A five-minute summary of AAI, regulation, and industry activities for members of the largest state agribusiness association in the nation. | |
Pesticide Resistance, Conservation, Strategic Planning Get Focus Of Committees | |
Committee meetings over the past week focused on industry interactions and turned an eye toward the future of both the association and production.
Joint Agronomy and Environment Committees Meeting
AAI has been engaged with the Iowa Pest Resistance Management Program (IPRMP) since its inception in 2016. Katie Dentzman, Iowa State University, provided an update on the program. The IPRMP has projects focused on both weed and insect resistance. Earlier this year, member groups began outlining phase two of the program. The association plans to continue to be an engaged organization in the program. More info online at: protectiowacrops.org.
The committee also heard about a collaboration between Iowa Soybean Association and ag retailers to hire conservation agronomists. These positions provide farmers with help understanding all the programs and funding available to achieve their conservation goals.
A session with conservation agronomists will take place at the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference on February 14, 2022. Members of the association are encouraged to attend the Showcase to learn more.
Membership Commitee
With the current dues year underway, the Membership Committee reviewed the current dues structure and opportunities for engaging new members and received an update on membership progress.
The committee has also been tasked with reviewing the geographical representation by district board seats as part of the strategic plan from the fall of 2021. That review is underway and recommendations will be made to the board of directors.
Get Involved!
The direction and impact of the association is a direct result of committee activities. Committees provide input and direction for the Board of Directors actions. You or someone within your company can serve on a committee by emailing aai@agribiz.org, calling the AAI office, or filling out a form online at https://www.agribiz.org/benefits-of-membership/join-a-committee/.
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Updated Links to All Systems Overweight Truck Permit Information | |
PLEASE NOTE - Some links and information from last week's newsletter are out of date, including the fact sheet. Please use the links below to check for the latest information directly from the Iowa DOT website.
The Iowa Department of Transportation continues to update and clarify information about the All Systems Overweight Permit. We will continue to provide the most up to date links and guidance as it becomes available to AAI. We encourage you to make sure you are always using the most recent guidance from the Iowa DOT which can be found at the links below
Link to Map Page for All Systems Overweight Permit
NOTE: No maps currently exist for this permit, but will be available at the link below when they become available. Do not confuse this with the All Systems Oversize permit.
https://iowadot.gov/mvd/motorcarriers/maps
IDOT Current Information Bulletins
https://iowadot.gov/mvd/ctmanual/memos
IDOT Emergency Declarations Page
(has information on all systems overweight permitting)
https://iowadot.gov/proclamations
Permit Page and All Systems Permit Overweight Fact Sheet
NOTE: Overweight permits will not be available until January 1, 2023.
NOTE: The most recent version of the fact sheet will always be on this page.
https://iowadot.gov/mvd/motorcarriers/oversize-overweight-trip-permits
We will continue to work with IDOT to further understand the details of the heavy weight trucking law as it comes into effect and provide further information as it becomes available.
If you have questions, we encourage you to contact IDOT or your local county engineer.
Find a county engineer below:
https://www.iceasb.org/services/reports/county-engineers.pdf
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The following list of members have recently completed their membership investment for 2023.
Thank you for your membership!
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- Asmus Farm Service
- Pinnacle Group LLC
- Skinner Tank
- Iowa Limestone Producers Association
- Klostermann Brothers
- Troy Elevator
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- Assured Partners Agribusiness
- Farmers Shipping Association
- Gowan USA
- Mark Morrissey
- Ranco Fertiservice Inc
- Northern Country Coop
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NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO REGISTER | |
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Give Yourself A Christmas Gift -
Register Now
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Attending the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference is a great way to jumpstart your year. Make connections with exhibitors, government officials, regulators, and other ag professionals, plus you'll get the most up to date information directly from industry experts.
Reward yourself and register now!
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Exhibitor & Sponsors
Register Before December 24
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Prices Increase December 24.
Don't waste your advertising budget on late fees - Register Now!
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December 21
Agribusiness Career Day Subcommittee
9:00 AM | AAI Main Office
December 29
Showcase Committee Meeting
10:00 AM | AAI Main Office Board Room
January 6
AAI Legislative Committee Meeting
10:00 AM | AAI Main Office Board Room
January 26
AAI Legislative Breakfast
8:00 AM | Iowa State Capitol Building
February 14 & 15
Agribusiness Showcase & Conference
Knapp Varied Industries Building
Iowa State Fairgrounds | Des Moines, Iowa
Click Here to Register Online
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WATCH THE AGRIBUSINESS REPORT | |
Legislative Forecast Webinar - January 10 | |
The Business Record will hold a webinar looking at key issues business leaders are focused on and would like the legislature to address.
Focus Questions for Webinar:
What is the top business issue lawmakers need to address in 2023?
What can the state do to attract and retain top talent in Iowa?
What measures should lawmakers approve to improve access to affordable child care?
At a time when the state is trying to increase its population and fill open jobs, is there a concern that bills related to social issues could hinder those efforts?
What would the business community like to see lawmakers do to increase the state’s supply of workforce or affordable housing?
