April 9, 2015 - Agribusiness Association of Iowa

TAKE FIVE
A five-minute summary of AAI, regulation, and industry activities for members of the largest
state agribusiness association in the nation.
April 9, 2015
Inside this Issue:
Ag Partners LLC to Undergo Major $7 million Expansion
Page 1:
Ag Partners LLC, a longtime member of AAI, is pleased tons. This second phase will be considered at a future
to announce a major expansion at its Sheldon North date as business growth warrants.
feed mill location, which will substantially increase the
facility’s ability to make a pelleted feed product.
This project will not impact Ag Partners’ ability to
service our feed customers during construction as both
Phase 1 is a $7.2 million expansion that will include the locations will remain fully operational during the
addition of a 140-foot pellet mill tower, one 60-ton per expansion.
hour pellet line, and a six-ton mixer. This will increase
total capacity to 600,000 tons of meal feed annually Ag Partners continues to invest in its feed business
and 300,000 tons of pellets. This expansion will meet with the objective of being a key partner for current and
the increased demands in the marketplace as the future livestock customers throughout Iowa. Committed
demands for a premium pelleted product have grown.
to creating the safest livestock food product possible,
all Ag Partners feed mills have achieved Hazard
The structure is designed with the ability to complete Analysis and Critical Control Points Certification, a step
Phase 2 at a minimal cost. The structure will include that brings the company’s feed mill up to standards
sufficient space to install a second 60-ton per hour used by the consumer food industry.
pellet line, increasing total pellet capacity to 600,000
Full story at AgPartners.com/News.
Ag Partners LLC to
Undergo Major $7 million
Expansion
Agricultural Legal Defense
Fund / Iowa Nutrient
Research and Education
Council – Voluntary
Funding Request
Page 2:
AAI Launches New Affiliate
Organization
Calendar of Events
Agribusiness
Association of Iowa
900 Des Moines Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
515-262-8323
800-383-1682
Fax: 515-262-8960
www.agribiz.org
Agricultural Legal Defense Fund / Iowa Nutrient Research and
Education Council – Voluntary Funding Request
At the March AAI Board of Director’s meeting, the
Board approved actions that were recommended by
the AAI Agronomy committee regarding funding
support. This is a multi-purpose effort, designed to
support the Agricultural Legal Defense fund as well as
the Iowa Nutrient Research and Education Council
(INREC).
businesses since that time and has been successful in
raising significant pledges for the fund, which will be
used to support the legal defense against the Clean
Water Act challenges.
AAI has also been actively
engaged in discussions regarding the defense, and is
working with the local Boards of Supervisors and other
organizations to support this effort.
It has become clear that agriculture needs to step up
its financial support to help defend the Des Moines
Water Works Lawsuit against Sac, Calhoun and Buena
Vista counties, as the outcome of that suit could have a
dramatic impact on production agriculture and how it
does business. And, AAI needs to be continually active
in the offensive strategy as well, to assist in meeting
the objectives of the Nutrient Reduction Strategy. This
request is designed for Agribusiness to support both
the offense and the defense.
The INREC organization held its first official meeting on
April 6th, with every member of the board’s
organization / business contributing significant revenue
to the effort. INREC is committed to raising additional
revenue so that it can successfully carry out the
mission and objectives of the plan.
Background Information:
AAI unanimously voted to approve the formation of a
legal defense fund at the January AAI Board Meeting,
which has since been formalized. This defense fund is
formed as a 501c(3) organization, meaning that there
are no restrictions on personal, business, or corporate
contributions, that all donations are tax deductible and
totally confidential. AAI staff and leadership has met
with several state and national organizations and
Therefore, the AAI Board of Director’s unanimous
action of support includes a request of ALL AAI
members to support these efforts. A formal request will
be sent to all members, asking for a significant
voluntary contribution in each of the next three years,
to support the offense and defense strategy.
Guideline recommendations were established by the
AAI board, which will be included in this upcoming
communication.
Please watch for future
communications about these efforts.
Agriculture needs to continue to show unity and strong
support in these challenging times.
