AEM’s Ag Sector Board of Directors met Nov. 14 in Indian Wells, California, at AEM’s Annual Conference to discuss a number of key sector initiatives, Commodity Classic, various ag leadership groups, and more.
The agenda also featured a review of the association’s 2024 advocacy accomplishments accompanied with an outlook toward 2025. The meeting concluded with an update on the current and future economic and political state of Europe from CEMA Secretary General Jelte Wiersma.
Ag Sector Board Chair Bill Hurley, vice president of global government affairs for AGCO, called the meeting to order and welcomed Directors to the third and final meeting of 2024. Hurley shared several updates on key ag sector initiatives aimed at achieving the board’s 2024-2025 goals. These updates included:
- Global Ag Leadership
- Membership
- Partnership Update
Leadership Groups
AEM Director of Agriculture Austin Gellings provided an update on the activities of the various AEM ag leadership groups and introduced plans to launch two new ones: Grain Storage/Handling and Small Acreage.
The Chair of the Water Management Leadership Group, Mike Mills, shared an update on the Water Management Leadership Group’s priorities and efforts to align various industry stakeholders on how to evaluate water sustainability.
Ag Sector Board member and the Chair of the AEM Ag Technology Leadership Group, Mike Gomes, then gave an overview of ongoing initiatives between both the Ag and CE Technology Leadership Groups to collaborate in addressing how the non-road industry discusses data flow, autonomy, and cybersecurity.
Gellings then shared that the 2025 AEF North American Plugfest will be held in Milwaukee April 1-4, 2025. Directors were also given an overview of AEF’s AgIN project and encouraged to get their North American staff involved in the project.
Advocacy
AEM Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Relations Kip Eideberg shared the outcomes of the election and discussed what the incoming White House Administration and 119th Congress means for industry- and sector-specific advocacy efforts in 2025 and beyond.
AEM Vice President of Federal Affairs Kate Fox Wood reviewed AEM’s legislative accomplishments in 2024 and discussed potential opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in 2025 at both the federal and state levels, including reauthorization of the Farm Bill, technology adoption incentives, tax reform, tariffs, and trade, as well as Right to Repair.
Eideberg also shared highlights from the AEM Manufacturing Express, AEM’s largest and most impactful member engagement initiative to date. The AEM Manufacturing Express provided opportunities for members to tell the stories of the equipment manufacturing industry and highlight their role in building, powering, and feeding the world.
CEMA Update
CEMA Secretary General Jelte Wiersma joined the Board to announce the signing of a MOU between AEM and CEMA as well as provide an update and overview on CEMA along with the current European landscape.
Commodity Classic
AEM Senior Director of Joint Sector Initiatives John Rozum provided an update on the status of the 2025 Commodity Classic show in Denver, Colorado, including the unique dates, show outlook, schedule changes, and other notable changes.
For more information on activities, goals, and priorities related to AEM’s Ag Sector Board of Directors, contact AEM’s Curt Blades at cblades@aem.org or AEM’s Austin Gellings at agellings@aem.org.
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