Iowa farmers air concerns at national convention

Securing crop insurance protection and developing ways of sharing knowledge regarding the latest veterinary directive for livestock and antibiotic use were two of the main concerns of Iowa farmers raised at the 98th American Farm Bureau Federation's (AFBF) annual convention, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) reported recently.

Discussions at the convention also focused on other areas that concern Iowa farmers, including protection for livestock farmers devastated by disease, such as the avian influenza outbreak of 2015 that decimated the poultry industry.

  “The AFBF priorities mesh very well with the issues that have been stressed by our members in our policy development process,” IFBF President Craig Hill said. “Our Iowa delegates said, loud and clear, that crop insurance was the most important risk management tool for farmers and that it should be protected.”

Conservation compliance and its connection to crop insurance was also an important discussion topic. The IFBF said that linking the two encourages conservation and provides a way for farmers to bond with environmental groups in advance of farm bill negotiations.

“Iowa farmers have worked hard to take on the challenge of improving water quality and reduce soil erosion, so we didn’t want to give up any of the tools we have to accomplish that,” Hill said.