Amid 'Super Bowl' of ag, lobbyists invite state leaders to private dinner, emails say
The Farm Progress Show has often been called the "Super Bowl" of agricultural conferences. Farmers, public officials and industry insiders come from far and wide to attend the three-day conference this week in Boone, Iowa.
For Archer Daniels Midland lobbyists, it was also a chance to get several important public officials together in the same room. The agricultural directors of the Midwestern states — the top public officials charged with overseeing farming industries — were invited to a private dinner this week by ADM, according to emails Investigate Midwest obtained.
The dinner did not need to be reported in many of the states the ag officials represent. That raises questions about whether state lobbying rules are strong enough to cover all forms of major companies' outreach, experts said.
— Skye Chadde, senior reporter/assistant editor
ADM, other Big Ag companies host top state ag officials in Midwest at dinner before Farm Progress Show, emails show | Sky Chadde and Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest/Report for America
ADM has not reported any lobbying efforts related to the dinner in any of the 17 states over the past two years, according to Investigate Midwest’s review of lobbying disclosure reports. “We regularly communicate with government officials and policy makers in the states where we operate to help them understand the priorities and challenges of our industry and our customers,” an ADM spokesperson said.
More stories from our staff
COLUMN: Yup, carbon dioxide is an air pollutant! | Dave Dickey
Most recently, U.S. Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough refereed a fight between Democrats and Republicans about whether carbon dioxide – essentially greenhouse gas – can be defined as an air pollutant.
Ag news from other media
EPA proposes designating two PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances under Superfund law | Indiana Environmental Reporter
The proposed rule would designate PFOA and PFOS, two of thousands of PFAS chemicals, as hazardous substances. It's a move that would allow communities to learn more about the extent and locations of contamination sites and accelerate cleanup. PFAS chemicals have been used since the 1940s tin many products. PFOA and PFOS are linked to a series of adverse health conditions.
More news about Investigate Midwest
Pizza + wine + music = supporting journalism
WHAT: Sunset on the Farm, sponsored in part by the Cedar Rapids Gazette
WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. September 25
WHERE: Walker Homestead outside of Iowa City
DETAILS: While enjoying a beautiful setting, delight in great brick-oven pizza, wine, silent auction and camaraderie. Proceeds support work by Investigate Midwest.
CONTACT: Tickets are available here. Contact Mary Ungs-Sogaard for more information.
Fall conference opens for registration
Top digital journalists, innovators and researchers from universities and news organizations across the nation will lead this year’s MobileMe&You conference, which is set for October 21-22, 2022.
The conference will be held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Register here.
Why attend? The Mobile Me&You conference explores how to think differently about storytelling on mobile and social media platforms to better reach the audiences of today and tomorrow.
Launched in 2015, this conference highlights new and innovative techniques and best practices to look ahead at newsgathering in an ever-changing landscape.
