Agribusiness Council of Indiana (ACI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa Rekeweg as its new president and CEO. She will join ACI in October. Rekeweg brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in agriculture, education, policy and organizational management, with a proven track record of guiding teams and institutions through transformational growth.

Most recently, Rekeweg served as managing director of the National Council for Agricultural Education, where she led national initiatives in agricultural education, strategic planning, governance and partnerships. Previously, she held senior leadership roles at the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, where she oversaw a $4.2 million agency, chaired major statewide councils and represented Indiana in national agricultural policy forums. She also has served in leadership roles with the National FFA Organization, AgriNovus Indiana, Indiana Department of Education, as well as other positions in Indiana’s financial and education sectors.

The search for ACI's next president is officially underway. Over the past few weeks, the ACI board of directors has dedicated its time to thinking through the role of president and the qualities and capabilities necessary in the organization’s next leader. Those qualities, capabilities and the application process, are outlined below. 

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Advanced Agrilytics has achieved Year Two certified status in Indiana’s 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program.

“Agribusiness Council of Indiana is pleased to see that Advanced Agrilytics understands that 4R nutrient management brings value to their growers and their community,” said ACI President & CEO Bruce Kettler. 

The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program has announced that The Andersons, Inc.’s facility in Waterloo, Indiana, has achieved Year Four certification. 4R is a voluntary certification program that looks at the commitment of businesses to achieving a rigorous set of standards for nutrient management practices, which benefit the environment and their customers’ crop production and business goals.

The program certifies that nutrient service providers and agricultural retailers in Indiana - who apply or make recommendations on how nutrients should be applied to crops - are doing so in accordance with 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles: using the Right Source of Nutrients at the Right Rate and Right Time in the Right Place. Program participants must go through an annual, independent, third-party audit and demonstrate that they not only understand 4R principles, but also follow them.

The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program has announced that Crop Fertility Specialists’ facility in Rossville, Indiana, has achieved Year Four certification. 4R is a voluntary certification program that looks at the commitment of businesses to achieving a rigorous set of standards for nutrient management practices, which benefit the environment and their customers’ crop production and business goals.

“We continued our participation in the 4R Certification program because not only is it the right thing to do for today, but it is also the right thing to do for tomorrow,” said Rod Miller, location leader at Crop Fertility Specialists. “The 4R program is an essential part of ensuring that we as agriculturists make decisions for the long term; our families and fellow community members look to us for advice and trust that we will provide recommendations that are both economical and environmentally sound. Using the Right Source, with the Right Rate, at the Right Time and at the Right Place ensures that the decisions we make today are the right decisions for generations to follow.”

Ag Plus Completes Year One 4R Certification at Five Indiana Locations

Agribusiness Council of Indiana today announced one of its members has achieved a significant milestone through certification in the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program. This program looks at the commitment of each business to achieving a rigorous set of standards for nutrient management practices, which benefit the environment and their customers’ crop production and business goals. Ag Plus, Inc. has completed the program to become Year 1 certified at the following Indiana locations:

• South Whitley Ag Center – South Whitley, Indiana
• Raber Ag Center – Columbia City, Indiana
• Woodburn Ag Center - Woodburn, Indiana
• Churubusco Ag Center - Churubusco, Indiana
• Maples Ag Center – Fort Wayne, Indiana

“The 4R Nutrient Stewardship program leans on scientific and proven practices that benefit the farmer and our society,” said ACI President & CEO Bruce Kettler. “Like all Agribusiness Council of Indiana members, Ag Plus is an integral part of helping their farmer customers set and obtain crop production goals that are economically viable and sustainable. These businesses bring value to their communities by sharing the latest environmental stewardship practices such as 4R with their customers.”

Agribusiness Council of Indiana today announced four of its members have achieved a significant milestone through certification in the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program. This program looks at the commitment of each business to achieving a rigorous set of standards for nutrient management practices, which benefit the environment and their customers’ crop production and business goals. The certified locations are:

• Crop Fertility Specialists in Rossville, Ind. – Year Three Certified
• Helena in Berne, Ind. - Year Three Certified
• The Andersons in Waterloo, Ind. - Year Three Certified
• Advanced Agrilytics – Year One Certified

“The 4R Nutrient Stewardship program leans on scientific and proven practices that benefit the farmer and our society,” said ACI President & CEO Bruce Kettler. “These Agribusiness Council of Indiana members are an integral part of helping their farmer customers set and obtain their production goals. These businesses bring value to their communities by making sharing the latest environmental stewardship practices such as 4R.”

Agribusiness Council of Indiana today announced that Bruce Kettler will be the organization’s next president and CEO. He will join ACI in early January.

Prior to joining ACI as president and CEO, Kettler served as the director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and the director of agribusiness development for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. In these roles, Kettler focused on agricultural advocacy, economic development, youth development and environmental stewardship.

