A five-minute summary of AAI, regulation, and industry activities for members of the largest state agribusiness association in the nation. | |
Heavy Weight Trucking Permits | |
A new law that allows permitting of heavy trucks will go into effect on January 1, 2023. The new 12 month permits will allow trucks to operate at heavier weights on all state highways as well as designated county and city roads. It does not apply to interstate highways.
This week, the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) issued a factsheet to help answer some of the common questions about the new law. View the factsheet one-pager here:
All-Systems Overweight Permits Fact Sheet
The factsheet from IDOT provides detailed information to cover some common questions, but is not meant to answer all aspects of how the law will be implemented. More information is available on the IDOT website.
Interactive Map of All Systems Permit County and City Route Map
Click on a county to find county engineer contact information:
https://iowadot.gov/mvd/motorcarriers/motorcarriers/systemmap
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
(note: overweight permits will not be available until January 1, 2023):
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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Entry-Level CDL Training Program | |
This week, Governor Kim Reynolds announced the newly created Iowa Entry-Level Driver Training Program to provide more opportunities for interested truck drivers to obtain their commercial driver's license (CDL) in Iowa.
The new Iowa Entry-Level Driver Training Program will provide $6 million to support employers, nonprofits, or related organizations who sponsor or partner on key training programs designed to prepare potential drivers for CDL skills or knowledge tests. The grant program hopes to remove costly barriers and, ultimately, create more drivers with CDL licenses across the state.
Earlier this year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration implemented Entry-Level Driver Training, requiring all new drivers to undertake additional training requirements on top of existing CDL standards. Grant funding for the Iowa Entry-Level Driver Training Program will reimburse eligible organizations in Iowa that offer these critical training programs either in-house or through partnerships with certified training providers. If the program is provided in-house, reimbursement can be used on instructor wages, curriculum materials, and maintenance needs. If the program is offered via outside training providers, reimbursement must go towards Entry-Level Driver Training program tuition.
Eligible applicants: Iowa-based employers, employer consortiums, and non-profits who employ Iowa CDL drivers and provide Entry-Level Driver Training either in-house or through partnership with third-party certified training providers.
Funds are administered as reimbursement only following documented training certification and a CDL exam within 30 days of a participant’s first day of training (first day of either behind-the-wheel or theory).
Applications will be accepted at IowaGrants.gov beginning on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 and are due on Friday, February 3, 2023, at 11:59 AM.
More information on the grant, its requirements, and the application process:
https://www.futurereadyiowa.gov/entry-level-driver
A webinar will take place on December 13 at 3:00 PM to provide more information on the grant and a Q&A session:
Register for Iowa Entry-Level Driving Training Seminar
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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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- McCorkle Seed & Chemical
- United Services Association
- Nicholson & Edwards Grain Co
- Sinclair Elevator Co LLC
- Landus Cooperative
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- Cooperative Farmers Elevator
- MaxAg
- North Iowa Cooperative
- Kugler Company
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JOIN US FOR OUR ALL INDUSTRY EVENTS | |
For Attendees, Exhibitors And Sponsors | |
All Industry Reception - Feb. 14
Cold Beverages - Sponsored by Calcium Products
Food, Bags Tournament, and Celebration for Joan O'Brien
Shot Gun Pancake Breakfast - Feb. 15
Pancakes from Chris Cakes and Keynote Speaker Secretary Naig
All Industry Luncheon - Feb. 15
Sponsored by Agriculture's Clean Water Alliance
Features a barbeque lunch
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Exhibitor & Sponsor
Perks
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Private Meeting Room Reservations
One hour reservations for up to eight (8) people - MUST BE REGISTERED AS AN EXHIBITOR OR SPONSOR
NEW: All Industry Reception Food Sponsorships
Be a part of Joan O'Brien's retirement celebration. Prominently acknowledged at event and at food tables.
NEW: Bags Tournament (Corn Hole) Sponsorships
Sponsor one of four (or all four) sets of competition boards
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AAI Out & About
Big Soil Health Event
Attended by: Ben Gleason, INREC Executive Director
NGFA Country Elevator Conference
Attended by: Bill Northey, CEO, Agribusiness Association of Iowa
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December 12
Membership Committee Meeting
10:00 AM | AAI Main Office Board Room
December 15
AAI Board of Directors Meeting
10:00 AM | AAI Main Office Board Room
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 | | |
Source: Supply Chain Brain
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The Surface Transportation Board (STB) will hold an in-person public hearing on December 13 and 14, 2022, with Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP), regarding the railroad’s substantial increase in its use of embargoes as a method of reducing rail traffic congestion.
