbourne New Century FS for AAI Hosted Round Table Discussion, Facility Tour |  | |
The Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) hosted a tour and round table with officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday at the New Century FS facility in Melbourne, Iowa. The event included EPA officials from Washington, D.C., and the Region 7 office. Attending from EPA were Michal Freedhoff, Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP); Rick Keigwin, Deputy Assistant Administrator, OCSPP; Rod Snyder, Senior Agriculture Advisor to EPA Administrator Regan; Ed Chu, EPA Region 7 Deputy Administrator; and Doug Jones, EPA Region 7 Agriculture Advisor.
A tour of the facility was led by FS staff from Melbourne and included the fertilizer dry shed, and the chemical distribution and mixing building. A round table discussion with representatives from nine AAI member companies followed the tour. AAI Members and EPA officials were able to share insights on a variety of topics during the tour and have a face to face discussion about various regulatory matters during the round table, including proposed approaches to managing pesticide compliance and Iowa’s progress on nutrient management.
THANK YOU!
The association would like to extend a huge thank you to the staff at the New Century FS facility in Melbourne for preparing, hosting, and taking time out of their morning to allow this visit to take place. Thank you also to the AAI members who attended - Joel Nelson, Nutrien; Todd Minnihan, Winfield United; Amy Asmus, Asmus Farm Supply, Inc.; Tim Stoehr, Albaugh Inc.; Tracy Gathman, Two Rivers Cooperative; Rick Vaughan, Innovative Ag Services; Sue Tronchetti, Landus Cooperative; and Tom Hauschel, Heartland Cooperative.
And a sincere thank you to Assistant Administrator Freedhoff, Deputy Assistant Administrator Keigwin, Senior Agricultural Advisor Snyder, and the Region 7 office for making time in their busy schedule to have these on-site personal conversations.
| | |
INREC Receives $250,000 Grant From Google | |
Wednesday at the Iowa State Fair, the Iowa Nutrient Research & Education Council (INREC) announced a $250,000 grant from Google that will bolster INREC initiatives to improve water quality and support Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy.
The grant was announced by INREC Executive Director Ben Gleason and Google Regional Head of External Affairs Dan Harbeke.
“Iowa continues to lead on soil health and water quality and grants like this one only help to accelerate our progress. I’m grateful for the investment made today by Google as we work towards achieving the goals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy,” said Governor Kim Reynolds.
Iowa is home to the most productive cropland in the world, producing one-eleventh of the nations’ food supply and is the largest producer of corn, pork and eggs. The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy was first in the nation, and public/private partnerships demonstrate Iowa’s leadership in water quality. INREC worked closely with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and Iowa State University to develop novel, first-in-the-nation progress measurements including the INREC survey of ag retailers to measure in-field nutrient reduction practices and the Iowa BMP Mapping Project to map structural conservation practices across the state.
“We appreciate the leadership by INREC and the investment by Google and the more than 350 other statewide public and private partners who are helping us work toward reaching the water quality and soil conservation goals outlined in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “We are always eager to welcome new partners, both rural or urban, who want to work collaboratively with us to reach more Iowans and help deploy and install proven water quality practices.”
Currently, INREC is supporting ISU’s nitrogen initiative to develop cutting edge nitrogen management tools utilizing precision technology, farm data collection, and supercomputing and modeling. INREC applies data and science through education and outreach from fertilizer retailers to farmers leading to healthier waterways.
“Farmers are the original stewards of the land,” said Elizabeth Pishny, External Affairs and Strategy at Google. “We are proud to partner with INREC on their work with growers, crop advisors, and ag retailers to promote innovation in nutrient management and conservation.”
The Google grant will help further INREC’s mission to measure and demonstrate environmental progress in Iowa farming practices, foster innovation and development of new environmental technologies to reduce nutrient losses, and enhance dedicated outreach and education to assist Iowa farmers in achieving environmental goals.
“We greatly appreciate the tremendous support from Google to leverage existing projects to enhance future science and technology as INREC supports Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy,” said Roger Zylstra, farmer and chair of the INREC board of directors. “This support will expand our public/private partnerships to improve water quality.”
Google has called Iowa home for more than a decade and its first data center in Council Bluffs came online in 2009. Since then, Google has invested more than $5 billion in Iowa and established a long-term commitment to the state. Google has created jobs for more than 900 people at its Iowa facility and has awarded more than $3 million to local schools and nonprofits in Iowa.
