A five-minute summary of AAI, regulation, and industry activities for members of the largest state agribusiness association in the nation. | | Members Connect With Legislators At Annual AAI Legislative Breakfast | | |
The Agribusiness Association of Iowa hosted a legislative breakfast at the State Capitol on Wednesday, bringing together state legislators, agribusiness leaders, and industry advocates for important discussions on the issues shaping the industry.
AAI appreciates the engagement and commitment of legislators in addressing the critical challenges and opportunities in agriculture. Working together ensures agriculture and agribusiness remain a top priority in Iowa.
Stay Up To Date On Legislative Progress
All AAI Legislative Committee members along with the AAI Board of Directors receive a weekly legislative update during the session. If you are part of an AAI member company and would like to receive these updates, please contact Sally Thompson, sally@agribiz.org, to be added to the list of recipients.
Support A Positive Agribusiness Environment In Iowa
Your personal contribution to the Agribusiness PAC helps amplify the voice of agribusinesses and promote a positive environment for agribusiness in Iowa. Personal checks can be sent to the AAI Main Office or you can make a PAC Contribution Online.
| | Ag Groups Launch New ESA Educational Resources for Retailers and Applicators | |
CropLife America (CLA), the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), and the Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA) have released new educational tools to help farmers, agricultural retailers, and pesticide applicators understand and comply with pesticide labels that contain Endangered Species Act (ESA) language.
The resource suite includes an introductory ESA 101 presentation and a series of short instructional videos that help explain how to determine if any runoff and spray drift requirements need to be met, as well as how to use the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) online compliance tools — Bulletins Live! Two and the Pesticide App for Label Mitigations (PALM).
View the new video series
The full ESA resource series is available at: www.croplifeamerica.org/esa.
The resource series includes the following:
- ESA 101 Presentation: Foundation-level overview explaining how ESA requirements intersect with pesticide regulation and day-to-day application decisions.
- Video Series: Four short videos demonstrating:
- How ESA pesticide mitigations work.
- How to determine location-specific restrictions using Bulletins Live! Two (BLT).
- How to use PALM to evaluate and document runoff and spray drift mitigation practices.
Together, these resources provide growers, applicators, and registrants with practical tools for incorporating ESA requirements into application planning and recordkeeping. This effort reflects the organization’s shared commitment to stewardship, regulatory compliance, and sustainable agricultural practices.
| | Agribusiness Impact Award Honoree Highlight | |
Two individuals and one business have been selected as the inaugural recipients of the Agribusiness Impact Award, recognizing exceptional contributions to Iowa agriculture.
This year's award honorees are:
- Steve Sukup, Sukup Manufacturing
- Dave Tierney, Bayer CropScience (retired)
- Liqui-Grow
The awards will be presented at the Agribusiness Showcase and Conference, February 10–11, 2026, at the Meadows Conference Center in Altoona, Iowa.
This is the second of three weeks highlighting each honoree individually, and showcasing their contributions to Iowa agriculture and the broader industry.
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Dave Tierney – Bayer CropScience (retired)
Dave Tierney has made a lasting impact on Iowa agriculture through nearly four decades of leadership, advocacy, and commitment to farmers. A native of southern Iowa, Dave built a career focused on advancing innovation, strengthening public policy, and supporting Iowa’s farming community.
Dave began his career working in Iowa fields before advancing through leadership roles with DEKALB, Monsanto, and Bayer CropScience, focusing on sales, management, and government affairs.
A respected advocate for Iowa agriculture, Dave championed policies and technologies that improved productivity and sustainability. Through his involvement with organizations such as the Agribusiness Association of Iowa, CropLife America, and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, he helped amplify farmers’ voices in public policy discussions and supported the introduction of transformative innovations, including biotech crops and dicamba-tolerant technologies.
Throughout his career, Dave was also known for mentoring colleagues and developing future leaders, leaving a legacy of collaboration and service that continues to benefit Iowa agriculture.
| | AAI Hosts Cass County Roundtable on Policy Priorities | |
The Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation hosted a roundtable discussion with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig last Friday in Cass County. The roundtable brought together local farmers and agribusiness leaders for a timely conversation on agricultural policy.
Sec. Naig emphasized the importance of passing a modernized, five-year Farm Bill that provides certainty and stability for farmers and businesses. He also highlighted the Iowa Farm Act, a legislative package aimed at supporting Iowa farmers and agribusinesses, strengthening rural communities, and positioning Iowa agriculture for long-term success.
Attendees shared on-the-ground perspectives about current challenges and opportunities facing the industry. AAI members used the forum to discuss the association’s 2026 policy priorities.
| | (Please forward this information to your HR department and anyone responsible for hiring.) | Connect With Your Future Workforce | |
Get meaningful visibility with students who are actively exploring their future in agriculture. As an Agribusiness Career Day Sponsor, you connect motivated students with real-world career opportunities and show them the breadth and potential of today’s agribusiness sector.
