Press Releases

ARA and TFI Encourage Use of Regulatory Compliance Assessment Tool

Statement released by W. Daren Coppock, president of the Agricultural Retailers Association and Ford B. West, president of The Fertilizer Institute on May 9, 2013, encouraging use of regulatory compliance assessment tool provided by the Asmark Ins...

Sen. Klobuchar and Congressman Mica Receive the ARA Legislator of the Year Award

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is pleased to present their 2012 Legislator of the Year Award to Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Congressman John Mica (R-FL). This award is given annually to a member, or members, of Congress who work...

Registration Opens for the ARA Crisis Communications Program - Feb. 27-28, 2013

1-16-13 - Registration is Now Open for the ARA Crisis Management & Media Training Program, Feb. 27-28, in Kansas City, MO. This event is sponsored by FMC and CHS.

Wheat Growers Receive ARA Retailer of the Year Award

ARA has named the Wheat Growers, the 2012 ARA Retailer of the Year. The Wheat Growers cooperative was presented with the award today at the ARA Conference and Expo in San Diego, California. The Retailer of the Year Award is sponsored by Monsanto, ARA...

ARA Conference Attracts Record Number of Attendees

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) completed a very successful conference last week with a record-breaking 650 attendees. The conference was held Nov. 27-29, in San Diego, California. The event attracted the nation's top agricultural retailers,...

Registration & Housing Open for ARA Conference

Registration is now open for the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) Conference & Expo, Ag Retail Top Guns: Preparing Your Business for the Future. The conference will be held Nov. 27-29, 2012, at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, California.

ARA Statement in Support of Farm Bill Now Rally in Washington

Statement from ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock regarding the Farm Bill Now Rally on Sept. 12, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

Farm Bill Now Coalition Unites Nation’s Farm Groups in Push for New Farm Bill

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) has joined a coalition of 39 of the nation’s foremost agricultural organizations in an effort to raise public awareness of the need for Congress to pass a new, comprehensive, five-year farm bill before current...

ARA and Other Ag Groups Rally to Stop Progress on Disappointing One-Year Farm Bill Extension

House Republican leaders pulled a one-year extension of farm policy from the agenda of the House Rules Committee on July 31, as ARA and many other farm groups criticized the proposal. ARA submitted a letter to House Leadership and the Rules Committee...

ARA Testifies on EPA's Regulatory Overreach

Many agricultural retailers feel the impact and expense of unnecessary and burdensome regulations on a daily basis. A growing number of these regulations are the result of recent actions taken by EPA. ARA Chairman Billy Pirkle addressed several of...

Donnie Taylor Joins ARA as the New Vice President of Membership & Corporate Relations

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is pleased to welcome Donnie Taylor to the organization’s Washington, D.C. staff to serve as the new Vice President of Membership & Corporate Relations. Taylor will be filling the position vacated by Jim...

Nominations Open for the Retailer of the Year Award

ARA is accepting nominations for the Agricultural Retailer of the Year Award. Entries are due by Friday, July 6, 2012. This award is sponsored by Monsanto Company, ARA and AgProfessional magazine and honors retailers who consistently exceed their customer’s...

ARA Applauds DOL’s Withdraw of the Over-Reaching Child Labor Proposal

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) yesterday announced it is withdrawing its proposed regulation regarding farm employment of minors after ARA and other agricultural groups protested that the restrictions would unfairly impact family farms. ARA joined...

ARA Welcomes Kennedy and Sands to Public Policy Team

ARA is pleased to welcome new staff members Michael Kennedy and Jeff Sands to the organization’s public policy team. The new team members will serve as strong advocates on a variety of issues of critical importance to the nation’s agricultural retailers...

Ag Groups Applaud Senate Approval of Surface Transportation Bill

With planting season already beginning in some parts of the country, the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference (AFTC) of the American Trucking Associations, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives...

ARA Applauds Court Decision on EPA’s Florida Numeric Nutrient Criteria Rule

ARA applauds the U.S. District Court Decision, issued Friday, Feb. 18, that restricts the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Efforts to impose numeric nutrient criteria (NNC) in the state of Florida. The decision was handed down by Judge Robert...

Sen. Johanns (R-NE) and Rep. Gibbs (R-OH) Named ARA Legislators of the Year

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is pleased to present their 2011 Legislator of the Year Award to Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE) and Representative Bob Gibbs (R-OH). This award is given annually to a member, or members, of Congress who work...

Ag Groups Applaud House Committe on HOS Ag Exemption Proposal

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference (AFTC) of the American Trucking Associations, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) and The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) applaud the work of...

