Stronger landowner protections are needed both before and after the construction of large infrastructure projects, such as pipelines and electric transmission lines, Farm Bureau members told lawmakers last week at the Iowa Capitol.

“As the Legislature takes up legislation on pipelines, we wanted to get across Farm Bureau’s policy not only for eminent domain but the idea that if there’s any subsequent damage to crop yields, farmers need to be made whole for that and they would have the right to appeal to the Iowa Utilities Board,” said Dan Hanrahan, a Madison County Farm Bureau member.

During the annual statehouse visit, Farm Bureau members from across the state also highlighted the need to address veterinarian workforce shortages and said there should be less reliance on property taxes to fund government services.

Legislators are discussing and debating a number of bills related to construction of pipelines...