August 11, 2022

A five-minute summary of AAI, regulation, and industry activities for members of the largest state agribusiness association in the nation.

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All voting members were sent a paper ballot via the US Postal Service and an email with a downloadable ballot for the AAI Board of Directors election. Instructions on how to submit the ballot either by mail or email were included with the correspondence.

Ballots must be received by August 15, 2022.

If you were planning to submit a paper ballot, but have not already sent it in, we recommend using the electronic submission method to ensure your ballot arrives on time.

From NGFA:

Finding employees in this labor market is tough. You post the position and get one or two applications, if that. And the ones you do get may or may not be qualified. Ag businesses have started to hire for a BODY, because A body is better than NO body. Worse yet, once you get them, it’s hard to keep them. These are the pain points we hear today. Have you experienced this as well? 

In this two-part webinar series, Kristen Ireland and Erin Mies of People Spark Consulting will discuss tools you can use to both attract employees to your business AND keep them there once you hire them. This webinar series is full of simple, practical advice that you can start using TODAY to attract and retain great team members.

Seminar Registration Links

August 16 Webinar - Click to Register

Your HR Multi-Tool: One tool you can use to attract AND retain employees

Learn about the ONE tool you can use to both attract employees to your business AND keep them there once you hire them.  

August 18 Webinar - Click to Register

Measure Twice, Cut One: Your instruction manual for building the culture you want

Learn how to build an intentional culture and how to use it to make decisions, give direction and provide guidance to employees to engage and retain current employees, and attract new ones. 

The Agribusiness Association of Iowa is inviting you to an atrazine listening session.

AAI Atrazine Listening Session (via Zoom)

August 15, 2022

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Registration Required - Click Here to Register via Zoom

Additional Details

The US EPA recently announced a revised registration for atrazine with additional label mitigation measures. The listening session will provide:

• Information about atrazine restrictions from the Triazine Network
• Details about AAI’s plan to engage with EPA
• Advice on how to submit your own comments to EPA

Most importantly, this is an opportunity for AAI members to provide input on how these restrictions will affect your businesses so your feedback can be incorporated as part of the AAI response to the EPA.

The session will be held virtually via Zoom on Monday, August 15 from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM. Click Here to Register via Zoom

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.

This week, the Advanced Grain Elevator Operations Management Short Course, sponsored by Iowa Grain Quality Initiative and the Agribusiness Association, graduated 27 students. The attendees from AAI member agribusinesses received a mix of hands-on and classroom instruction over four days to advance their ability to manage grain facilities properly and profitably. 

The full details about the class are available at the following link:

Advanced Grain Operations Short Course Outline

If you are interested in participating in the this short course during 2023, or if you would like to send employees to the course, email aai@agribiz.org or call 515.262.8323.

Funding was announced last week for the next-phase of a collaborative water quality and soil conservation project that seeks to increase the utilization of cover crops on seed corn production acres. Partnering with the Iowa Seed Association and their members as well as farmers and landowners, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will provide the next phase of funding to expand the planting of cover crops. Cover crops usage is a proven conservation practice highlighted in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy that helps to conserve soil and protect water quality. 

“Improved soil health and better water quality are two excellent benefits of planting cover crops,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “We’re seeing significant growth in cover crop usage statewide, and I’m really pleased that we can help fund the next phase of this successful initiative and expand our partnership to get even more acres covered.” 

Seed corn production lends itself to an earlier harvest, thereby providing an even larger window for establishing cover crops in the late summer and fall after the acres are harvested. The next 3-year phase of this project, funded at $226,750, will also incorporate edge-of-field (EOF) practice outreach and installations within the statewide network of seed corn producers. More than 30,000 acres are enrolled in the program in 2022 and an estimated one-third of acres utilized for seed corn production in Iowa are now utilizing cover crops.

In addition to the Iowa Seed Association and its member seed companies, the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative is supported by the Iowa Nutrient Research and Education Council (INREC) and the Agribusiness Association of Iowa.

More information about the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative can be found at:

https://www.sustainableseedcorn.org/

It's A Gimme

(but only if you're registered)

A fantastic finish to summer is easy when you register for the September 7 AAI Golf Outing! 

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

GRAIN GRADING WORKSHOPS

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

Put your name on the waiting list and we will let you know if any openings become available.

AAI Main Office closes at Noon on Fridays through Labor Day

August 15

AAI Atrazine Listening Session

8:00 AM | Via Zoom - Click Here To Register

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

Click a Headline - Watch the Report

• Farmers are selling more direct products | Iowa farm prices are up

• New conservation projects in Iowa | Crop conditions fall a bit

• New feed research shows how long a virus can last in storage

• Iowa is funding the next phase of two water quality projects

Watch Any Time or View the Archives:

AGRIBIZ.ORG/Report

On Wednesday August 17th, the USDA in partnership with Growth Energy will be hosting a webinar to discuss the upcoming USDA High Blends Infrastructure Investment Program (HBIIP). The HBIIP administered by the USDA will make available $100M to successful grant recipients for investment into the sale and marketing of high blend biofuels. 