With a mixture of sadness and gratitude, Agribusiness Council of Indiana’s board of directors announces that Amy Cornell, ACI president, will step away from her role at the end of August. Amy joined ACI as president in in 2017. 

“It has been an honor and inspiration to spend the last five years serving Indiana’s agribusinesses as president of ACI,” Cornell said. “My decision to step down is bittersweet – I’m excited to embark on a new challenge and new chapter of my career, but this organization is near and dear to my heart. When I look back, I’m so proud of all that we’ve accomplished: the successful merger of several organizations to form ACI as we know it today; bringing the 4R Certification program to Indiana; increasing our clout at the Statehouse and creating the Women IN Agribusiness program, which has helped hundreds of women develop their leadership skills. I’ll always be grateful for the personal relationships and friendships I’ve made during my time with this organization and for the members who made our work possible.”

Governor Eric Holcomb signed HEA 1483 on April 29, 2021. Because an emergency was declared for the act the bill took effect upon the Governor's signature. What do you need to do now?

Begin Pricing Out Older DP Contracts: If the deferred pricing agreement in connection with a grain purchase was entered into before July 1, 2021, you must complete all payment obligations to farmers under the agreement before January 1, 2024.  After January 1, 2024, the agency can issue a monthly fine for non-compliance of this section.  

On Jan. 29, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an updated "Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace." In a briefing on the new guidance, OSHA officials indicated that the updated guidance is in response to President Joe Biden’s Jan. 21 executive order directing the agency to issue revised guidance to employers on workplace safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new guidance says that employers should implement COVID-19 prevention programs in the workplace, including: conducting a hazard assessment; identifying a combination of measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace; adopting measures to ensure that workers who are infected or potentially infected are separated and sent home from the workplace; and implementing protections from retaliation for workers who raise COVID-19 related concerns.

DOR wants to remind you to apply for new OSW permits in their current system by 11:59 PM EST on Tuesday, February 2. After that, no new OSW permit applications will be accepted until the new Indiana Oversize/Overweight Permitting System goes live the morning of Monday, February 8. You will have until 4 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 4, to pay for and download permits previously applied for in our current system.

Additional Information About Expired Permits and Penalties

Agribusiness Council of Indiana Partners with Crestcom International
ACI members now have access to internationally recognized leadership development programs

It is commonly accepted that Indiana’s agribusinesses are facing more challenges today than ever before. Organizations must address uncertain markets and a global pandemic, while also providing their teams the skills to thrive in an ever-changing environment.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. – On Tuesday, November 17, Agribusiness Council of Indiana presented its inaugural Legislator of the Year awards to Senator Jen Leising, Senate Agriculture Committee chair, and Representative Don Lehe, House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee chair.

The award recognizes lawmakers who are champions of Indiana agribusiness. 

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. – Agribusiness Council of Indiana is proud to announce the launch of Indiana’s 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program. Four Indiana retail locations, which participated in the pilot audit, are the first locations in Indiana to become 4R Certified. The newly certified locations are:

• Crop Fertility Specialists in Rossville, Ind.
• Helena in Berne, Ind.
• The Andersons in Waterloo, Ind.
• White River Coop in Mitchell, Ind.

“Agribusiness Council of Indiana has been planning the implementation of a 4R certification program in Indiana for more than three years,” said ACI President Amy Cornell. “We are so grateful to the Indiana Agriculture Nutrient Alliance for their help getting this program off the ground, and to The Mosaic Company, The Nature Conservancy and The Fertilizer Institute for their guidance and the generous grants offered on behalf of 4R.”

Agribusiness Council of Indiana, in partnership with the Indiana Agriculture Nutrient Alliance, is proud to announce the launch of a pilot audit for an Indiana 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program. Five Indiana retail locations are currently participating in the pilot audit to ensure the program’s success when it officially launches.

“Over the last three years, the Agribusiness Council of Indiana has been researching, studying, seeking input and discussing with its members the implementation of a 4R certification program in Indiana,” said ACI President Amy Cornell. “We are so grateful to the Indiana Agriculture Nutrient Alliance for their help getting this program off the ground, and to The Mosaic Company, The Nature Conservancy and The Fertilizer Institute for the generous grants offered on behalf of 4R.”

On Tuesday, September 1, Agribusiness Council of Indiana presented its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award to Sonny Beck, CEO of Beck’s Hybrids, which under Beck’s leadership has become the largest family-owned retail seed company in the United States.

The award, voted upon by ACI’s board of directors, recognizes significant and enduring contributions to Indiana agribusiness.

Congratulations to ACI board member Natalie Markle, who has been named president and CEO of The CISCO Companies. The CISCO Companies, founded in 1965, is a family-owned business serving independent retailers across the Midwest. CISCO supplies over 2000 businesses with a wide range of products, including seed, lawn and garden supplies, agriculture goods, bird products and more.

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ACI President Amy Cornell on the implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA):

“ACI is grateful to President Trump, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for their efforts to ensure that North American markets remain open and fair.