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May 16, 2024

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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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AAI IN ACTION

Put VRT to Work to Improve Farmer Profitability

The Iowa Nitrogen Initiative at Iowa State University conducted over 250 nitrogen rate trials last year and is looking for commercial fields to participate in 2024.


The trials determine the economic optimum nitrogen rate using variable rate nitrogen applications and yield monitors. Each trial utilizes five different nitrogen rates. With a footprint of less than 10 acres per trial, multiple trials can be placed within a field.


Show your customers that you care about their profitability. Encourage them to participate in multiple trials and put your variable rate technology to work in robust research. It’s not too late to get a research trial prescription for in-season applications of nitrogen. And you can even start signing up now to conduct a trial this fall.


Contact Melissa Miller, Project Director for the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative, at millerms@iastate.edu or INREC Executive Director Ben Gleason at bgleason@agribiz.org if you know someone interested in participating


View the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative website

AAI Sponsors Rural and Renewable Fuels Issue Forum on May 30; Rep. Randy Feenstra and Kevin Virgil Confirm Attendance

On the afternoon of May 30 at the Western Iowa Tech Community College in Cherokee, candidates for the Republican nomination for the Fourth Congressional District, U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra and Kevin Virgil, will address key issues impacting Iowans at the Rural and Renewable Fuels Issue Forum. The Agribusiness Association of Iowa, Iowa Biodiesel Board and Iowa Renewable Fuels Association are sponsoring the event. 

 

In their invitation letter to candidates, the sponsors noted: “During the forum each candidate will be given the opportunity to address a series of questions impacting rural Iowa, including topics on farming, livestock production, renewable fuels, and rural life.”

 

Rep. Randy Feenstra hails from Hull, Iowa where he has served in several different capacities in Hull, Sioux Center and as a Senator at the statehouse before winning the Republican nomination for the 4th congressional district in 2020. Leading up to his role of U.S. Representative, Feenstra held a career in sales and as a professor at Dordt University. He was reelected in 2022 and now seeks a third term. 

 

Kevin Virgil is an O’Brien County native. Virgil served in the Army and later joined the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He has also led a career on Wall Street and as an entrepreneur when he co-founded a data analytics company called Polysentry. He now seeks the nomination for Iowa’s 4th district.


Forum Sponsors:

CCA Summer Workshop Set for August 13

The Iowa Certified Crop Advisers education committee has been busy with field work AND with planning this summer’s workshop.


IOWA CCA SUMMER WORKSHOP

August 13 | 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

ISU Extension Field Education Lab (FEEL)

1928 240th St, Boone, Iowa (West of Ames off HWY 30)


Topics to be covered include strip till, soil health testing, tissue sampling, nitrogen stabilizers, nutrient management, and hail and chemical damage. Many of the presentations will be outside in ISU research plots. Plan to attend to learn about these important topics and network with researchers and crop advisers. 


Click Here to Register!

SUMMER IS COMING! - AAI GOLF OUTINGS

CLICK TO REGISTER

Thank You Sponsors!

FOUNDATION GOLF TOURNAMENT | SEPT. 11

Help Build The Employee Pipeline For Agribusiness In Iowa

Support for the AAI Chairman's Foundation Golf Tournament on September 11 is a direct investment in the future employee pool for agribusiness.


The Agribusiness Career Day is an opportunity for first year students from ag programs at Iowa community colleges and FFA high school seniors to gain insight on future employment skills and opportunities from industry professionals, government officials, and ag experts.


All AAI member companies are invited to sponsor the AAI Chairman's Foundation Golf Tournament in support of the Agribusiness Career Day. This golf event takes place on September 11 in Moravia, Iowa, near Rathbun Lake.


Be recognized for your support!

All sponsors at the Chairman's Golf Tournament will receive:

  • Special designation as a Chairman's Tournament Sponsor
  • Special acknowledgement to the student attendees of company support at the Agribusiness Career Day in 2025
  • PLUS all of the regular golf sponsor benefits and acknowledgements


Registration Open To All Golfers

Be a part of the AAI Foundation Golf Tournament for a strong close to the AAI golf season! We look forward to seeing you there.


The AAI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization promoting research projects, member education, stewardship, and scholarships that benefit AAI members and their families.

