On trip to D.C., Iowa Farm Bureau Ag Leaders also discuss the need for an updated farm bill. 

Combating low crop prices through trade and passage of a comprehensive farm bill, as well as finding a fix to interstate commerce issues created by California’s Proposition 12, were top of mind as members of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Ag Leaders Institute visited Washington last week.

Low crop prices

Crop prices and their knock-on effects on ag-related businesses came up several times during the congressional meetings.

“Dad says this is the worst farm economy he’s seen since the 1980s,” said Iowa County Farm Bureau member Alyssa Yoder, who farms and works with her family in the business of installing field drainage systems. “Farmers don’t have the extra cash right now to put into drainage and water quality improvements,” she said, and so her business struggles when grain prices are low.

Yoder explained to Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst that if drainage systems aren’t updated, it may set back efforts to improve water quality. 

When a farm is unable to update its old drainage system or install edge-of-field runoff protections,...