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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Discussions of legislative priorities and current issues in agriculture were part of the joint meeting of the Agronomy and Environment Committees this week.
The committees toured the Iowa LICA Demonstration Farm in Melbourne where a host of conservation practices are in use. The farm includes wetlands, saturated buffers, a bioreactor, terraces, and a wide range of other conservation practices constructed by Iowa LICA members.
The business portion of the meeting at the farm provided an overview of a pesticide tort reform bill that failed to pass the legislature in 2024. Also discussed was the Endangered Species Act and pesticide regulations, as well as research focused on conservation practice adoption in major grain producing countries and how conservation practice adoption in Iowa can be improved.
Legislative Committee
On Thursday, the Legislative Committee met to review the suggested priorities for the 2025 legislative session. Plans are in place for the committee to gather additional information and solidify positions for areas of concern expected to be addressed by the legislature next year. Planning also is underway to hold a meeting to receive updates on priorities from other agricultural groups. AAI priorities will be finalized in December.
Get Involved!
The direction and impact of the association is a direct result of committee activities. Committees provide input and direction for the Board of Directors actions. You or someone within your company can serve on a committee by emailing aai@agribiz.org, calling the AAI office, or filling out a form online at:
https://www.agribiz.org/benefits-of-membership/join-a-committee/
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Pesticide Applicator Testing, Certification For 2025 Starts October 1 | |
In-person and online pesticide applicator testing options for commercial and private applicators are being offered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship this fall. The Department encourages commercial and private pesticide applicators to test and apply for 2025 licensing and certification starting October 1 to avoid delays.
In-Person Testing
The Department partners with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to host free in-person private and commercial applicator testing sessions monthly from September through May. The Department’s in-person testing sites are in Black Hawk, Cerro Gordo, Dallas, Dubuque, Fayette, Marshall, Johnson, Sioux, Scott, and Woodbury Counties. Pre-registration is required. Applicators can visit the Department’s website to reserve a spot:
IDALS Pesticide Exam Webpage
In person testing is also available through our college test partners for a fee and locations and contact information are available on the Department’s website. Those interested should contact the testing center directly to register and inquire about costs.
For those who need to renew their certification, the Agribusiness Association of Iowa will offer recertification training at the 2025 Agribusiness Showcase & Conference the morning of February 11. Watch for more details in late October.
Online Commercial Pesticide Applicator Testing
Commercial pesticide applicators can register and pay to take the online exam on the Department’s website. The online exams are monitored, recorded and reviewed by a third-party proctoring service. A web camera, high-speed internet connection, and government-issued photo ID card are required for online testing. There is a $25 fee for each commercial pesticide applicator test completed online, payable directly to the third-party online testing service. Commercial pesticide applicators will receive a preliminary pass/fail test result as soon as they complete the online exam, and these preliminary results cannot be used to apply for pesticide applicator certification. The third-party proctoring service will certify the test results and send the final scores to the email address used to register for the exam. Feedback on test results is only available at in-person paper-based testing sites hosted by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and will not be provided for online or computer-based exams. For information about the commercial pesticide applicator online exam, visit the Department’s website:
IDALS Applicator Licensing & Certification Webpage
Apply for Pesticide Applicator Licenses Online
Once applicators pass the online or in-person exam, they should use their certification number to register and log-in to the Department’s pesticide self-service portal to submit their application, test results and payment. After the application is approved and the payment is processed by the Department, the licenses and certifications will appear on the individual’s online account within 1-2 business days under “My Licenses” and “My Certifications” respectively. Help guides for most types of online applications are available on the Department’s website:
IDALS Online Portal Webpage
For more information, call the Department at 515-281-8591 or email pesticides@iowaagriculture.gov.
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Register for the Final Golf Outing Of The Season | |
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Final Outing of the Season on September 11 -
Click Below to Sponsor & Register
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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.
| Chairman's Tournament Sponsors | Additional Golf Season Sponsors | |
Iowa Nitrogen Initiative Field Days | |
The Iowa Nitrogen Initiative (INI) is hosting two field days in September. Attendees can learn about the initiative’s goals and research regarding economic optimum nitrogen rates.
September 13 - Story City
The Christian Farm near Story City will host a field day on September 13 at noon.
For more information and to register:
INI Field Day Sept. 13 RSVP
The INI is looking for farmers, nitrogen applicators, and ag retailers to participate in nitrogen rate trials for the 2025 corn crop. Farmers and partners will discuss why they decided to participate in the project in 2024. Other topics include 2023 INI trial results, autonomous planting and spraying, and negative yield impacts of excessive nitrogen rates.
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Disaster Declarations and Resources | |
Visit the Governor's website for links to resources and information on additional declarations that may be applicable to you or your business:
https://www.iowa.gov/iowa-disaster-recovery
Links to state and federal programs and agencies can be found on the site.
