DES MOINES, Iowa [WHO-TV] — Between 2017 and 2022, Iowa lost over half a million acres in farmland, according to the latest agriculture census from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The census outlines that in 2017, there were 30,563,878 acres of farmland in our state. That number dropped to 29,978,165 acres in 2022. In just five years, the state lost 587,713 acres of farmland in total. Sally Worley, the Executive Director of Practical Farmers of Iowa, a local organization with the goal of helping farmers practice agriculture that benefits the land and the people, say that’s a concerning statistic.

Worley said, “One of the biggest issues with farming is accessing land, especially because land prices aren’t in line with productive value. The market value far exceeds the productive value of the farm for a year-to-year income.” Although the census didn’t outline how the farmland was lost, Worley said that there is a general trend of suburban and urban farmland being sold to developers. She said that the main farmers that will be impacted by this are new farmers and those looking to upscale their businesses. This is because it’s already difficult to access farmland since it’s expensive and Worley says a lot of farmland isn’t on the public market. Therefore, fewer total acres of land available adds to the issue of accessing acres.

However, there were also some positive takeaways from the census. Christopher Pudenz, an economist with the Iowa Farm Bureau, said that compared to the nation, Iowa had more positive results. According to Pudenz, despite losing a large sum of land and having the average farm size decrease, Iowa gained farmers and farms. Furthermore, the average age of farmers in the state increased less than the national average. He said that his overall takeaway from the census was positive. Pudenz also notes that 2022 was a strong year for our state in terms of row crops and hog markets. However, he said the industry has seen some changes since then. He said that 2024 is projected to see a 25% decrease in farmer income compared to 2023, which already saw a substantial decrease from 2022.

“From where we sit right now, 2024 is likely to be a year of tightening the belt for many farm budgets. Still optimistic for the short, medium, and long term, but definitely some headwinds that exist in this year that we weren’t experiencing when the census was done in 2022,” Pudenz said. On the bright side, Worley said that while she expects there to be continued pressure between development and farmland, there are ways to turn to the tide. One of the ways she is seeing is a greater interest in farmers growing table food, which is the crops that consumers eat directly like fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Most of Iowa’s farmland is used for growing corn and soy, which are products that are mainly used for animal feed, processed foods, and ethanol.The growth of farming table food in Iowa can be a silver lining to the decrease in farmland because this type of farming generally requires a smaller acre base, according to Worley.

Worley and Pudenz both indicated that the best way people can support Iowa farmers is through shopping locally. Practical Farmers of Iowa lists ways people can support local farmers on their website.

(Radio Iowa) – Forecasters predict Iowa will have another unseasonably warm weekend ahead, and one downside to the spring-like temperatures in the 60s and 70s is that creepy-crawly ticks will be on the move. Entomologist Tom Klubertanz says if you’ll be spending any time outdoors, especially hiking in the woods, wear insect repellent, and be sure to check yourself for ticks after you come back inside.

“It doesn’t even have to be that warm,” Klubertanz says. “Even in typical winters, if we get a warm spot into the 40s, it’s enough to get tick activity, but this is kind of extreme and the longer ticks are moving around, the more chance we’ve got of attracting them.” Ticks aren’t something Iowans would typically worry about in early March, but a warm winter means otherwise. Klubertanz says a longer tick season brings the threat of southern tick species migrating north.

Asian longhorn tick (ISU Extension photo)

“The two that come to my attention are the Lone Star tick and the Gulf Coast tick,” he says. “Both can transmit diseases, not Lyme disease, but other diseases.” There’s another tick to be watchful for, especially if you raise cattle or horses in Iowa. The Asian long-horned tick has been found in at least 19 states, including Missouri.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says there is a deal in the works to fund the federal government. Hinson talked about the deal during her weekly conference call with supporters. “An agreement in principle has been reached to fund the government and so I will keep you updated on that legislation we’re hopeful we’ll see it sometime this weekend,” Hinson says. The federal government’s fiscal year started October 1st, but Congress has not agreed on a budget for the year. The Farm Bill has been put off, but Hinson says it is not forgotten.

“I think it’s also important that we still prioritize the farm bill it’s why…. I think it was in December we sent a letter to Speaker Johnson urging him to still move forward and work on a farm bill our priority this week does need to be getting these bills done so we can complete the appropriations process and move on to the next one,” she says. Hinson also talked about the need to keep the pressure on the E-P-A to approve the year-round sale of E-15 gasoline.

“There are so many different elements of our economy that are dependent on this decision and delaying it is frankly unacceptable and irresponsible, so I will continue pushing for not only the waiver for this summer but going forward prompt responses from the E-P-A,” Hinson says. The E-P-A announced it would make E-15 available year-round for eight Midwest states starting in 2025. Hinson and the rest of the Iowa Congressional delegation sent a letter to the Biden administration calling for the ethanol-blended fuel to be allowed for this summer’s driving season.

w/Kate Olson.

