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 - [email protected] or AAI CEO, Joel Brinkmeyer - [email protected].
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