BECOME A SPONSOR

Foundation Tournament Sponsors

Out And About

Member and Industry Visits:

  • Heartland Co-op
  • River Valley Coop
  • Steve's Farm Supply
  • Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc.
  • Rohrer Brothers & Victor Oil

Visits By:

Heath DeYoung, Membership Director


ASSOCIATION CALENDAR

June 4 & 5

Iowa Ag Aviation Association Analysis Fly-In

AAI Members Invited To Attend

Newton Municipal Airport


June 25

AAI Animal Industry Committee Meeting

Iowa State University Kent Feed Mill & Grain Science Complex


June 27

AAI Board of Directors Meeting

10:00 AM | Northey Building Board Room


July 25

AAI Golf Outing - Okoboji

Emerald Hills Golf Club


August 15

AAI Golf Outing - Amana

Amana Colonies Golf Club


August 22

AAI Golf Outing - Ames

Coldwater Golf Links


September 11

AAI Foundation Golf Outing - Moravia

AAI CHAIRMAN'S GOLF TOURNAMENT

The Preserve On Rathbun Lake

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Environmental Leader Award Nomination Deadline May 20

The deadline to nominate Iowa farmers and Iowa farm families for the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award has been extended from Monday, May 6 to Monday, May 20. 

Environmental Leader Nomination Form


Iowa farmers and landowners who implement proven practices to improve water quality and incorporate farming practices that conserve and protect our natural resources are eligible for the award. Awardees must also actively serve as leaders within the Iowa agriculture community. Since the creation of the award in 2012, 777 farm families have been recognized.

View Past Award Winners


The nomination form can be found on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website. To be considered for recognition in 2024, nominations will be accepted through Monday, May 20. The recipients of the award will be honored during a ceremony on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at the Iowa State Fair.

Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award website

Governor Reynolds, Secretary Naig request federal assistance from USDA for Iowa farmers impacted by severe storms

Governor Reynolds today sent a letter co-signed with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig to Secretary Tom Vilsack at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requesting federal assistance for farmers whose properties were damaged or destroyed by severe weather on April 26-27, 2024. 


The governor issued the letter after being notified earlier in the day that a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration had been authorized by the White House, opening Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration programs to disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses in eight counties. 


An excerpt from the letter to the USDA is included below: 

“Iowa farmers have been significantly impacted by these storms and require assistance to recover from these catastrophic damages and to rebuild and replace destroyed grain bins, farm equipment, and operational business losses. Disaster assistance programs only offered through the Farm Service Agency following a Secretarial Designation, including the Farm Loans Program and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock Program, are needed to help Iowa farmers recover from these storms. 


“As a result, we respectfully request your consideration and prompt issuance of U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretarial Designation and activation of any and all eligible assistance for the following eight Iowa counties: Clarke, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, and Union.” 


Click Here for the Full Letter 

Tornados, Weather Damage, Illness, Injury - Help Is Available For Your Customers

Farm Rescue is currently accepting applications from families needing planting and hay baling assistance. If you know a family who suffered an illness, injury, or natural disaster and who could use some assistance getting their field work done, please refer them at www.farmrescue.org


Farm Rescue will promptly respond to all referrals and the referring party can remain anonymous if desired. Even if neighbors are pitching in, Farm Rescue is ready and able to ease burden in the community by doing our part to help farm families through a time of need.


These services are provided free to the family in need. Visit the website for more information:

www.farmrescue.org

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE NEWS

FFA student survey shows high interest in ag careers

Source: AGDAILY

A recent survey conducted by the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers at the 2024 Iowa FFA Leadership Conference shows that 70 percent of students would like to farm in the future but continue to have concerns about high start-up costs. Of the 191 members who completed the survey, now in its 19th year, 55 percent currently live on a farm.


Preparing students for career success is a pillar of FFA. This is evident among the responses of Iowa FFA members, with 94 percent planning to continue their education after completing high school. Additionally, 82 percent plan to farm or work in an ag-related field.


Caleb Lentz, a senior at Nashua-Plainfield High School, lives on his family’s diversified crop and livestock farm. He plans to obtain a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education.


“I’ve had experiences growing up on the farm and in FFA that have led me to pursuing a career as an ag teacher. Although I don’t plan to return to the farm full-time, I’m open to continue helping when I can,” he said.


