By Andi Anderson
Iowa lawmakers have approved a new budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year that boosts funding for agriculture and natural resources by $682,000.
Senate File 646 outlines allocations to key state programs, including foreign animal disease prevention, park maintenance, and local food promotion through the Choose Iowa program.
The budget appropriates $46.6 million from the general fund and an additional $99.4 million from other sources. A total of $1.8 million is directed to the Choose Iowa fund, which promotes locally grown food and supports nearly 300 Iowa producers.
The budget also introduces the Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Program with $200,000 to help food banks buy local food.
While this replaces the previous pilot, lawmakers declined to expand the program to include schools, despite support from food security advocates and farmers. A proposed amendment to include schools failed to pass.
Another major change is the replacement of the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Fund with a new Iowa Animal Disease Prevention Fund.
This aims to address growing concerns about foreign animal diseases like avian influenza, which has killed millions of birds nationwide. The new fund will support vaccine research, equipment, and outbreak tracking technology.
The budget also includes $200,000 for aquifer mapping through the Iowa Geological Survey and $12 million from the Environment First Fund for the REAP program. Although REAP will be extended through 2028, it received only part of its authorized funding. An amendment to restore the full $20 million was rejected.
Additional funds are earmarked for state park maintenance, floodplain management, and forestry health efforts. Despite concerns about limited investment in local food and conservation, the bill passed both chambers and now awaits the governor’s signature.
Photo Credit: istock-emholk
Categories: Iowa, Livestock