INREC strategically brings together farm and commodity organizations, fertilizer and crop production companies, agricultural retailers, and crop advisers in a formal organization to help lead the environmental efforts of agriculture in Iowa. Non-profit members include Agribusiness Association of Iowa, Iowa Certified Crop Advisors, Iowa Corn Promotion Board, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, and Iowa Pork Producers Association.
| | |
Comment Period Extended for Atrazine - AAI Members Encouraged to Comment | |
The EPA extended the comment period for the changes to the atrazine regulations. Comments are now due October 7, 2022.
AAI held an atrazine listening session on Monday which included information about atrazine restrictions from Greg Krissek from Kansas Corn and the Triazine Network, and Mark White from Syngenta. If you were unable to attend or would like to have the slides shown during that presentation, please contact AAI Environment Director Ben Gleason - bgleason@agribiz.org.
Additionally, AAI members, and especially staff who will be directly affected by these changes, should submit comments during the comment period. If you would like information on what to submit or need help navigating the submission process, contact Ben Gleason or Reilly Vaughan, reilly@agribiz.org.
For additional information about this issue:
View information from the Triazine Network
To submit comments:
Visit the regulations.gov docket item for this issue
Questions? Contact AAI Environment Director Ben Gleason - bgleason@agribiz.org.
| | |
|
It's An Easy One Putt
(if you're on the course)
| |
Registration for the Sept. 7 AAI Golf Outing is so simple, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. | |
You'll have a special opportunity to interact with CEO Bill Northey and members of the AAI Board of directors, join your fellow agribusiness peers for a fantastic day in eastern Iowa, AND enjoy the following benefits:
- Four Hole In One opportunities! Win $10,000 cash or other prizes!
- Complimentary soft drinks and snacks on the course
- Delicious lunch
- Entry into prize raffle (lots of prizes, including a Titleist Golf Bag and a Solo Stove Bonfire fire pit)
- Prizes for the longest and closest shots
- Trophy and prizes for the winning team
Register today to reserve your spot.
| |
|
AAI Golf Outings
September 7
Amana Colonies Golf Club - Amana, Iowa
July 21
Emerald Hills Golf Course - Okoboji, Iowa
| | |
August 23 - WORKSHOP FULL
August 24 - WORKSHOP FULL
Grain Grading Workshops
August 23 & 24
Location:
Zeigler CAT
1500 Ziegler Dr NW
Altoona, Iowa
Participant Fees:
AAI Member - $130
Non-Member - $155
| |
AAI Out & About
Meetings and events attended by AAI:
EPA Round Table Discussion at the Iowa State Fair
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship hosted a round table with the same EPA officials on Tuesday at the Iowa State Fair. A cross section of agricultural groups were invited to participate and AAI was represented by Chair Elect Shelly Kruse, Growmark FS, and AAI CEO Bill Northey.
| | |
|
AAI Main Office closes at Noon on Fridays through Labor Day
August 23
Legislative Committee Meeting
10:00 AM | AAI Board Room
August 23 & 24
Grain Grading Workshops
Zeigler CAT | Altoona, Iowa
August 25 & 26
Agribusiness Leadership Academy
AAI Home Office
August 29
Joint Transportation & Grain Committees Meeting
10:00 AM | AAI Board Room
September 5
AAI Offices Closed for Labor Day Holiday
September 7
AAI Golf Outing - Amana Colonies
Amana, Iowa | Click Here to Register
September 8
AAI Board of Directors Meeting
8:00 AM | Amana, Iowa
Membership Committee Meeting
3:00 PM | Amana, Iowa
| |
WATCH THE AGRIBUSINESS REPORT | |
|
Delays on U.S. railroads have been a growing problem for shipping agricultural goods all year. Labor discussions are ongoing and with the grain industry concerned about a possible labor stoppage in mid-September, which would be the height of Midwest harvest.
Just this week, the White House-appointed Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) released a recommendation as part of the ongoing collective bargaining process. Both sides have 30 days to accept those recommendations. If the two parties don't agree, then rail workers are allowed to go on strike as of Sept. 16.
Max Fisher, Chief Economist, National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) has been watching the situation closely. He says the biggest takeaway from the Emergency Board’s recommendation is a 24% wage increase over five years for rail labor.
