Click here to learn more and to register.

Ken Root presents the report card given to eight Presidential candidates by the Iowa Corn Growers Association

Ken Root profiles Walnut Ridge Tree Farm and Christmas Tree sales in the Agribusiness Report.

The coalition comments focused on what AAI and other agriculture organizations see as over-reaching regulatory efforts by DOL. Most prominent is the proposal’s potential impact on family farms. The coalition comments urged the department “to maintain the integrity of the family farm exemption approved by Congress.”
The department has the authority to prohibit youth employment in jobs that are “particularly hazardous” but the department’s proposal would prohibit youth from working in any job with “power-driven equipment.” Read literally, the department’s proposal would prohibit a youth under 16 from working in any job that had even simple power tools like a battery-operated screw driver. The coalition argued that DOL should withdraw the rule and make sure that it is following the intent of Congress in only addressing occupations that are particularly hazardous.

Download and read the coalition’s DOL Child Labor Comments

AAI staff will share what ag issues will be part of the upcoming legislative session and other happenings with your Association. Contact Reilly Vaughan, Membership Director, at 800-383-1682 or reilly@agribiz.org to RSVP or if you have any questions.

]]> http://agribiz.org/2011/11/district-meetings/feed/ 0 http://agribiz.org/2011/11/2012-agribusiness-showcase-and-conference/ http://agribiz.org/2011/11/2012-agribusiness-showcase-and-conference/#comments Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:37:14 +0000 Agribiz Office http://agribiz.org/?p=924 Why Should Your Company Exhibit at the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference?

Because this is your audience! The venue, speakers, educational and networking opportunities at AAI’s annual show make the Agribusiness Showcase and Conference an event you wont want to miss!

• Spend one-on-one time with your customers during the Indoor Field-Day

• Network with customers during Tuesday evening’s All Industry Reception

• Showcasing industry innovation and technology through featured speakers, presentations, and workshops

Who can Exhibit at the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference?

Any company currently a member of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa is eligible to exhibit and secure the member discount. Non-members of AAI who wish to exhibit should submit completed contracts for review by the Showcase Committee to insure that they adhere to standards compatible with the integrity of the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference. (Non-member exhibitors are not eligible for the member discount). If you are interested in becoming an AAI member, call 800.383.1682 to request an application.

How to Exhibit at the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference:

Click here to view the floor plan to the Varied Industries Building. After selecting the booth space(s) that your company would prefer, indicate your preference(s) by booth number or bulk space letter on the exhibitor registration form. Every effort will be made to assign exhibit space as requested. However, the show management will not guarantee any allocation of space until all assignments are made, and no requests will be considered unless full payment accompanies your contract. We reserve the right to reassign space if deemed to be in the best interest of the show.

Secure your Company’s Display Space Today!

Click here to download the exhibitor information packet, calculate the amount of bulk space or number of booths your company will require, fill out the registration and sponsorship form. Mail the completed forms along with a 25% non-refundable deposit. Please postmark no later than January 6, 2012. Every effort will be made to accommodate your request!

For complete rules, see your exhibitor registration packet.

“These opportunities to talk with farmers on their land and see their operations at work are incredibly valuable. Open communication and transparency are the essential first steps toward protecting air and water quality and ensuring the health of farming communities,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Agriculture is part of the foundation of the American economy. EPA’s mission to safeguard clean air, clear water and productive land is a critical part of sustaining farming jobs and productivity, and it’s vital that we communicate and work together on these issues we share.”

“The farmers and ranchers we visited with – and hundreds of thousands like them around the country – are our nation’s first and finest conservationists. They understand better than anyone that you
cannot continually take from the land without giving back and they have taken incredible strides to protect the land they rely on,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “USDA will continue to work hand-in-hand with EPA to ensure that both agencies are pursuing common-sense regulation that will let farmers make the decisions they feel are best for their own operations.”

Jackson and Vilsack toured a livestock farm in Pleasantville, Iowa and a 1,600 acre row crop farm in Prairie City, Iowa. They also toured AAI member Renewable Energy Group’s (REG) facility in Newton, a biorefinery to discuss the role of advanced biofuels in meeting the President’s energy independence goals.

“We applaud Secretary Vilsack and Administrator Jackson for their roles in implementing energy independence and clean air programs focused on enhancing advanced biofuels production and utilization,” said Renewable

Energy Group’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Daniel J. Oh who opened the roundtable discussion.

Jeff Broin, CEO of POET, noted, “POET’s newest co‐product shows that through new technology, the renewable fuels industry is helping the President achieve his goal of reducing oil imports.

For video of the tour and additional interviews with Secretary Vilsack and Administrator Jackson, go to AAI’s YouTube page at:

www.youtube.com/user/iowaagribusiness.