The STB says that UP’s use of embargoes to control congestion has increased from a total of five in 2017 to more than 1,000 to date in 2022, and says it has received numerous reports that shippers are suffering supply chain problems as a result of the embargoes that are hampering their operations.
An Association of American Railroads embargo is a temporary method of controlling traffic movements when in the judgment of the serving railroad threatens congestion, accumulation or other interference with operations such as track, bridge or other physical impairments that warrant restrictions.
The STB says that, since UP carries nearly 27% of freight served by rail and nearly 11% of all long-distance freight volume, “disruptions in UP’s service levels have a significant detrimental impact on the supply chain and the nation’s economy. The Board has been closely monitoring UP’s usage of embargoes and has noticed a disturbing upward trend in their usage in recent years,” the November 22 statement continued
[...] Read Full Story
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Cover crops, with their ability to reduce erosion and promote soil health, are being planted across more Midwestern land than ever. In recent years, this strategy has become a valuable trend with the added benefit of increasing crop productivity. So, it’s no surprise that new University of Illinois research shows cover crop adoption reached 7.2 percent in 2021, up from just 1.8 percent a decade prior.
The notable increase in cover crop adoption comes alongside increasing state and federal incentive programs, a statistically significant driver, according to the study. The most significant gains in cover crop adoption occurred in recent years and were strongly correlated with the onset of cover crop assistance programs. For example, funding for cost-share programs increased from $5 million in 2005 to $156 million in 2018, with the most significant investment rate after 2015. Cover crop adoption doubled across the region between 2017 and 2021. But, given the benefits of cover cropping, is 7.2 percent enough? Although the adoption rate represents a four-fold increase since 2011, it’s still a small percentage.
The study’s findings result from sophisticated satellite-based remote sensing efforts that detect cover crops across 140 million acres of cropland. The images tracked the crop’s expansion over 20 years.
“We analyzed the area of cover crops in each year with that year’s funding and we found that it’s highly correlated. We also checked the investments across different states, showing some states have higher cover crop percentages that are related to their funding investment,” says Sheng Wang, research assistant professor in NRES and study co-author.
[...] Read Full Story
NOTE: Iowa planted more than 12% of acres to cover crops in 2021 (more than 2.7 M acres).
Further reading:
INREC Nutrient Reduction Strategy Progress Survey (2017-2021)
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When food prices rise, biofuel critics have traditionally seen it as an opportunity to attack biofuels, regardless of the facts on the ground.
New consumer research by Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Paulsen shows that this year the public understands food prices are far more complex than has previously been asserted.
Paulsen surveyed 1,026 consumers across the U.S. last summer to get a sense of what consumers think about food prices and who they blame when they rise.
According to the survey, consumers blame the U.S. Government (36.9%), COVID-related supply chain issues (21.6%), the Russia-Ukraine conflict (10.6%) and transportation costs (9.6%) for increased food prices, whereas farmers and ranchers (1.7%) ethanol and biofuels (0.4%) and oil companies (3.9%) received minimal attention.
“Two years ago, many of these factors were not even on consumer’s radar,” said Mark Smither, chief strategy officer for Paulsen. “Consumers are now very-much aware of how the pandemic, war and supply chain issues impact food prices.”
Consumers named major food brands (43%) and grocery stores (19%) when asked, “Who profits the most from increased food prices?” In contrast, farmers and ranchers (5%) are not seen as profiting.
Paulsen also studied a number of agreement statements as part of their research that demonstrated the role agriculture can play in the discussion.
[...] Read Full Story
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Source: Progressive Farmer
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The many issues facing the global nitrogen market in 2022 are going to continue to test the market in 2023. These include the war in Ukraine, rising natural gas prices, weather and currency concerns.
As a result, the supply and price of nitrogen fertilizers will be subject to the various geopolitical world events. Nitrogen prices are already at high levels and fertilizer analysts don't believe prices will decline any time soon.
Director of Fertilizer for StoneX Josh Linville said nitrogen fertilizer prices in the first quarter of 2023 could be higher for some forms, such as urea. Other forms, such as UAN and anhydrous ammonia, could see steady to higher prices to start the year.
"Fertilizer prices are already high, so prices that even stay fairly steady is not good news for farmers," Linville noted.
Samuel Taylor, inputs analyst for Rabobank Research, said with so much volatility in the nitrogen market worldwide there is very little chance prices will move lower in 2023. The first part of the year, prices could see some pick up, while some flatness could occur in nitrogen prices in the late quarters of the year, he said.
The issue with supply in nitrogen is not going away any time soon and thus this will continue to inflate prices, he said.
[...] 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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