ARA Welcomes New Chairman and Board Members

ARA will begin 2012 with a new chairman and several new board members. Recently, at the ARA Conference & Expo, Chairman Doyle Pearl introduced ARA’s new 2012 Chairman Billy Pirkle with Crop Production Services in Loveland, Colorado. Several ARA board...

Reminder - Complete the Ag Retail Industry Survey by 12/15

Reminder - Complete the Ag Retail Industry Survey by 12/15

Ag Groups Praise Senate Legislation Clarifying Agricultural Hours of Service Exemption

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference (AFTC) of the American Trucking Associations, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) and The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) voiced their support...

ARA Testifies at Hearing on the Impact of LightSquared’s Proposal on GPS Users

Rick Greene, the Precision Agronomy Manager for MFA Incorporated, testified on behalf of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) today at a hearing before the House Small Business Committee. The committee organized the hearing in order to receive...

Industry Leaders to Be Honored at the 2011 ARA Conference & Expo

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) will be honoring industry leaders at the organization’s Annual Conference & Expo, Nov. 29 – Dec. 1, 2011, in Boca Raton, Florida. The theme for this year’s ARA Conference is Growing a Sustainable Business,...

ARA Disappointed in Senate’s Failure to Act on H.R. 872

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) expressed disappointment in the Senate's failure to act on legislation that makes clear that Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits are not required when applying...

ARA Conference Registration

WASHINGTON (Sept. 6, 2011) - ARA Conference Registration is Now Open

Pesticide Container & Containment Rule Update

WASHINGTON (Aug. 2, 2011) - As the final August 16 implementation date of EPA’s Pesticide Container and Containment (PCC) rule nears, the member companies of ARA, CLA, ACRC and NAAA reinforce their commitment to the safety and stewardship of crop protection...

ARA Testifies on Reduced Regulatory Burden and Transportation of Hazardous Materials

WASHINGTON (April 12, 2011) - Paul Derig, with J.R. Simplot Company, testified on behalf of agricultural retailers today at a hearing before the House committee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, a subcommittee of the House Transportation...

USDA Prospective Plantings Report, Outlook for Ethanol from RFA

USDA Releases Report on 2011 Planting Intentions
More Corn, Wheat and Cotton Acres Expected, Slight Decrease in Soybean Acres
Also Provided – Report from Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) on Outlook for Ethanol and Food Prices based on USDA Report.

WASHINGTON...

House Schedules Vote on H.R. 872, NPDES Permit

Washington (March 29, 2011) - The U.S. House of Representatives scheduled a vote on "Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011" (H.R.872) for Thursday, March 31st. H.R. 872 is a bipartisan bill to reduce the regulatory burdens posed by the case National...

Reminder - Ag Chemicals Security Tax Credit

Washington, DC (January 13, 2011) - With the completion of 2010 and tax season quickly approaching, ARA would like to remind you that the Agricultural Chemicals Security Credit (ACSC) can save you up to $100,000 per facility this tax season. This is...

ARA Conference Draws High Attendance Numbers and Features a Strong Program

The 2010 ARA Conference & Expo wrapped up last week with strong attendance numbers and more than 75 industry leading companies exhibiting in the tradeshow or sponsoring a major conference activity. Registrations reached 600 and a record 73 exhibit...

Agricultural Nutrient Policy Council to Host Press Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 7, 2010) - The Agricultural Nutrient Policy Council (ANPC) will host a telephone press conference Dec. 9, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. EST to release a report that raises significant questions about the data used by the Environmental...

Central Valley Ag Receives Retailer of the Year Award

PALM SPRINGS, CA (December 2, 2010) – The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) has named Central Valley Ag (CVA) Cooperative, in Nebraska, the 2010 ARA Retailer of the Year. CVA was presented with the award this week at the ARA Conference & Expo...

ARA Retailer of the Year Award – Now Accepting Nominations!

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 25, 2010) -- The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is currently accepting nominations for the Agricultural Retailer of the Year Award. This award is sponsored by Monsanto Company, ARA and AgProfessional magazine and honors...

Response to Study on Organophosphates and ADHD in Pediatrics

WASHINGTON (May 17, 2010) – The results of a study were published this weekend in Pediatrics that link organophosphates to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) believes that continued...

ARA, Agribusiness Leaders Urge Senate to Pass Estate Tax Repeal/Reform

Washington DC - April 16, 2010 - The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) and 22 national and state agribusiness groups, sent a letter to the Senate Finance Committee calling for permanent repeal of the estate tax, which is critical for agribusinesses...

USDA Releases 2010 Prospective Plantings Report - Acres Planted with Soybeans to Reach Record High

WASHINGTON (April 1, 2010) – The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its 2010 Prospective Plantings report this week. U.S. farmers are expected to plant a record high 78.1 million acres of soybeans this spring. A significant...