Washington County

On Friday, April 17, Senator Joni Ernst visited Washington County to present the Small Business of the Week award to Continuum Ag owner Mitchell Hora.

She said Continuum Ag stood out as an easy choice for the honor.

“We hear from many community members and businesses during our county visits when identifying Small Business of the Week, especially those making a real impact and lifting up their communities. This one stood out right away and was an easy choice.”

45Z update

After receiving the award, Hora expressed his appreciation and discussed progress on the 45Z tax credit.

“This effort really started coming together last summer and helped move the 45Z proposal forward, with support from your office, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and agencies like USDA, Treasury and the EPA. The rule is now under review by the Office of Management and Budget, with an EO 12866 meeting scheduled for April 27. We’ll keep pushing on 45Z, though depending on how it’s finalized, we may not qualify, and we appreciate all the support from you and your staff.”

Continuum Ag

Hora said his work in agriculture began during his college years. He later founded Continuum Ag in 2015 with the goal of helping farmers improve profitability through regenerative practices.

He explained that the company helps farmers measure and verify their carbon footprint, noting that many have already reduced emissions through practices such as no-till and improved soil health. By using that data, Continuum Ag connects farmers with ethanol plants to access tax credits like 45Z, creating new economic opportunities.

Hora added that beyond tax credits, the company aims to turn farmers’ sustainability efforts into long-term value through verified data that can be used across broader markets.

Continuum Ag also uses its proprietary TopSoil platform to analyze soil health, provide agronomic consulting, and calculate carbon intensity scores—helping farmers qualify for premiums on low-carbon grain.

The company focuses heavily on soil health and has expanded its services over time. Based in downtown Washington, Continuum Ag employs 12 full-time staff members along with part-time employees.

Farm Bill

During the presentation, Ernst provided an update on the Farm Bill.

“We’re hoping to get this across the finish line, but I’ll admit I’ve been disappointed that the Senate hasn’t been more engaged on its own Farm Bill, especially with limited activity in the ag committee. While some progress has been made through other legislation, there are still key issues that need to be addressed for farmers. The House has already advanced a Farm Bill, and with the President pushing for action, we’re hopeful the Senate will take it up soon and move it forward.”

She also emphasized the need to reauthorize the bill.

“We need to reauthorize the Farm Bill, which is typically done every five years, and we’re overdue. Conservation remains a key priority, but there’s still work to be done with our Democratic colleagues. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get it across the finish line.”

E15 bill

One of Ernst’s top priorities for the year is expanding access to E15 nationwide.

“Here in Iowa, we offer E15 year-round, something our governor has worked hard to support, along with several other Midwest states. However, many states still don’t allow E15 during the summer, and we want to expand access nationwide as a lower-cost, reliable, homegrown energy option. The President supports this effort, though we do face some pushback from the oil industry.”

Tariffs

When asked about tariffs, Ernst said the focus should be on expanding trade opportunities.

“I think the tariff situation gets a lot of attention, but ag income was already declining before that, so it can’t be attributed to tariffs alone. What we really need is expanded trade opportunities—something that was limited when no new trade deals were pursued. Now, while tariffs are still in place, there’s also a stronger push to secure agricultural trade deals, which could help grow markets and stabilize prices for farmers moving forward.”

Additional stops

Following her stop in Washington County, Ernst traveled to Wapello County to present an award to Edd the Florist, before making a final stop in Monroe County to recognize The Coffee Grounds.