Panelists:
Joe Murphy - executive director, Iowa Business Council
JD Davis - vice president public policy, Iowa Association of Business and Industry
Robert Palmer - general counsel and director of government affairs, Iowa League of Cities
Brian Waller - president, Technology Association of Iowa
Andrea Woodard - senior vice president of government relations and public policy, Greater Des Moines Partnership
January 10, 2023 | Noon - 1:00 PM
Free Registration:
Business Record Legislative Forecast
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Each year for the past 39, CropLife® magazine has dedicated its December issue to reporting on the performance of the nation’s top ag retailers during the year just ending. For the 2022 report, there is only one word that best describes the state of business for this year’s CropLife 100 companies: WOW!
If you ask most people who do business in the agricultural industry about the past year or so, they will likely point out all the unusual circumstances that have plagued everyone’s business. This would include severe (and long-lasting) supply chain disruptions, transportation concerns, labor shortages, and lingering aftereffects from the two-plus years of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the surface, conventional wisdom would be that all these uncertainties in the mix would severe dampen the financial performance of many of the nation’s top ag retailers during 2022.
But this was far from the case. In fact, based upon the numbers, the exact opposite was true.
According to the 39th annual CropLife 100 survey, the nation’s 100 largest ag retailers recorded sales revenue of just shy of $46 billion during 2022. Not only was this easily the largest sales amount ever recorded for CropLife 100 ag retailers, but it represented a phenomenal 30% increase from the industry’s 2021 figure of $35.4 billion.
[...] Read Full Story
Click Here for CropLife 100 Rankings for 2022
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According to CoBank’s annual report, the U.S. economy still has considerable momentum and is not currently on the verge of recession. However, economists have never been more pessimistic, and there are legitimate reasons for concern.
The CoBank 2023 outlook report examines several key factors that will shape agriculture and market sectors that serve rural communities throughout the U.S.
Over the past half-century, inflation above 5 percent has never been tamed without incurring a recession. That portends a painful yet necessary chain of events will unfold in 2023, according to the 2023 comprehensive report.
“As financial conditions continue to tighten, we expect the U.S. economy will steadily soften through the first half of 2023, ushering in a brief, modest recession,” said Dan Kowalski, vice president of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. “The unemployment rate could rise as high as 5 percent, indirectly leading to a decline in consumer spending. Without this softening in the labor market and the associated slowing of wage gains and spending, it will be difficult to stabilize prices.”
Global economy: No escaping this slowdown
After two years defined by a strong economic rebound from the pandemic, the global economy will sputter in 2023. A persistent energy crisis in Europe, China’s messy exit from zero-COVID and higher interest rates globally will reduce world economic growth to a crawl. Europe, likely already in recession, will muddle through the winter with sufficient energy supplies.
[...] Read Full Story
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The Agriculture Transportation Working Group is calling on Congress to pass a recently crafted bipartisan agreement on the Water Resources Development Act. Members made their views known in a letter signed by more than 25 different trade organization. It was addressed to Sens. Tom Carper, D-Del., and Shelly Capito, R-W.V., the chair and ranking members of the House Committee on Environment & Public Works, as well as Reps. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., and Sam Graves, R-Mo., who lead the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
The groups contend that American agriculture’s competitive advantage is contingent upon a cost-effective, comprehensive transportation system. They noted that exports reached an all-time high of $177 billion last year, accounting for around a quarter of all farmers’ incomes.
The proposed bill would permanently set the current cost share for inland waterway projects at 65% general Treasury funds and 35% from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund. While the association would have preferred at 75/25 percent split, they agreed that a permanent policy will provide certainty, bolster investment in inland waterways and expedite modernization projects.
“WRDA can impact trade because barges move about half of all grains to export grain elevators, including 48% of corn, 62% of soybeans and 47% of wheat,” the letter stated. “Critical farm inputs like fertilizer, feed and fuel are transported via the inland waterways system. From the Pacific Northwest to the Mississippi River and the Gulf Coast, the importance of inland waterways and ports to the ATWG and American agriculture is definitive.”
[...] Read Full Story
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Source: Transport Topics
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Shippers urged the U.S. railroad regulator to create more competition in the industry during hearings in which Union Pacific Corp. was called to explain a spike in service restrictions.
Univar Solutions Inc., a chemicals distributor, deals with all modes of transportation from air to barge, and railroads stand out as “notoriously difficult to do business with,” Rob McRae, vice president of transportation, told the Surface Transportation Board on Dec. 13.
“There’s no negotiation. ‘Here’s your number and you’ll get the service that we give you,’ ” McRae said, describing the relationship shippers have with large railroads during the hearing. The large “railroads need to have some guardrails.”
Shippers used the public forum to air grievances about an industry structure that they say gives railroads the power to boost prices and pad their profit even as service suffers. Companies, including Cargill Inc. and Ag Processing Inc., pointed to reduced workforces as one of the main culprits for railcar curtailments.
The testimony, which will continue Dec. 14, is the second set of hearings that the STB has called this year to discuss rail service issues. The board, which in January became fully staffed with five members for the first time since 2015, is looking at rule changes including streamlining rate challenges and giving shippers the power to have their cargo switched from one rail to another.
[...] Read Full Story
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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
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