Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig praised Iowa lawmakers on Sunday for their work on legislation supporting ag issues, including water quality funding and research, the Iowa Farm Act, and support for the Choose Iowa program. Naig thanked Gov. Kim Reynolds, House Speaker Pat Grassley, Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh, and other legislative leaders for what he described as meaningful results for the state’s agriculture industry. Naig says, “This session was highlighted by a historic investment in clean water, along with passage of the Iowa Farm Act, strong support for Choose Iowa, impactful property tax reform, a responsible state budget, and important investments in animal health. A strong agriculture is essential to a strong Iowa, and together, these legislative wins will keep Iowa a great place to live, work, and raise a family.” Naig highlights the water quality initiative known as the Farm to Faucet Clean Water Iowa Plan. The package allocates $138 million in funding and is expected to generate about $319 million in water quality investments over the next 12 years. The funding will also support water infrastructure projects, expand assistance for communities upgrading water treatment systems, and fund conservation projects in both urban and rural areas. The Iowa Farm Act is the state’s first-ever comprehensive agriculture bill that invests state resources into expanding markets, provides more economic opportunities for Iowa farmers, strengthens foreign animal disease responses, and more.
