AEM’s Ag Sector Board of Directors met in-person last week in Washington DC, where they discussed a wealth of important industry issues, including interoperability and ag technology. The agenda also featured updates from AEM staff regarding the association’s service areas, including advocacy, regulatory, and trade shows.
Ag Sector Board Chair Greg Petras, president and COO of Kuhn, called the meeting to order and welcomed directors to the first meeting of 2025.
Directors also discussed progress made to achieve the Ag Sector Board priorities:
- Maintain and grow AEM’s global ag leadership position
- Help set the course for ag industry, lead by example, and strengthen our industry’s message
- Advocate for the ag equipment Industry with policymakers and regulators
- Build relationships, educate, lobby, and bring focus to policies relevant to agriculture and AEM members
- Strengthen and grow AEM’s ag member business
- Help to grow AEM ag members’ businesses
- Promote the ag industry’s role in Sustainability
- Promote modern production agriculture and benefits of technology to stakeholders
- Address technology issues
- Focus on machine cybersecurity and interoperability
Commodity Classic
AEM Senior Vice President of Industry Sectors & Product Leadership Curt Blades provided a recap of Commodity Classic 2025 that was held in Denver, highlighting the overall success of the show and providing overall updates on attendance, exhibitors, and AEM’s presence at the show. Next year’s Commodity Classic will be held February 25-27, 2026, in San Antonio.
Ag Technology
Topcon Vice President of Sustainability and Global CSR Michael Gomes provided an update from the Ag Technology Leadership Group which, along with the CE Technology Leadership Group, has developed guidance documents for autonomy, cybersecurity, and data layers. These documents will represent our joint sector non-road industries, serving as the common language and structure used by AEM and its members to educate regulators and legislators, as well as customers and end users.
Ag Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF)
AEF Chairman and CNH’s Andrew Olliver joined the board to give an overview on the status of several ongoing AEF projects. An in-depth conversation was had on the Wireless Infield Communication (WIC) team, Agricultural Interoperability Network (AgIN), and Autonomy team. AEM and AEF’s recent collaboration efforts were also highlighted with recaps being given on AEF’s California Information Day and the 2025 North American Plugfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, alongside several AEM technology committee meetings. The conversation wrapped up with a discussion and a call to action for increased participation from North American members within the AEF.
Advocacy
AEM Manager of Government Relations Autumn Lankford provided an update on the latest status for the Farm Bill, noting the planned process which is different from years past and the expected timeline for the bill. This was then followed by a discussion on an increased focus on promoting innovation and a connected farm with a focus on data and artificial intelligence.
AEM Director of State Affairs Nicholas Rudowich discussed AEM’s ongoing state-level advocacy efforts, including challenges and opportunities for the industry that include topics such as PFAS, dealer legislation, R&D tax credits, workforce, innovation funds, and equipment signage.
Directors then welcomed the Honorable Brooke Appleton, Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation at the United States Department of Agriculture, as a guest speaker to discuss the overall priorities for the department under the new administration, along with the status of several topics that are key to both producers and AEM members.
The next meetings of the AEM Board of Directors, CE Sector Board, and Ag Sector Board are scheduled July 30-31 in Toronto, Ontario. For more information about the Ag Sector Board, contact AEM’s Curt Blades at cblades@aem.org.