Questions? Contact Sally Thompson at sally@agribiz.org or 515.262.8323.
| | Member Spotlight: Altus CXO
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About Altus CXO
Altus CXO provides C-level leadership to fulfill fractional, interim, and project-based needs in the areas of financial, human resources, technology, operations, and marketing. Currently Altus CXO has 30 associates with significant executive leadership experience in agribusiness, manufacturing, and processing, as well as other industries.
Services Offered
The agricultural community has immediate access a team of seasoned executive leaders with broad expertise who can quickly make a meaningful impact on an organization’s success. Altus CXO delivers a proprietary diagnosis tool, ClearXO, to quickly diagnose and resolve barriers to company success.
What Makes Altus CXO Unique
Altus CXO is unique because of the breadth of executive solutions we offer, including finance, human resources, technology, operations, strategic problem identification and resolution, and marketing. We are careful to engage seasoned associates with robust professional backgrounds that believe in delivering meaningful results for clients on short- or long-term projects.
What Altus CXO Values Most About AAI Membership
We are an Iowa based company, many of our associates have worked in the agribusiness industry, and most of our associates live in Iowa or neighboring states. Working with the Agribusiness Association of Iowa community is like working within a family who supports shared values and a desire to accomplish great things.
Recent Successes
A current client success story – Altus CXO recently assisted a client in securing $10 million in financing at significantly lower interest rates.
Something You Might Not Know About Altus CXO
Christy Marchand, Altus CXO cofounder, was named the September 2025 Entrepreneur of the Month by the NIACC Pappajohn Center & Small Business Development Center. Fractional executives are a great solution for small to medium sized businesses because fractional solutions provide immediate results, cost savings, high-level expertise, and flexibility in building leadership bench strength.
How To Contact Altus CXO
https://www.AltusCXO.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/altuscxo
info@altuscxo.com
| The Member Spotlight highlights AAI member companies to help you understand more about these businesses and create stronger connections across the agribusiness industry. If you are an affiliate member and would like to see your business highlighted in the Member Spotlight, contact hdeyoung@agribiz.org for details. | | Regular Registration Rates End Jan. 26 | | Showcase Session Highlight | |
Global Power Shift: What Brazil’s Rise Means for Iowa Agriculture takes place Wed., Feb. 11, at 10:30 a.m., featuring Joe Kerns and Grant Kimberley. With more than four decades in global ag markets, Joe brings a trader’s perspective shaped by worldwide experience, while Grant offers insight into trade, demand-building, and policy.
Together, they’ll unpack how Brazil’s growing influence impacts Iowa agriculture and what it means for producers and agribusiness leaders. Register now!
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Last Chance To Save On Registration
Regular registration rates end Jan. 26. Register now to save $50.
More Showcase Information:
Exhibitor Listing | Showcase Schedule | See Who's Attending
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THE MEADOWS EVENTS & CONFERENCE CENTER
ALTOONA, IOWA
FEBRUARY 10 & 11, 2026
Attendee Registration:
Regular Registration | $200
After January 26 | $250
Includes all meals, sessions, trade show, reception, and evening hospitality.
| | Thank You For Your Membership! | |
As a member of AAI, you support the industry that is leading innovation, stewardship, and growth. Thank you for your membership and your commitment to the success of agribusiness in Iowa.
The following companies have recently joined or renewed their membership for the 2026 Membership Year.
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- CF Industries, Inc.
- Des Moines Area Community College
- Innovative Ag Services Co
- Nexus Cooperative
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- The Pinnacle Group L.L.C.
- SoilView, LLC
- 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. | | |
Member & Industry Meetings
Visit by: Heath DeYoung, AAI Membership Director
Roundtable Discussion with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and AAI Members in Atlantic
Attended by: Julie Kenney, AAI CEO
Policy discussion with the White House
Attended by: Julie Kenney, AAI CEO
AGP Annual Meeting
Attended by: Julie Kenney, AAI CEO; Heath DeYoung, AAI Membership Director
BASF Innovation Conference
Presentation by: Ben Gleason, INREC Executive Director
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February 3
Agribusiness Career Day
FFA Enrichment Center - Ankeny, Iowa
February 10-11
Agribusiness Showcase & Conference
The Meadows Events & Conference Center - Altoona, Iowa
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Farmers are facing another season of low prices, high costs and difficult decisions about how — or whether — to keep operating, and banks are cutting off some growers just as they urgently need cash.
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A new German study using shipment-level import data finds roughly 96% of the 2025 U.S. tariff burden was paid by U.S. buyers, with foreign exporters absorbing about 4%.
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Source: DTN Progressive Farmer
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Iowa corn growers and biofuel advocates stress the need for stronger corn demand and believe E15 legislation is needed now to help return corn acres back to profitability, but the battle over year-round E15 legislation stalled out in Congress.
[...] Read Full Story
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