On Tuesday, April 19, the Renewable Energy Group (REG) hosted USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, at their 30 million gallon per year biodiesel plant in Newton, Iowa. Also on hand were representatives from Green Plains Renewable Energy (GRPE) and POET. While on site, Vilsack and Jackson learned about the role biodiesel, ethanol and advanced biofuels will play in meeting Obama’s energy goals and the benefits of biofuel production to the country including job creation, rural development and lower prices at the pump.

Photo Credit:  REG/Joanna Schroeder

The Agribusiness Association of Iowa is producing two daily, three minute Agribusiness Report segments that air on WHO-HD, new channel 13.  The report will cover markets, market analysis, agribusiness news, etc. and is anchored by Ken Root.  The Agribusiness Reports air at 5:50 a.m. during Today in Iowa and at 12:50 p.m. during the Channel 13 News at Noon.  The daily reports and additional agribusiness news can also be found on TV-13’s website at: www.whotv.com/news/agriculture/.

“This isn’t news just for farmers,” explains WHO-HD President and General Manager Dale R. Woods.  “This will be information that impacts a significant and important sector of Iowa’s economy with tentacles to many others.  We are fortunate to have the incredible agricultural and broadcast experience of Ken Root to condense and make sense from the volume of information.”

“This is an unprecedented opportunity for Iowa agriculture,” said Laura Sinnwell, AAI Communications Director.  “Not only do we have the opportunity to inform the ag industry as a whole, but we also have the ability to clear misconceptions held by the general public.”

Through the daily show, WHO-HD 13’s DTV channel and their website, this new endeavor has the ability to reach people in Central Iowa, across the state and nation.

Critical analysis and feedback is important to tailor the TV segments to Iowa’s agribusiness audience.  Please email Ken Root (ken.root@agribiz.org) or Laura Sinnwell (laura@agribiz.org) with any input or programming ideas.

Gathman began his cooperative career in 1979 at that cooperative as a laborer working in the full spectrum of grain and agronomy duties.  In 2001, following a successful merger between the Farmers Cooperative Exchange of Otley-Monroe and the Farmers Cooperative Exchange in Pella-Tracy, Tracy became the General Manager of the Two Rivers Cooperative.

Linnen is the Northern Crops District Sales Manager in Iowa for Dow AgroSciences.  He graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1984 and started his career as a package engineer with Dow Chemical. In 1988, Linnen joined Dow’s Ag division.  He transferred over to the Ag commercial group in 2003 as a Senior Sales Rep for Dow AgroSciences’ Turf and Ornamental business and in 2005 was given the position of Account Manager and Marketing Specialist for their tech products. From 2007 to 2009 he had worked as the Senior Marketing Manager for the Spin/MAC insecticide business.

Moellenbeck began his career working for Cargill, Inc. as a facility manager in Heartwell, Nebraska.  He worked for Cargill, Inc. from 1985-1997 managing country elevators in Indiana and Minnesota.  In 1997 Moellenbeck joined River Valley Cooperative as a facility manager at Eldridge, Iowa.  He was then given the opportunity to move into his current position as Vice President of their Grain Business Unit.  In this capacity Moellenbeck primarily oversees River Valley Cooperative’s origination group, and the marketing and merchandising of their grain positions. 

Dave Coppess, Kevin Gray, and Mark Morrissey have also recently been appointed to the AAI Board by the Executive Committee.  Coppess, Gray, and Morrissey are each filling a seat left vacant by a retiring or leaving member.  Coppess with Heartland Co-op in West Des Moines is filling the District 4 seat, Gray with GROWMARK in Monticello is filling a vacant At-Large seat, and Morrissey with United Services Association, Inc. in Urbandale is filling the Plant Food Divisional Director seat.

During elections, AAI members also re-elected Allyson Perry as an At-Large Director on the Board.

If you have any questions about the AAI Board elections or the Board of Directors, please call the AAI office at 515.262.8323.

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                             

Des Moines – The Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) has announced Jeff Schnell as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Schnell previously served as the Public Policy Director for the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA), a position he has held since 1997.  During that time, he supervised state and federal legislative efforts, managed all contract lobbyist and legal teams, developed and implemented the association’s political and fundraising programs, and handled all policy communications for federal, state, and local efforts.

“Jeff comes to AAI with the experience and knowledge necessary to build and expand on the recent growth of the Association.  I am excited about the future of AAI under his leadership,” said Bob Farber, chairman of the board.  

“I look forward to the opportunities with AAI and their leadership team while continuing the great work of the organization as strong advocates for Iowa’s agribusinesses,” indicates Schnell.

Schnell will begin his new role on December 1, 2010.  He succeeds Mark Reisinger, who accepted a new position with Pioneer in their Biotech Affairs and Regulatory Group as the Senior Manager for Government, Community, and Industry Relations.

The Agribusiness Assocation of Iowa exists to advocate, communicate and educate on behalf of the agribusiness industry.  AAI represents over 1,000 ag retail and wholesale locations in Iowa that supply feed, seed, crop protection chemicals, grain, fertilizer, equipment and other agriculture products.

###