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Water funding remains top priority for Iowa ag groups

Securing long-term state funding for water quality programs continues to be a top priority for Iowa farm groups. But, in light of the state’s nearly 100 million dollar budget shortfall, that task may be a bit more challenging.

Craig Hill, president of Iowa Farm Bureau, says they aren’t promoting any specific solutions to water funding, at this point.

“We’re leaving it open to our legislative leaders to find a way, a pathway, to add this long-term, dedicated funding stream that will provide us the confidence we can invest and have a commitment from the state,” Hill says.

The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is also taking a more general approach, says ISA president Roland Schnell of Newton.

“We came out last year in support of the governor’s plan, and we’ve been supportive of the ‘I WILL’ three-eighth of a cent plan,” Schnell says. “But we’re really not nailing down anything specific because we want to make sure the people understand that we’re supportive of anything that will provide us with long-term funding.”

Schnell says everything that happens in the 2017 Iowa legislature will take place with the state budget constraints as the backdrop.

AUDIO: Craig Hill

 

AUDIO: Roland Schnell