Iowa Farm Bureau members gathered for their annual Summer Policy Conference to discuss and debate issues impacting Iowa farmers and rural communities. The policies shaped by the voting delegates will guide the organization's policy advocacy in 2024.
The conference, which was held in West Des Moines, Iowa, included discussions on a variety of important state and national issues, including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), flex fuel vehicles, and Iowa's Grain Indemnity Fund. Members representing all sectors of Iowa agriculture, and every county in the state, shared personal examples to highlight the impacts of policies on their farms.
The policies established during the conference reflect the true grassroots nature of the organization, with active engagement, participation, and input from members in each county. This ensures that Iowa Farm Bureau has a strong and unified voice to support Iowa agriculture, farm families, and their communities.
The Summer Policy Conference is the final step in the year-round grassroots policy process in each of the 100 county Farm Bureaus across the state. The policies developed at the conference will be presented to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Annual Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, in January 2024, where they will be debated and adopted by AFBF delegates.
The policies adopted at the Summer Policy Conference will guide Iowa Farm Bureau's advocacy efforts in 2024. The organization will work to ensure that these policies are implemented at the state and national levels, and that they benefit Iowa farmers and rural communities.
Here are some of the key policies that were adopted at the conference:
• Support for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
• Opposition to flex fuel vehicles
• Support for Iowa's Grain Indemnity Fund
• Increased funding for rural broadband
• Increased funding for water quality initiatives
• Support for trade agreements that benefit farmers
Iowa Farm Bureau is committed to representing the interests of Iowa farmers and rural communities. The policies adopted at the Summer Policy Conference will help the organization achieve this goal in 2024 and beyond.
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Categories: Iowa, Government & Policy