ELKHART (A report by the Iowa Capital Dispatch) — Nearly 100 Iowa Farmers Union members from across the state came out Saturday to learn how several Iowa Democratic candidates plan on leading change — especially for the ag industry and the struggling farm economy.
The event at Big Oak Barn in Elkhart kicked off with Sarah Trone Garriott, a Democrat who is running for U.S. House District 3 against incumbent Republican Rep. Zach Nunn. She focused on how the farm bill is a viable way to address declining farm income. “In the farm bill, we have tremendous opportunity to really incentivize the practices that we know make a difference, cover crops, no till. But in order to do those things, farmers have to invest in some new technology and they have to be prepared for a decrease in their productivity for a period of time,” Trone Garriott said.
She explained that during the Nixon administration, there was a huge investment in water quality and that priority cleaned up the country’s water. “We can do that again,” Trone Garriott said. “I believe that we have the resources, we have the answers. We just need to direct that support and make it the priority. And we can make a huge positive impact for our state.”
Dave Muhlbauer, a fifth-generation farmer from Manilla, Iowa, running for lieutenant governor on Democrat Rob Sand’s ticket, said he has prioritized agriculture and rural communities as part of his campaign. Muhlbauer said many farmers are facing a fourth consecutive year of losses and last April farm bankruptcies hit a six-year high. He cited a recent report that found farm incomes have dropped 53% in the last three years. He said causes include the tariffs and high input prices like fuel and fertilizer as a result of the ongoing Iran conflict.
Chris Jones, Democratic candidate for secretary of agriculture, who spent his career monitoring water quality and high nitrate levels, agrees. He noted that Iowa is a two-crop state (corn and soybeans) and it’s time to diversify crops with a focus on crops that would thrive in Iowa. Diversifying crops, he said, would help reduce nitrate levels in Iowa’s water. To do this, Iowa needs diverse farming systems where farmers are growing oats, forage crops, vegetables and fruits, Jones said. He is advocating for locally grown food to be served in local schools and his campaign is releasing a local food policy that will position Iowa to be the number one state in the country for access to local food.
Josh Turek, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, said Iowa needs candidates who are going to fight for Iowa and Iowans. “Fighting for social and economic justice, not just fighting for the billionaires and the large corporations. That’s the opportunity all of us have this year – working together.” Turek, a state representative from Council Bluffs who is running against Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, stressed that Iowa should not be leading the country in farm foreclosures. He made the promise if he is elected, he will fight to pass policies that support farmers, including enabling farmers to repair their equipment. He also promised to pass a farm bill that works for farmers.
