The Iowa Legislative Session is officially underway, bringing new opportunities to address key issues across the state. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has outlined its priorities for this year, focusing on initiatives to support Iowa’s farmers, protect natural resources, and strengthen the state’s agricultural economy. These efforts aim to ensure continued growth and sustainability in Iowa’s vital agriculture sector.
Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig talks about some broad overview topics that will benefit Iowans across the board.
Animal health will remain a strong focus for IDALS in this legislative session. We have been fighting H5N1 for a few years now, and with the disease jumping the species barrier last year, it’s a bigger issue. However, Naig says we can’t let our guard down against other threats to our livestock.
As always, water quality and nutrient reduction remain a key priority going into this new year.
The Choose Iowa Program continues to gain momentum. Naig talks about the growth they have seen just since the beginning of the new year. He adds that continued funding will be key for the program to keep up at this pace.
Naig says there are great opportunities to support our farmers and rural communities and make them thrive, so we can keep them vital for the next generation to succeed.