TAKE FIVE
Page 2
AAI
Meetings & Events:
AAI Launches New Affiliate Organization
Feed & Livestock
Committee Meeting
April 16, 2015
10 AM
AAI Board Room
AAI Services Board
Meeting
May 11, 2015
AAI Board Room
Showcase Committee &
Subcommittee Meeting
June 1, 2016
AAI Board Room
Agronomy Committee
Meeting
June 10
AAI Board Room
Membership Committee
Meeting
June 11
AAI Board Room
Monday, April 6, the Iowa Nutrient Research & Education continuously improve science based research along with the
Council (INREC) held their first official board meeting at AAI technology and resources available to producers through
Headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa.
local CCAs and other outlets. Board members hope to bridge
the information gap that exists between consumers and the
In unprecedented actions, the INREC was developed as a (ever evolving) agricultural processes that shape our industry.
result of AAI’s Nutrient Management Task Force which was
appointed by the AAI Board of Directors in September, 2013. Secretary Northey made a short presentation to the group
Approved by the AAI Board of Directors, the Task Force and expressed his support of the collaborative efforts of
recommended the formation of this very unique organization INREC and the need to continue to work hard on the Water
that formally brings together Iowa’s major farm and Quality Initiative, particularly regarding adoption of new
commodity organizations with industry, all who have a strong technology and practices, and new ways to measure
desire to improve Iowa’s water quality and also find ways to progress of this voluntary effort. All efforts should work to
utilize nutrients in the most efficient manner. The organization encourage additional participation by agribusiness and
has a very specific mission and program objectives which producers. Northey commented that Iowa is leading efforts
have the potential to have a huge impact on the farmer across the nation to adopt voluntary practices.
adoption of new products and management practices, all
of which will work to support the voluntary and science A legislative update was given by AAI Lobbyist Jerry
based Nutrient Reduction Strategy. The communication and Fitzgerald and Don Peterson of Iowa Farm Bureau regarding
collaboration of these organizations, in this formal setting, is discussions on the hill about water quality and general budget
the only one of its kind in Iowa. AAI is very appreciative of the conditions of the State. AAI Corporate Council Doug Gross of
organizations that are willing to spend significant time and Brown Winnick along with AAI CEO, Joel Brinkmeyer, gave a
resources for this effort.
Des Moines Water Works Law Suit update to the group.
During the meeting on April 6, the Board of Directors were
officially seated, and officers for the Council were elected.
Dave Coppess, Heartland Co-op, representing Iowa
agronomy retailers was elected Chair, Craig Hill, President of
Iowa Farm Bureau, was elected as Vice Chair, Mark Mueller
representing the Iowa Corn Growers as Secretary, and Dave
Struthers, President of the Iowa Pork Producers as
Treasurer. Joel Brinkmeyer, AAI CEO, was also confirmed as
CEO of INREC.
Be social with AAI!
Other members of the Board of Directors include: Craig
Struve, Midwest Independent Soil Samplers (AAI rep), Bruce
Baier, Ag Partners, LLC (CCA rep), Paul Poister, Agrium,
(Fertilizer Manufacturers rep), Dave Tierney, Monsanto,
(Crop Protection rep), Pat Reeg, Iowa Soybean
Association.
Ex-Officio members include Dean Wendy
Wintersteen, Iowa State University, and Secretary of
Agriculture, Bill Northey. The support of this organization
was shown by the agriculture industry with 100% attendance.
Also attending the meeting were, Deputy Secretary of
Agriculture, Mike Naig, AAI Corporate Council, Doug Gross,
AAI Lobbyist, Jerry Fitzgerald, Iowa Farm Bureau CEO,
Denny Presnall, and IFBF Director of Legislative Affairs, Don
Petersen, as well as several staff representatives from the
participating organizations. The meeting proved to be uplifting
proof of the formal cooperation of all ag groups to
AAI staff will support the INREC organization through a
management contract, including the program management
which will be led by Dean Lemke and Shawn Richmond, who
will both commit a majority of their time to this organization.
The atmosphere and opinions of the attendees at the April 6
meeting were very positive. The INREC Board is confident in
the direction of the Council and it’s mission.
All questions and/or concerns from the AAI membership
are welcomed by the INREC Board & AAI leadership.
Questions regarding the INREC organization can be
directed to the Director of Nutrient Management & Land
Stewardship, Dean Lemke - dean@agribiz.org or AAI
CEO, Joel Brinkmeyer - jbrinkmeyer@agribiz.org.