Specialty Crop Leadership Group

Objective

Identify means by which AEM may better support this product group and provide direction to AEM service areas accordingly.

Responsibilities

• From a holistic perspective, identify product-specific challenges and areas of need.
• Formulate solutions and/or determine means by which to address those challenges.
• Employ and direct relevant AEM service teams and/or committees (or establish sub-committees/task forces) to take action on those solutions.

Priorities

• Enhance AEM's various product offerings to specialty crop equipment manufactures.
• Provide regulatory agencies with a deeper understanding on how the mechanization and automation of equipment is improving on farm safety, productivity, and environmental impact.
• Partner with industry organizations to develop a deeper understanding and trust in the emerging technologies that are entering the specialty crop marketplace. 
• Be proactive in addressing the concerns of policymakers and other stakeholder groups as it relates to the machinery used on specialty crop operations. (Ex. Equipment Sanitation)

Leadership

• A Chair & Vice Chair are elected by the Group and serve a two-year term.

Composition

• Executives and technology experts from AEM agriculture member companies who are impacted by developments in technology standards, regulations and adoption.

Meetings

• Either a face-to-face meeting or conference call/virtual meeting will be held at least two to three times each year or as required based on issues and activities.
• AEM legislative team and any other relevant staff/committees will be invited to participate as required.