The Iowa Legislature approved much-needed funding for road infrastructure improvements — a long-standing Farm Bureau priority — and made significant progress providing funds for water quality and soil conservation programs and in protecting property taxpayers during the 2015 session, according to Craig Hill, president of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

Passage of the road funding measure, which was signed into law in February by Gov. Terry Branstad, was essential to provide the transportation improvements that rural Iowa badly needs, Hill said.

"This is a culmination of years of work and grassroots strength by rural Iowans, and as a result, rural Iowa will receive an additional $72 million per year to maintain and improve county roads," Hill said. "Our economy depends on safe,...