February 6, 2025

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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The 12th Annual Agribusiness Career Day drew more than 300 students to the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, Iowa on Tuesday. Students heard about the experiences of Spencer and Grant Hilbert and the opportunities presented in a digital world. The brothers have leveraged their successful YouTube channels to allow them to start their own farming enterprise by buying farmland and equipment, and planting and harvesting crops.

The event also provided insights from ag leaders who shared their observations on the future of agriculture and the opportunities in the industry. A second panel of experts gave real-world practical advice on applying for jobs, how to be a good employee, and tips for growing professionally in their future careers.

Sixteen students received $1000 scholarships during the Career Day in part because of the generosity of the Premier Level event sponsors - AGP, CoBank, GROWMARK FS, Heartland Co-op, Hedlin Ag Enterprises, Iowa CCA Program, José & Shelley Laracuente, Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance, Stine Seed, and StoneX. Additional support was provided from golf sponsorships at the AAI Chairman's Golf Outing in September - AgTrax, Calcium Products, CJ BIO America Inc., Creative Planning Business Services, Dakota Access Pipeline, intRAtrain, Oakland Corporation, Smith Fertilizer and Grain, and Winfield United.

The Agribusiness Career Day is an opportunity for first year students from ag programs at Iowa community colleges and senior FFA students to gain insight on future employment skills and opportunities from industry professionals, government officials, and ag experts. Since the inception of the event, the career day has impacted the lives of more than 2800 students and provide over $160,000 in scholarships.

LAST FEW DAYS TO REGISTER

Showcase Is Nearly Here

Only four days left until Showcase begins on Feb. 11. Not registered yet? Don't miss out on this opportunity to interact with hundreds of ag professionals and national leaders, hear from experts on relevant topics, and enjoy seeing colleagues and new faces.

See everything that's happening at Showcase: Full Schedule

Take a look at who you'll meet at Showcase: Attendee List

Register now and be Where Agribusiness Meets.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

The Mosaic Company - Kickoff Luncheon Sponsor

Davis Equipment - Breakfast Sponsor

FarmChem - Reception Beverage Sponsor

Sukup Manufacturing - Special Session Sponsor

Calcium Products - Hospitality Sponsor

Northland CDL Training - Registration Desk Sponsor

Kahler Automation - Exhibit Hall Snack Zone Sponsor

Wilson Trailer - Exhibit Hall Snack Zone Sponsor

Dentons - Lanyard Sponsor

Hanigan Law Group, PLC - Reception Food Sponsor

General Sponsors:

Nutrien Wholesale | AMVAC Chemical Corp | CHS Inc. | GROWMARK |

UPL | Van Diest Supply Company

• Adair Feed and Grain
• Ag State
• Aurora Elevator Inc.
• Bayer CropScience
• Custom Concrete Specialists
• DPA Auctions

• Hawkeye Community College
• The Nature Conservancy
• Nexus Cooperative
• SoilView
• True North Companies

Not currently a member? Send us an email so we can follow up with your company and help you get connected to AAI.

February 11-12

Agribusiness Showcase & Conference

The Meadows Events & Conference Center - Altoona, Iowa

REGISTER ONLINE

February 12

AAI Annual Meeting

1:30 PM - The Meadows Events & Conference Center - Altoona, Iowa

President Donald Trump has once again thrust trade policy into the spotlight, threatening to impose sweeping 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada. This bold move comes as a shock to many, given the recent ratification of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which was meant to usher in a new era of North American economic cooperation.

These tariffs were originally scheduled to be implemented on Feb. 1 but were delayed by a month after concessions on border troops by first Mexico, then Canada. 

“I just spoke with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico. It was a very friendly conversation wherein she agreed to immediately supply 10,000 Mexican Soldiers on the Border separating Mexico and the United States,” Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier Monday.

The proposed tariffs would apply to virtually all imports from Mexico and Canada, with the exception of Canadian energy imports, which would face a 10% levy. This broad approach marks a significant escalation from Trump’s previous targeted tariffs during his first term. The president has framed these measures as a response to what he perceives as inadequate efforts by Mexico and Canada to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into the United States.

[...] Read Full Story

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) have introduced the Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act (EFSIA) – legislation that would grant the Food & Drug Administration the authority to collect microbial samples from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) during foodborne illness outbreaks or when there is a public health need. 

The bill was first introduced in 2019 in response to high-profile foodborne illness outbreaks, and Booker and DeLauro made another attempt to see it passed into law in 2023.

The reintroduction of this legislation now comes as public health experts raise alarms about the ongoing threat of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), as variations continue to mutate, and in addition to foodborne illness risks, the news release on EFSIA explained.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that one in six Americans suffer from foodborne illnesses annually, resulting in 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. Of the known pathogen sources during outbreaks, most illnesses stem from salmonella, Escherichia coli and listeria.

[...] Read Full Story

While fertilizer revenues for the nation’s leading ag retailer took a hit during the 2024 growing season, this alone doesn’t tell the whole story for the category. According to data collected in the 2024 CropLife 100 survey, the fertilizer category saw its overall revenues significantly decline. Sales dropped from $22.4 billion in 2023 to $19.9 billion this year – an 11% decrease, or $2.5 billion.

“However, looking at the revenue numbers only tells part of the story for the fertilizer category in 2024,” says Editor Eric Sfiligoj. “Indeed, according to many of the nation’s top ag retailers, their fertilizer volumes were almost identical to the ones they recorded during the 2023 growing season. Instead, the financial misfortunes for crop nutrients in 2024 stemmed from prices.”

For evidence that the drop in overall fertilizer prices caused the category’s woes during 2024, consider how difficult — or not — the nation’s top ag retailers found selling macronutrients to their grower-customers was during the growing season, Sfiligoj says. “According to the 2024 CropLife 100 survey, potassium was the easiest sell for the year. Overall, 80% of respondents said convincing growers to purchase potassium was ‘not usually challenging.’ Seventeen percent said potassium sales in 2024 were ‘more challenging than usual.’ Only 3% found selling this product ‘very challenging.'”

[...] Read Full Story

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