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September 11
AAI Foundation Golf Outing - Moravia
AAI CHAIRMAN'S GOLF TOURNAMENT
The Preserve On Rathbun Lake
September 12
AAI Board of Directors Meeting
Honey Creek Resort, Moravia
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DMACC Agribusiness And Horticulture Career Fair | |
September 30 | 9:00 AM
FFA Enrichment Center | Ankeny Campus
Business Registration Link
Businesses can register at the link above. Registration deadline is September 13.
For questions or additional information, contact Andrea Rouse, adrouse@dmacc.edu or 515-964-6866.
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Low water conditions have led to several barges running aground along a key stretch of the lower Mississippi River, the U.S. Coast Guard told Reuters on Wednesday, just as the busiest U.S. grain export season gets underway.
Low water levels are slowing export-bound barge shipments of grain and oilseeds from the Midwest farm belt for a third straight year, making U.S. exports less competitive in a world market awash in supplies - just as farmers are set to harvest a record soy and large corn crop and as prices hover near four-year lows.
The U.S. Coast Guard said in an email it has received reports and responded to several groundings over the last week along the Greenville-Vicksburg sections of the lower Mississippi River.
American Commercial Barge Line warned that customers should expect one to two day delays for river shipments "due to reduced navigable space in certain areas," the company said on its website.
Sandbars are already starting to show on the Mississippi River at the Memphis, Tennessee, river gauge, according to barge sources. Last October, this stretch of the river fell to an all-time low of -12.04 feet, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Water Prediction Service.
The water level at Memphis is lower than it was last year: It is forecast to drop to -7.5 feet by Sept. 18, NOAA data shows.
[...] Read Full Story
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The U.S. Department of Labor has opened the public comment period for its proposed rule intended to protect millions of workers from the significant health risks of extreme heat.
Individuals protected by the proposed rule include employees working outdoors or indoors in general industry, construction, maritime and agricultural sectors where OSHA has jurisdiction. This includes many occupations where workers are at high risk of heat hazards, such as farmworkers, restaurant workers, construction workers, delivery drivers, and many more.
OSHA monitors states that have established State Plans, but said those must be at least as effective in protecting workers and in preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
By law, employers must protect workers from the dangers of heat exposure and should have a proper safety and health plan in place. At a minimum, the labor department said employers should provide adequate cool water, rest breaks and shade or a cool rest area. Employees who are new or returning to a high heat workplace should also be allowed time to gradually get used to working in hot temperatures, the agency said.
Announced in July 2024 by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the rule – if finalized – would help protect approximately 36 million workers in indoor and outdoor work settings and substantially reduce workplace heat injuries, illnesses and fatalities.
[...] Read Full Story
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Purdue University’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business has released a new study that takes a look at the relationship between farmers and ag professionals.
Participants were asked to report the size of their farm and the frequency of their interactions with advisors such as agronomists, nutritionists, sales reps, processors and lenders. Local ag professionals were found to be the most common resources of not only supplies and services, but also knowledge.
The study found producers interact less with sales reps from manufacturers than they do with ones from dealers and retailers. Dealer/retailer sales reps also work less with smaller operations (under $300,000 in yearly revenue), with just 37% reporting interactions. That’s compared to 52% of large operations (over $5 million in yearly revenue) and 42% of commercial operations ($1 million to $5 million in yearly revenue.)
Looking at this information, the study’s authors, Scott Downey and Masie Keshavarz, suggest agribusinesses should prioritize strong sales teams and relationships with these reps to ensure effective supply and service distribution.
Over 80% of row crop farmer-participants shared they work with agronomists. However, smaller operations were less likely to have agronomist interactions – only 43%. That’s compared to 84% of large operations and 81% of commercial ones.
Downey and Keshavarz again conclude this is an area for agribusinesses to invest in and promote.
[...] Read Full Story
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Estimates show Argentina's corn acres could be down 20% due to damaging pests and low prices as crop insurance becomes a focus in the U.S.
U.S. crop insurance helps shield farmers amid global challenges, as Argentina faces potential acreage reductions or crop shifts. Some analysts project farmers in Argentina may slash their corn acres by as much as 20%.
Historically, when there was an oversupply of crop acres globally, the United States often addressed the issue by implementing set-aside programs. These programs encouraged farmers to leave a portion of their land unplanted, thereby reducing overall production and helping to stabilize prices. This approach allowed other grain-exporting countries to continue planting extensively without needing to cut back on acres, as U.S. measures helped keep global prices at sustainable levels. But there are no more U.S. acreage idling programs like those in the past.
In recent times, the U.S. crop insurance program has provided a safety net for American farmers. This program, subsidized by taxpayers, helps protect farmers from financial losses due to poor harvests or declines in market prices. This safety net is particularly significant for the 2024-25 crop year, as it offers U.S. farmers a level of price security that may not be available to their counterparts in other major grain-exporting countries.
The U.S. crop insurance program, primarily managed through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) and USDA’s Risk Management Agency, is one of the most comprehensive and subsidized in the world. USDA partners with private insurance companies to offer a range of insurance products to farmers, covering various risks such as yield losses and revenue declines. The federal government subsidizes around 60% of the insurance premiums.
[...] Read Full Story
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