More than two dozen Iowa Farm Bureau members representing 19 counties traveled to Washington, D.C. last week to meet with Iowa’s congressional delegation and discuss policy issues critical to Iowa agriculture and family farms. Among those representing the region were Joel and Kjrsten Bobb of Wever, Nathan Yeager of Ottumwa, Greg Koch of Washington, Bridget Mellott of Fairfield, and Jamie Brissey of Burlington.
The group met with U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, along with Representatives Ashley Hinson, Randy Feenstra, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Zach Nunn. They also attended presentations and meetings with U.S. Department of Agriculture officials and American Farm Bureau Federation staff covering topics including taxes, environmental protection, biofuels, and grain marketing.
Rising input costs and economic uncertainty were consistent themes throughout the meetings. Farm Bureau leaders stressed the urgency of passing an updated farm bill, noting that since the last one was passed in 2018, farmers have faced volatile markets, record-high inflation, soaring costs to raise a crop, and ongoing uncertainty surrounding international trade.
The delegation also urged lawmakers to include language in the farm bill protecting interstate commerce against supply chain disruptions caused by state-level initiatives like California’s Proposition 12. Members warned that allowing one state to enforce its production preferences on others could create a patchwork of conflicting laws that would disrupt interstate commerce and ultimately drive up prices for consumers.
On energy, members pushed for support of biofuels markets and year-round E15 legislation to expand availability across more states. With fuel prices rising amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, members argued that E15 offers consumers relief at the pump while also providing environmental benefits as a cleaner-burning fuel. While the EPA’s summer waiver was welcomed, the delegation emphasized the importance of authorizing permanent E15 sales rather than relying on temporary measures.
Photography and information courtesy of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.
