WASHINGTON

Dallmeyer Hall was near capacity when Sen. Dawn Driscoll and Rep. Heather Hora sat for a legislative discussion with Washington county residents on agricultural issues on Dec. 19. Although a wide range of concerns were brought up during the nearly 1.5 hour session, the one that incited the most passion pertained to grain checkoffs.

“I was really disgusted with the idea that you would take money from the corn growers and put it into the Indemnity Fund,” a Columbus Junction resident said. “The Iowa Corn Promotion Board does a professional job of promoting corn all over the world. We do a tremendous job in researching new uses for corn, and the fact that you decided to tap also the Soybean Association demonstrates that you have no idea how the checkoff funds work. One is a state and one is a national checkoff. So I am completely disgusted with the idea that you would do that.”

In early 2023, Iowa’s Grain Indemnity Fund, a state fund that protects farmers from losses when state-licensed grain dealers and warehouses fail, fell below the minimum threshold and had insufficient funds to cover claims stemming from the bankruptcy of a soybean dealer. That situation triggered a long-dormant fee farmers pay per bushel of grain to replenish the fund, but state lawmakers considered new legislation that would delay collection of the fee or eliminate it.

If eliminated, it was proposed that the fund instead be replenished from a fee on corn sales that exists to support the state’s corn industry.

“The bill didn’t go anywhere,” Driscoll pointed out, and fees on grain sold to or deposited at Iowa-licensed grain dealers and elevators were reinstated on Sept. 1.

“You’re damn right it didn’t, because it was a stupid idea,” the attendee replied.

Driscoll explained that the reasoning behind the bill was to avoid taxing farmers. The corn checkoff brought in $24 million last year because “we’re producing a lot more corn,” thus seemed like a viable funding source. “I don’t believe the checkoffs are a target at all,” she said.

Later in the hour, a corn, soybean and pig farmer brought up the checkoffs again, “but from a different perspective.” He said that he grows so much corn, there isn’t enough demand for it.

“We need to create demand,” he said, adding that that is what the corn and soybean checkoff programs fund. “If you want to take money away from checkoff, we’ve got to replenish that somewhere, because I think they’re the only programs that are working on behalf of the farmer to create new products, new demand for this product that we continue to grow more of because we get more efficient.”

Shortly before the event’s conclusion, checkoffs came up one last time.

“The Grain Indemnity Fund is a hot topic, I would say, at this meeting,” Brandon Bishop, Washington County Farm Bureau president, said. “At the Farm Bureau, we support all commodity groups, whether you’re corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle. So as far as the checkoff dollars go, we don’t want you to touch the checkoff dollars.”

The legislators did not comment further on this issue, but they received the message.

Attendees raised assorted other concerns, which ranged from unhappiness with GovConnectIowa, the state Department of Revenue’s new e-Services portal; worry that our waterways are polluted; inquiry about what can be done about puppy mills; to desiring an end to the DNR’s legislating through rules.

Legislators’ Priorities and Passions

At the beginning of the meeting, Sen. Driscoll outlined some of the Senate’s priorities heading into the next legislative session. They included labeling laws to distinguish animal meat from meat-type products; opening up the types of poultry processing that can be done at processing plants; and creating an exemption to permitting when it comes to building cattle fencing.

Rep. Hora discussed how the House aims to issue more protections for Iowans against federal legislation. Bills to counteract Prop. 12, address the large animal veterinarian shortage, and reduce paperwork for farmers are all on the agenda.

When it came to the next generation of farmers, Driscoll and Hora were nothing but supportive. A handful of 4-H, FFA and veterinary students were in attendance, and the legislators indicated a desire to go to bat for them, whether that meant excusing school absences for ag-related events or forgiving student loans for large animal veterinarians.

Many farms are poised to transition to a younger generation, and the legislators hope to ease that handoff.

“We’re also hearing from across the state that there are farm families that don’t have the next generation to inherit their farm, but they would love to give or entrust it to the young farmer, the kid down the road who has helped them their whole lives,” Driscoll said. “We’re really looking and seeing what we can do to support that, because that’s our future of agriculture.”

Parents voiced concerns about their children’s education and the lack of agriculture study within it. One parent noted that their child had to choose between FFA and band; another suggested making ag classes mandatory. Even school lunches are problematic.

“There are days when there’s no meat on the plate, and that’s disturbing,” one attendee said. “Any support we could get from the farm bill to include meat for sure in the lunches [would help]. We will also have a healthier society if that happens.”

Hora agreed “100%” with needing to improve school lunches.

Overall, attendees of the ag discussion were thankful that Sen. Driscoll and Rep. Hora were available for the afternoon to listen to their concerns about issues important to them, answer questions, and advocate for them at the capitol if possible.

A new series of legislative briefings with Driscoll and Hora will begin in the new year. Organized by the Washington Chamber of Commerce, they will be held the second Friday of each month from January to April at different locations around Washington County. For more information, visit washingtoniowa.gov.