ATF Rules West Fertilizer Explosion a Criminal Act

Kelly Marshall

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) has ruled that the fire which caused the explosion at the West Fertilizer Company in West, Texas on April 17, 2013 was started intentionally. ATF says they have tested and ruled out all accidental or natural causes, and are now offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest …

Agribusiness, ARA, Fertilizer

Senators Cochran & Thune Honored by Ag Retailers

Chuck Zimmerman

The Agricultural Retailers Association recently recognized two legislators who have lead efforts to defend the industry’s freedom to operate: Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). Both were named ARA’s 2015 Legislator of the Year. ARA recognized Sen. Cochran, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, for his determined efforts on behalf of the agricultural industry during his years …

Ag Groups, ARA, Audio

Florida Rep. Gwen Graham with Ag Retailers

Cindy Zimmerman

One of the members of Congress who met with leaders of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) last week in Washington DC was Rep. Gwen Graham (D-FL), the daughter of former Florida governor and senator Bob Graham. She is pictured here (left) with Mary Hartney, president of the Florida Fertilizer & Agrichemical Association. Rep. Graham recently completed her first North Florida …

ARA, Audio

GROWMARK with Ag Retailers in DC

Cindy Zimmerman

Joining the Agricultural Retailers Association last week in Washington DC was GROWMARK Executive Director for Corporate and Government Relations Chuck Spencer, who joined in legislative visits to discuss key issues for the cooperative and the industry. Spencer says top legislative priorities for GROWMARK include the labeling issue for genetically modified products. “We need to have a federal standard on genetically …

ARA, Audio, GMO, GROWMARK

Policy Priorities for Ag Retailers

Chuck Zimmerman

The Agricultural Retailers Association is holding its winter board meeting in Washington, DC after a day of visits on Capitol Hill. Before the meeting started I visited with ARA Chairman, Harold Cooper, Premier Ag. We talked about the policy priorities for ARA this year. The first and foremost one he says is the retail exemption to OSHA’s Process Safety Management …

Ag Groups, ARA, Audio, Farm Policy

Ag Retailers Storm the Hill

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s a beautiful sunny day in Washington, DC. Perfect timing for members of the board of the Agricultural Retailers Association to take their priorities to Senate and House offices. All day these members will be visiting with their elected leaders to distribute information and talk with the Representative, Senator and/or their aides. They have been briefed. They are on a …

Ag Groups, ARA

Ag Retailers Hold Winter Board Meeting

Chuck Zimmerman

The agriblogger is on the highway again this week, moving to Washington, DC for a few days to work with the Agricultural Retailers Association at their Winter Board Meeting. ARA planned this right since the snow was a week ago and has been pretty well cleared up on the streets. I talked with Daren Coppock, President/CEO, ARA, to have him …

Ag Groups, ARA, Audio

Precision Impact Award Presented to Leading Retailers

Kelly Marshall

AgProfessional Magazine, MapShots AgStudio, and the Agricultural Retailers Association sponsored an award presented to three retailers leading the way in precision agriculture.  Accepting the Precision Impact Award on behalf of their companies were: Elliott Marsh, East Georgia Agronomy Services, Southern States Cooperative; Glen Franzluebbers, Central Valley Ag Cooperative, and Luke Lightfoot, Co-Alliance, LLC. The award was presented on December 3 at …

Ag Groups, ARA

ARA Honors Rising Stars Class of 2015

Kelly Marshall

Twelve of the top performers in ag retail have been awarded the honor of being selected for the Agricultural Retailers Association Rising Stars Class of 2015. The Rising Stars program began in 2013 to recognize high achievers and develop future leaders in the agriculture retail industry.  Member companies have the opportunity to introduce new leaders to the ARA and the …

Agribusiness, ARA

OSHA Overreach Halted By Congress

Kelly Marshall

In July the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sent a memorandum to end the exemption of retail stores to the Process Safety Management (PSM).  PSM is a set of procedural, operational and organizational standards to intended to prevent the release of hazardous chemicals at manufacturing facilities.  The rescinding of this exemption would force virtually all ag retailers that store …

Agribusiness, ARA