Iowa 4th District Congressman Randy Feenstra stopped our booth last Saturday at the Iowa State Fair for our monthly chat. There are many things going on in the ag industry, but chief among those issues right now is the Inflation Reduction Act. Regardless of which side of the aisle you sit on, there are many things to consider from this legislation. Feenstra said that, from his perspective, there are several things that could raise concerns for farmers.
Feenstra pointed out that, as soon as the tax credits for electric vehicles were announced, Ford and Chevy increased their prices for electric vehicles by the same amount.
The insistence on electric vehicles can be very frustrating, especially since many famers are ready to buckle down on ethanol production. Feenstra said that biofuels don?t just help with fuel issues- they also stimulate trade and increase energy independence.
Feenstra also provided an update on the status of the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act, which he hopes will get passed this year.
Cattle producers have been taking things hard on the chin especially as of late. Between drought conditions and unfair market practices from the Big 4 meat processors, there?s a lot they have to deal with. Feenstra said he always looking for ways that he can provide further aid for those producers.
On top of all that, the process for the next Farm Bill is underway. Feenstra talked about some of things his area farmers want to see.
Farmers are natural stewards of the land and are some of the hardest working conservationists around. However, legislation sometimes makes that job a lot harder. Feenstra said that he?s seeing some overregulation from the Environmental Protection Agency.
For more information, visit feenstra.house.gov.
