DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers are getting behind an effort to preserve farmland in the state. Sen. Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City, and Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, said Tuesday they would serve on an advisory board to the new Sustainable Iowa Land Trust. The organization seeks to preserve land in Iowa for farming and to make it more affordable for beginning farmers.

The legislators said the effort would benefit Iowa. They are not planning any immediate legislation, but will start discussions about what the state could do to help. Suzan Erem is president of the Iowa Land Trust. She said the group will try to help reclassify land to preserve it for farming and will seek to acquire parcels that could be leased to farmers.