Nearly 48 percent of respondents indicated that high start-up costs are a primary obstacle to new and beginning farmers. This is an 8 percent increase from last year’s survey results.


“My biggest concern looking forward is the lack of available land,” said Clarke Community High School senior Elli Blackford. “Land availability and price has been a consistent issue. I currently have to rent land for my livestock because that’s what’s available right now.”



[...] Read Full Story


Fuel Student Interest In Agribusiness!

Become a Foundation Golf Tournament Sponsor

High school seeks truck driver exemption for students under 18

Source: FreightWaves

An eastern Washington high school has petitioned federal regulators to let 17-year-olds enrolled in its CDL program obtain a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) to help students get a truck driver job immediately upon graduating.


Officials from Connell High School (CHS) in Connell, Washington, told the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that with the exemption, students in the program would obtain a CLP and receive 180 hours of classroom, field and drive time instruction before obtaining a CDL at the age of 18, according to a notice posted by the agency on Thursday.


Current federal regulations and Washington state law requires CLP holders to be at least 18.


“CHS believes that granting the exemption will allow students to obtain a CDL at 18 years of age and, upon graduation from CHS, immediately enter the local workforce with stable, well-paying employment,” FMCSA’s notice states. “CHS also believes that the exemption could have a positive impact on the local communities and alleviate the current commercial driver shortage.”


CHS told FMCSA that of the over 600 freshmen through seniors at the school, 70% are minorities and 70% are economically disadvantaged. The school district “serves a primarily agricultural community across four small rural towns, with a decreasing workforce but with an increasing agriculture and transportation demand,” according to the notice.


“The applicant states that a similar program exists in the state of Maine and is offered by public institutions and allows students as young as 16 years of age to obtain a CLP. CHS believes its robust CDL preparatory program will ensure CHS achieves a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety that would be obtained by complying with the regulation.”



[...] Read Full Story

Feds incentivize better biosecurity at dairy farms for bird flu

Source: Iowa Capital Dispatch

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced it will pay dairy farms with confirmed avian influenza infections to help contain the virus’ spread to people and more cows.


Federal funding is now available to cover the costs of enhanced biosecurity measures, protective equipment for workers, heat treatments for tainted milk, and veterinary and testing fees. The precautions are optional.


The virus was first identified in a Texas farm in March and has since been discovered in 41 others in a total of nine states, according to USDA data.


Wild birds are believed to be the initial source of infection, but there is evidence the virus is transmitting cow-to-cow. A dairy farm worker in Texas who was in close contact with infected cattle was also sickened but recovered.


Highly pathogenic avian influenza spreads quickly in poultry flocks and is often deadly to the birds. Sick cows typically recover over the course of 10 to 14 days, but they shed large amounts of the virus in their milk.


That led the USDA in April to prohibit the transport of most lactating dairy cattle across state lines unless testing shows they are not infected.


The movement of infected cows to other states is believed to be responsible for much of the virus’ spread. It has also been found in dairy farms in Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio and South Dakota.


[...] Read Full Story

17-Month Review Process Likely Required for New Dicamba Label

Source: AgWeb

soybeans person

For retailers wanting to sell dicamba-based products and for crop producers who want to use them, 2024 final sale and use dates are quickly approaching. 


In some states, key dates have already passed.


May 13 was the last day for sales and distribution of existing stocks of over-the-top dicamba products for Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota. More insights available here: Monday Is Last Day To Buy And Distribute Dicamba In 2024 For Four States


The sales and distribution deadline for these products in South Dakota is May 21. For all other states and counties with registrations, the sales and distribution deadlines are May 31 for soybeans and June 30 for cotton. 


No dicamba-based product can be applied to soybeans after June 30. For cotton, the final cutoff date for application is July 30.


“The dates do vary state by state," said Brigit Rollins, a staff lawyer with the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC), a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 


The dates were set by the EPA’s existing stocks order issued on February 14, just one week after Arizona federal court decision vacated product registrations for Monsanto (now Bayer) XtendiMax, BASF Engenia and Syngenta Tavium.


"So if you are planning on applying any of those three pesticides this year, I would strongly recommend looking at the existing stocks order before you do so to make sure that you are in compliance with the cutoff date for your state,” she added.


Rollins addressed some of the recent legal developments for dicamba-based products in a webinar on Wednesday.


[...] Read Full Story

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