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Iowa Farm Bureau sets policy direction

Iowa Farm Bureau delegates recently set state and national policy direction for the year ahead.

President Brent Johnson, a Calhoun County farmer, describes discussions during the Summer Policy Conference earlier this month as robust.

“Future farm bill conversations, the carbon pipeline, veterinarian help, and cattle markets, just covered a whole bunch of different areas.”

He tells Brownfield talks on carbon pipelines centered on eminent domain, with members “cleaning up” the policy.

“(Farm Bureau) wants to see 90 percent voluntary easements prior to the use of eminent domain.”

Delegates also voted to broaden the scope of practices licensed veterinary technicians can perform.

“If they’re trained and under supervision of that licensed veterinarian, we want the vet technicians to be able to take on more responsibility so that we can continue to take care of the animals properly.”

Johnson says the policy development process reflects the true grassroots nature of Farm Bureau, with active engagement and input from members in each county.