The HBIIP program has not been unveiled to the public and this webinar will give participants the opportunity to see how the program can work for your business. 

A total of $75M will be made available for transportation fueling (retail) and $25 million available for distribution facilities.

To register for the webinar, click here

For most Americans, higher prices at the grocery store did not impact their Fourth of July cookout, but more consumers are looking for sales and switching to generics, according to the latest Consumer Food Insights Report.

The survey-based report out of Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability assesses food security and spending, consumer satisfaction and values, support of agricultural and food policies and trust in information sources.

Compared to five months ago, more Americans are making changes in response to higher food prices. The largest share of consumers, 28%, now reports seeking out more sales and discounts, and more people are switching to generic, using coupons, cutting out nonessentials and shopping at cheaper stores.

Additional key results include:

• 16% of all households are food insecure.
• Weekly food spending rose by 3% from June to $191 per week.
• More consumers are looking for sales, switching to generics, compared to five months ago.
• Food insecurity in 2022 is highest among those without any college education.
• A Sustainable Food Purchasing (SFP) Index of 69/100.

[...] Read Full Story

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller on Monday joined farm groups in calling on President Joe Biden’s administration to waive fertilizer tariffs.

Miller issued a statement joining the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Soybean Association and the National Corn Growers Association. The three ag groups issued a letter late last month calling on Biden to remove or reduce tariffs on imports of phosphate fertilizers from Morocco.

The U.S. International Trade Commission imposed a 20 percent tax on phosphate fertilizer from Morocco in 2021 after a request from American producer Mosaic Co., which said it was harmed by government subsidies on Moroccan exports.

Prices of fertilizer have risen sharply due to inflation, supply chain disruptions, shifting demand and global conflict, creating financial concerns for farmers. The Russia-Ukraine war has pushed up the price of natural gas, a key ingredient in fertilizer, and has led to sanctions against Russia, a major exporter of fertilizer.

Miller pointed to a June study from Iowa State University he commissioned into the causes of high fertilizer prices to determine whether price gouging was occurring in the market. While crop prices have roughly doubled over the past couple of years, fertilizer prices are two to four times higher than they were in September 2020, according to the ISU study.

“It’s critical that the President act as soon as possible, as growers begin purchasing fertilizer in preparation for the 2023 growing season,” Miller said in a statement. “These farmers have already suffered enough.”

[...] Read Full Story

Canada's Nutrien Ltd, the world's largest potash fertilizer producer, named Ken Seitz as chief executive on Monday, removing the interim tag.

Nutrien in January surprised investors by replacing its CEO for the second time in eight months. read more It then named Seitz, the head of its potash business, as interim CEO, replacing Mayo Schmidt. 

Fertilizer companies are raking in profits due to sanctions against Russia and Belarus, the world's second- and third-largest potash fertilizer suppliers after Canada.

Seitz expects those eastern European supplies to remain restricted into 2023.

"There are a lot of moving parts, but a lot of uncertainty in an environment where the demand for nutrients is growing," he said in an interview.

Nutrien earned a record $3.6 billion in the second quarter, more than tripling profit from a year earlier. read more

The company is expanding its Canadian potash production by 20% by 2025.



[...] Read Full Story

China’s purchase of more U.S. farmland has stirred up concerns over national security. The newly purchased land in Grand Forks, North Dakota, is located in proximity to Grand Forks Air Force Base, causing many to question whether this purchase has national security implications.

Foreign ownership of U.S. land has been up 60 percent in the last decade, and China is one of those investors, with over $6.1 billion and 191,000 acres in U.S. real estate before the North Dakota purchase. Economic, military, diplomatic, and informational security concerns are being discussed.

The Chinese company Fefang Group acquired 300 acres in North Dakota and reportedly plans to build a wet corn milling plant. Meanwhile, the land’s proximity to Grand Forks Air Base has raised the aforementioned security questions. Gov. Doug Bergumn stated in his request for a review to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States that he believes the web corn milling plant would improve the price of corn for North Dakota’s farmers.

According to correspondences from Bergumn to the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Department of Defense, the Fefang Group agreed to voluntarily complete a CFIUS filing.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States will review the Chinese land purchase in North Dakota and determine whether the purchases pose a security risk with its proximity to the air force base and involvement in the U.S. food supply chain. While Bergumn appears optimistic about Fefang’s ownership and the positive things it can bring to North Dakota corn farmers, other agricultural stakeholders and media outlets have expressed significant skepticism and concern.

[...] Read Full Story

THE AGRIBUSINESS REPORT

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