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(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Senate has voted to establish fines for food processors that sell products in Iowa with labels suggesting food made with plant or insect based protein is a meat-based product. Senator Dawn Driscoll, of Washington, raises Angus cattle on her family farm near Williamsburg. “For far too long states like California have been legislating for us and today Iowa takes the stand and takes the offense for once in agriculture,” Driscoll said.

That’s a reference to rules on how big the living space for pigs, chickens and baby calves must be in order for products like veal, eggs and bacon to be sold in California. If the bill passed by the Iowa Senate becomes law, food processors could be fined as much as 10-thousand dollars for selling something labeled as meat in Iowa when it’s not.

“Lab grown products are emerging technology and the Fair Labels Act is an important first step for making sure that consumers understand the difference between lab grown or plant-based products and real beef, pork, turkey, lamb, goat and chickens raised by farmers and ranchers.” The bill would provide some latitude to marketers, however.

“A cell-cultivated, insect or plant protein product is permitted to use an identifiable meat term such as a drumstick or sausage if the label includes…terms such as…meatless, lab grown or plant based,” Driscoll said. The bill had included a ban on research at the state universities into the production or use of manufactured meat products, but that was removed. An addition to the bill calls for state officials to seek a waiver that would not allow food stamps or benefits for women with infants and young children to be used to buy manufactured meats.

“This is a preventative measure against an activist federal government that wants to see our children eat from a petri dish,” Driscoll said. Senator Tony Bisignano, a Democrat from Des Moines, says most Iowans can buy Beyond Meat or Impossible Burgers at the grocery store, but low income Iowans couldn’t if the bill becomes law. “Why are we denying them a choice? But this is food — food!” Bisignano said. “It’s for people to choose and eat and it’s not our decision, because they get assistance, to tell them what to eat.”

Despite those objections to a section in the bill, Bisignano and every other senator present voted for the total package. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reports an open burning ban is now in place for Cass County (Effective 2-p.m. Tuesday, February 27, 2024). The ban prohibits open and controlled burning in Cass County, Iowa; including all incorporated city limits within the county. (See the proclamation here )

The current drought conditions present an increased risk for the potential of rapid fire spread. Controlled fires can quickly become uncontrollable. It has been determined that open burning constitutes a danger to life or property.

During these dry conditions, citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris, grass/agricultural ground and set-asides or other items during the ban. Small recreational patio or camp fires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fire place of brick, metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh. Any camp fire not in an outdoor fire place is prohibited.

Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to citation or arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban. The ban will remain in place until environmental conditions improve.

Any questions regarding this burn ban should be directed to your local Fire Chief.

(Radio Iowa) – Koch (coke) Industries has announced a three-point-six billion dollar deal to buy a fertilizer plant in southeast Iowa, and some ag leaders fear it could create a monopoly. The purchase of the Iowa Fertilizer Company in Lee County still awaits federal review. Jason Sporrer is a sales manager for a co-op that serves western Iowa. He says when the fertilizer company opened in 2017, it brought more competition to the marketplace.

“Some of that now is going by the wayside, in my opinion,” Sporrer says. Democrats in the Iowa statehouse also have questions about the acquisition. They want federal and state regulators to investigate the impact consolidation would have on prices and the 260 employees of the facility in Wever. Iowa State University economics professor Chad Hart says four of the top producers control 80-percent of fertilizer production.

Hart says, “I think that always puts up what’s called yellow caution lights within the sector about, okay, are we truly maintaining the competitive balance there or not?” Hart says the war in Ukraine led to major swings in fertilizer pricing. A U-S-D-A spokesperson says when dominant middlemen control so much of the fertilizer supply chain, producers, and consumers “bear the brunt.”

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says American farmland needs to remain in American hands and she will quickly sign one of the first bills to clear the 2024 legislature. The bill closes a loophole that could let foreigners or foreign governments be investors in limited liability companies or involved in trusts that acquire Iowa farmland. The bill requires agland purchase reports filed with the state to include more information about ownership structures.

Republican Representative Derek Wulf, a farmer from Hudson, says purchasers will also have to file a complete list of all their landholdings in the United States. “Chinese nationals are buying farmland near military bases. They’re looking to steal our intellectual property from our seed and genetic companies. They’re trying to steal our livestock practices and advancements learned through generations of agriculturalists — and these are only some of the few things they’re doing. They’re coming for our way of life and, quite frankly folks, this needs to end,” Wulf said, pounding his desk on the House floor to emphasize his comments.

Representative J.D. Scholten, a Democrat from Sioux City, says now’s the time to act, because food security is national security. “With the average age of a farmer north of 58 years old, we’re going to see the largest amount of farmland transfer in Iowa’s history in the next 10-15 years, according to Iowa State University,” Scholten said. “Nationally, foreign ownership of American farmland is larger than equivalent of the entire state of Ohio and growing.”

The bill ensures Iowa’s attorney general has subpoena powers to investigate agland purchases and it significantly increases the penalty for any violations. Under current law, foreign entities caught owning more than 320 acres of Iowa farmland face a two-thousand dollar fine. The bill raises the fine to 25 percent of the assessed value of the land.