A five-minute summary of AAI, regulation, and industry activities for members of the largest state agribusiness association in the nation. | | AAI Joins 250+ Ag Groups Urging Senate to Protect Nationwide Pesticide Label Uniformity | |
As the Agricultural Act of 2026, better known as the Farm Bill, headed toward U.S. Senate markup, AAI joined more than 250 agricultural organizations in a unified letter supporting Farm Bill progress. The coalition specifically urged lawmakers to reject any amendments that would overturn the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Monsanto Co. v. Durnell.
The Supreme Court ruling reaffirmed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) as the ultimate regulatory body for pesticide labeling. In the letter, the coalition stressed that EPA-approved, science-based nationwide labels provide critical operational certainty. Undermining this federal standard would erode grower access to vital crop protection tools, threatening crop yields, farmer livelihoods, conservation efforts, public health, and food prices for consumers.
Read the Full Letter
| | AAI, Ag Groups Address Executive Order on Pesticide Registration | |
Last week, AAI joined more than three dozen agricultural organizations in sending a joint letter to the White House, EPA, USDA, and HHS regarding the implementation of the recent Executive Order on pesticide registration. While supporting efforts to modernize regulatory processes, the coalition outlined critical priorities to protect growers' operational needs.
The letter emphasizes the importance of balancing expedited product approvals with rigorous safety standards. Key priorities highlighted include preserving the use of crop protection products for crop desiccation, eliminating duplicative interagency reviews, ensuring regulatory certainty, and maintaining the core FIFRA standards established by Congress as new review frameworks are integrated.
Read the Full Letter
| | Highway 5/65 Interstate Designation Moves Forward in U.S. House | |
Efforts to designate the Highway 5/U.S. 65 four-lane bypass south of Des Moines as I-435 took another step forward in Washington, D.C. The proposal was officially added to the federal surface transportation bill during its recent passage through the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Federal movement was tied to 2025 Iowa legislation supported by AAI, which requires the state to identify safe, alternate routes for implements of husbandry before any interstate conversion can occur. AAI, member partners, and ag stakeholders are actively collaborating with the Iowa DOT this summer on the required agricultural route study.
If the federal bill passes, the designation will move to the Federal Highway Administration for regulatory review. AAI remains fully engaged to protect agricultural transport interests throughout this process.
| | Committees Visit Research Farm, Discuss 2027 Legislative Priorities | | |
A joint meeting of the AAI Agronomy and Environment Committees took in a tour of the Iowa State University Finch Farm. Research on the farm is exploring the relationship of planting timing, biomass removal, water movement, and nutrient loss. Dr. Michael Castellano shared some preliminary data suggesting crop residue harvest can reduce nutrient loss, maintain organic matter, and allow earlier planting.
Following the tour, the committee met to review current regulatory topics and discussed new projects that provide incentives to increase the information available to farmers for nutrient management decisions. Committee members also reviewed legislative priorities in preparation for the 2027 legislative session.
Lend Your Voice To A Committee
The conversations, issues, and interactions of members who participate in committees have a direct influence on the industry. To serve on a committee, email aai@agribiz.org, call the AAI office at 515.262.8323, or fill out the form online.
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AAI Grain Grading Workshops
Aug. 11 & 12
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AAI Member Registration - $130
Non-Member Registration - $155
Aug. 11 in Fort Dodge - 6 seats remaining
Aug. 12 in Altoona - 11 seats remaining
| These workshops provide hands-on experience for identifying what is, and what is not, considered grain damage by the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS). Participants will spend half of the workshop focused on corn and the other half focused on soybeans. | |
Aug. 11
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location:
NEW Cooperative - West Building
2604 1st Ave South
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Lunch is provided.
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Aug. 12
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location:
Ziegler CAT
1500 Ziegler Drive NW
Altoona, Iowa
Lunch is provided.
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One More Round Before Summer Ends
Join us in Ames on Aug. 26 for the final AAI Golf Outing of the year. It's your last chance to golf and interact with others in the industry, entertain clients, and enjoy a day on the course.
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Aug. 26
Coldwater Golf Links
Ames, Iowa
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Member & Industry Visits
Visit by: Heath DeYoung, AAI Membership Director
Iowa Women In Ag Conference
Attended by: Julie Kenney, AAI CEO
Convey 26 Conference
Attended by: Heath DeYoung, AAI Membership Director
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Aug 7
AAI Committee Meeting - Membership
10:00 a.m. - AAI Main Office Board Room
Aug 11
AAI Grain Grading Workshop
8:30 a.m. - NEW Cooperative, Fort Dodge
Aug 12
AAI Grain Grading Workshop
8:30 a.m. - Ziegler CAT, Altoona
AAI Committee Meeting - Legislative
10:00 a.m. - AAI Main Office Board Room
Aug 26
AAI Golf Outing
10:00 a.m. Shotgun Start
Coldwater Golf Links - Ames
Aug 27
AAI Board of Directors Meeting
8:00 a.m. - Iowa State University Research Park, Ames
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Source: DTN Progressive Farmer
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While many farm policy provisions enjoyed bipartisan support, disagreements over SNAP kept members voting with their parties, defeating most Democratic amendments and leaving no path for the farm bill to move forward in August.
[...] Read Full Story
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Earlier this spring, the Illinois Department of Agriculture served Morton farmer Mark Eigsti with a notice of fine for violating the Illinois Pesticide Act when spraying near a school in Morton, Ill., while children were present and wind speeds exceeded the limits on the chemical label.
[...] Read Full Story
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USDA reports on-farm corn stocks up 16% from a year ago, while storage capacity growth has plateaued. Brock’s John Tuttle says commercial handlers are already asking where grain will go when harvest starts - and temporary storage can still be delivered in weeks, not months.
[...] Read Full Story
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