The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) 2018 Conference and Expo started off with the timely topic of trade Tuesday. Ambassador Darci Vetter, General Manager of Public Affairs & Vice Chair of Agriculture Food and Trade of Edelman Public Affairs, presented a pre-conference workshop on “Trade, Tariffs, and Their Impact on American Agriculture.” Vetter, who is former chief agricultural negotiator at the …
Welcome to #ARA2018
The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) opened its 2018 Conference and Expo in Boca Raton, Florida yesterday, bringing together nearly 600 agricultural retail leaders, suppliers, and industry partners. “The ARA Conference and Expo is the premier event for ag retailers,” said ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “Each year we come together to honor the industry’s best. We hear from engaging …
ARA Conference & Expo Helps Make Connections
The 2018 Agricultural Retailers Association annual Conference and Expo is kicking off today in Boca Raton, FL. I’ll be there once again to bring you some great content from the program and activities. The annual golf tournament is being held this morning, as well as a special Everglades agricultural tour. Afterwards, a pre-conference workshop entitled, “Trade, Tariffs, and Their Impact …
Study Shows Ag Retailers Face Cover Crop Challenges
A new study shows growing demand for cover crops, but agricultural retailers continue to face challenges when it comes to expanding that market. The study, conducted by Datu Research, LLC, found 89 percent of ag retailers have offered cover crops and services in the past two years to farmers who use them to anchor the soil between growing seasons. The …
Augusto Joins Ag Retailers Association
Melisa Augusto has joined the staff of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) as director of communications and marketing. In this capacity, Augusto will be responsible for ARA’s publications, media relations, website, marketing materials and associated issues. She will also support the communications aspects of ARA’s advocacy efforts on behalf of agricultural retailers. “We’re excited to welcome Melisa to the ARA …
ARA Recognizes Efforts to Support Ag Retailers
The Agricultural Retailers Association recognized two legislators who led efforts to defend the industry’s freedom to operate: Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas). Both were named ARA’s 2017 Legislator of the Year. ARA recognized the congressmen for leading legislative relief on regulatory issues such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s illegal Process Safety Management retail exemption …
ARA Honors AGCO Operator of the Year
The 2017 Operator of the Year, sponsored by AGCO Corporation, Andrew Myburgh of Aberdeen, South Dakota, was honored at the recent Agriculture Retailers Association (ARA) annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. Originally from South Africa, Myburgh is a Certified Applicator at the Wheat Growers in Aberdeen, where he treats 40,000 acres of fields and is often requested by name. Now a …
GROWMARK’s Wells Joins ARA Executive Committee
GROWMARK Crop Nutrients Division Manager Rod Wells is the newest member of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) executive committee. Wells has been involved in ARA for a number of years and believes it is an important place to participate. “It’s all about being engaged in the process. It’s about advocating for the industry,” said Wells. “It’s critical that we make …
ARA Conference Chair Optimistic Amid Challenges
For the past nine years, Leroy Startz with ING Capital has chaired the committee that plans the Agricultural Retailers Association annual conference. Startz said this year’s conference had strong attendance and even stronger enthusiasm from participants, even though low commodity prices continue to challenge the industry. “Prices are not where they need to be. Everybody’s trying to figure out how …
New Ag Retailers Chair Has Game Plan
The new chairman of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) says 2017 was a championship year for the organization and he hopes to sustain that excellence moving forward. John Oster with Morral Companies in Ohio says one area where ARA will be very active in the coming year is in development of the new farm bill. “Although we are a small …