After a two-year hiatus, county Farm Bureau leaders from across Iowa returned to Washington last week to meet with members of the state’s congressional delegation on the Iowa Farm Bureau’s National Policy Trip.

Leaders from 32 counties de­livered messages on key policy issues affecting Iowa’s farmers, including the need for greater transparency in cattle markets, outlining concerns on a new emissions reporting proposal and emphasizing the importance of risk management programs in the face of sky-high input costs.

Klark Telleen, a Jones County Farm Bureau member, applauded Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley for his efforts to pass legislation that would improve transparency in cattle markets and provide a level playing field for independent cattle feeders.

“There are about 8,000 families in Iowa that produce cattle on small farms. We’re not able to compete with the large feedlots,” said Telleen, who feeds cattle and raises crops with his dad on ...