"You may be asking, 'Where does that stand with respect to where the two sides were at?' The rail carriers were at 17% for what they were offering, and rail labor, what they were requesting, was 31%. So, 24% is right in between those two figures," says Fisher.
While workers can legally go on strike starting Sept. 16 if they don't choose to adopt the board's recommendations, Congress can intervene if workers decide to strike Sept. 16.
"If history repeats itself, the last time we had a stoppage was in the early 1990s," he says. "And I believe it lasted one day, maybe two days, before Congress passed a bill prohibiting a lockout or strike. Essentially, the two sides had to then go back to work on reaching agreement. So, Congress has a lot of power here. We would like to think they're going to exercise it, and we're certainly going to encourage them to exercise it because stopping the railroads would be very, very bad for the agricultural economy."
[...] Read Full Story
| | |
|
Soaring farmland values have stolen the spotlight in ag headlines for what seems like forever. But based on recent survey results shared by Federal Reserve Banks, that might not be the case for long.
Four Federal Reserve Banks released second quarter updates last week regarding farm income, farmland values and agricultural credit conditions. Despite climbing interest rates and high input costs, the farm economy remains strong across the board – for now.
Increasing farm loan interest rates, drought, higher input costs, and commodity price pullbacks have eluded to slower growth in the farm economy in coming months.
Following sharp gains in farm values in recent quarters, valuations began leveling out in the second quarter alongside recent declines in agricultural commodity prices.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reports a 22% rise in Midwest farmland values in the second quarter of 2022 compared to one year ago. Indiana and Iowa exhibited the largest year-over-year gains in agricultural land values.
“Good” Midwest farmland values increased 2% in the second quarter of 2022 relative to the first quarter. This was the smallest quarterly gain in farmland values since the third quarter of 2020, signaling change on the horizon. The slower increase in land valuations follows the uptick in farm loan interest rates.
[...] Read Full Story
| |
|
For the third winter season in a row, Pacific Ocean equator-region temperatures and barometric pressure values are expected to be in La Nina category. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines La Nina as: "The periodic cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific. Typically, La Nina events occur every three to five years or so, but on occasion can occur over successive years. La Nina represents the cool phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle."
Early August measurements of the equatorial Pacific temperature and atmosphere showed the equator region sea surface temperatures generally from 0.5 degrees Celsius (0.9 degrees Fahrenheit) to more than 1.0 degrees C (1.8 degrees F) below normal from the South America Coast to the International Date Line. Those values are in La Nina category; values of 0.5 degrees C or below denote La Nina. On the barometric pressure angle, the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), a measure of the barometer comparison between the island of Tahiti and Darwin, Australia, had a 30-day average of positive 10.76 on Tuesday, Aug. 16. (The SOI has a La Nina benchmark value of positive 7.0.)
[...] Read Full Story
| |
|
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) have introduced an aptly-named bill, the Expanding Meat Processing Act of 2022 aimed at allowing livestock auction to work with small and regional packing plants.
“It should be a no-brainer to cut bureaucratic red-tape, eliminate outdated regulations that are hindering the livestock industry, and increase processing capacity,” said Senator Ernst. “Allowing livestock auction owners to invest in local and regional meat packers will expedite the safe processing of meat, increase competition within the industry, and, ultimately, lower meat costs for consumers.”
The bill revises the Code of Federal Regulation acting as a companion bill to the House’s A-Plus Act, the Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States Act. Currently, outdated regulations hinder producers’ ability to increase capacity at livestock processing facilities. The proposed legislation amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, remedying regulations that prohibit livestock market owners from owning and operating meat packing plants.
“Allowing livestock auction owners to invest in local and regional meat packers will expedite the safe processing of meat, increase competition within the industry, and, ultimately, lower meat costs for consumers,” Ernst said.
The senators hope that the bi-partisan bill will be included in the Farm Bill, creating an avenue for increased competition in the packing industry’s marketplace while ultimately lowering meat prices for consumers. Currently, four processing plants control over 85 percent of beef in the United States: Cargill, Tyson Foods, JBS, and National Beef.
[...] Read Full Story
| |
|
THE AGRIBUSINESS REPORT
Follow host David Geiger on Twitter:
@geigerreports
Watch daily broadcast live:
KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids
WHO-TV Des Moines
KYOU-TV Ottumwa
Watch online any time:
https://agribiz.org/report
| |
| | | |
