Share Your Legislative Priorities for 2026

The AAI Legislative Committee will meet on Sept. 4 to review and recommend legislative priorities for the 2026 Iowa legislative session. Other AAI committees will meet prior to that time to recommend issues or concerns for the legislative committee to consider.

If you or your company have input on legislative priorities for 2026, please share them for consideration. Options for providing input include:

Attend A Committee Meeting - Committee meetings are listed in the calendar section of this newsletter.

Talk To A Board Director - Board members are listed on the AAI website

Contact AAI - For additional information about committee meetings or to share legislative priorities directly with AAI staff, contact Heath DeYoung - hdeyoung@agribiz.org.

Nominate a Leader for the Iowa Agribusiness Impact Award – Nominations Due Sept. 1

Do you know someone who has made a lasting impact or is shaping the future of Iowa agriculture? Nominate them for the Iowa Agribusiness Impact Award – a new recognition program from AAI that honors individuals, businesses, or initiatives making a lasting impact on Iowa’s ag economy, rural communities, or the broader food and ag system.

This award celebrates innovation, leadership, and a deep commitment to advancing Iowa agriculture. From agribusiness professionals and local leaders to game-changing businesses, we want to spotlight those who are moving our industry forward.

Award recipients will be recognized at the Agribusiness Showcase and Conference, February 10–11, 2026, at the Meadows Conference Center in Altoona.

Nominations are open now! Submit yours today at agribiz.org/impact-award.

Let’s give credit where it’s due. Help us recognize Iowa’s agriculture champions!

Board of Directors Election - Ballots Due Aug. 20

The voting member for each AAI member company was sent voting information last week both electronically and through the U.S. Postal Service. If your voting member did not receive a ballot, please contact contact Sally Thompson - sally@agribiz.org or 515.868.0323.

Five AAI Board of Directors seats are up for election this year. The candidates for this year’s Board of Directors election are listed below.

Affiliate Director

Colleen Creese, Assured Partners

Eric Thuente, Creative Planning

Animal Industry Director

Scott Lovin, AgState

At-Large Director (two seats)

Renee Hansen, Sukup Manufacturing Co.

Brent Schwenneker, Bayer CropScience

District 5 Director

Mike Conover, Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc.

David Reddel, Wilbur Ellis

Ballots must be received by August 20, 2025. Directions for returning the ballot to our independent election auditor were included with the ballot.

The Agribusiness Association of Iowa is offering two Grain Grading Workshops to the industry in August. The summer workshop locations are conveniently located for agribusinesses in the northern or southwestern portion of the state.

The AAI Grain Grading Workshops are limited to 30 participants per day and pre-registration is required.

For additional information, contact aai@agribiz.org or call 515.262.8323.

Out And About

Member and Industry Visits

• Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship 
• DMACC 

Meeting with: Julie Kenney, AAI CEO

• Ducksworth Solutions 
• Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc.
• River Valley Coop 

Meeting with: Heath DeYoung, AAI Membership Director; Julie Kenney, AAI CEO

• Oaken

Meeting with: Heath DeYoung, AAI Membership Director

Harkin Institute - Our Water, Our Future: A Look at the Central Iowa Water Quality Report 

Attended by: Julie Kenney, AAI CEO

Ever.Ag Ag Smarter Event  

Speaker: Julie Kenney, AAI CEO

Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) Summer Summit 

Speaker: Julie Kenney, AAI CEO

New Training Event Offers In-Depth Look at Drone Spraying in Agriculture

Drone Spraying Essentials: From Basics to Application

Sept. 4, 2025 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Digital Ag Innovation Lab

3800 University Blvd.

Ames, Iowa

The Iowa State University Digital Ag Innovation Lab and Terraplex are co-hosting a new educational event, offering research-backed insights on drone spraying use in agriculture. This event is designed for a range of attendees, from curious farmers and licensed applicators to agricultural professionals and ag-tech startups.

Attendees will learn:

• How drone spraying is transforming farm practices
• Certification and licensing requirements for drone applicators
• Safe and effective drone operation strategies
• Legal and regulatory considerations
• Expert advice from industry, policy and technology leaders

The cost to attend this event is $225, which includes a complimentary lunch and educational materials. Online pre-registration is required by Aug. 15 at 11:59 p.m., and space is limited to 100 attendees.

EPA Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee Seeking Nominations

The Office of Pesticide Programs is accepting nominations for their Federal Advisory Committee, the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC). The PPDC is chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide policy advice, information and recommendations to the EPA on a wide variety of pesticide regulatory development and reform initiatives, evolving public policy and program implementation issues, and policy issues associated with evaluating and reducing risks from pesticide use.

Additional information about nominations can be found on EPA-PPDC webpage.

The deadline for nominations is Aug. 21. Questions can be directed to Doug Jones in the EPA Region 7 office - jones.doug@epa.gov.

August 19

AAI Grain Grading Workshop

8 a.m. | Sheffield, Iowa

August 20

AAI Grain Grading Workshop

8 a.m. | Creston, Iowa

August 26

AAI Agronomy & Environment Committees Meeting

10 a.m. - AAI Main Office Board Room

September 4

AAI Legislative Committee Meeting

2 p.m. - AAI Main Office Board Room

September 10

AAI Golf Outing

9 a.m. Shotgun Start

Amana Colonies Golf Club - Amana

September 11

AAI Board of Directors Meeting

10 a.m. - Hotel Kirkwood, Cedar Rapids