In 2024, AEM will continue to strengthen our relationships with state agencies across the nation, aiming to host roundtables with the Departments of Agriculture in the American Southeast and Midwest. The agriculture manufacturing industry will be able to have a greater impact when provided with the opportunity to meet directly with the officials who are critically important to their industry. These officials put policies in place that reward innovation, grow farm income, and improve consumer communication.
To end 2023, AEM hosted Iowa Secretary Mike Naig and Michigan Director Tim Boring in separate roundtable meetings with AEM members to discuss the state of the agriculture manufacturing industry in their respective states. During the roundtables, executives from a range of AEM member companies shared their thoughts on workforce development, funding for new broadband infrastructure, the benefits of precision agriculture technology, and rural development.
The conversation with Secretary Naig focused on the benefits of precision agriculture and the need for rural broadband. AEM members thanked Secretary Naig and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for their role in administering a new grant that allows dairy farmers to invest in precision agriculture technologies. The department will be opening applications for the grant later this year, following the passage of HF 700 during the 2023 session. HF 700 was a bill endorsed by AEM that established a dairy innovation fund for dairy farmers to invest in equipment that uses precision agriculture.
During AEM’s roundtable with Director Boring, of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, he confirmed that workforce continues to be a top priority for the department, and the Department was interested in working with the industry to create solutions to the workforce shortage.
In 2024, AEM will look to build on the Roundtable Series and increase the opportunity for AEM members to meet with important stakeholders from around the country.
If you are interested in meeting with a state official or legislator, please email AEM’s Advocacy Team at advocacy@aem.org.
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