Iowa Farmers Union 2009 Legislative Agenda

The mission of the Iowa Farmers Union is to preserve and enhance the profitability and quality of life of farmers and rural residents. The family farm system of agriculture is the basis of Iowa’s heritage. With the encouragement of diversification and new markets, responsible use of new technologies, and thoughtful legislation, it can be Iowa’s future. Here are the Iowa Farmers Union’s legislative priorities for 2009.

1) Protecting our Environment
Promote clean water in the state through conservation structures and sustainable farming practices
Revamp the master matrix used by counties for permitting of livestock facilities to better protect our air, water, and communities

2) Promoting Sustainable Independent Livestock Production
Level the playing field for independent livestock production by requiring more transparent markets, adjusting the tax structure, and promote local processing facilities

3) Promoting Sustainable Energy Independence
Promote locally owned and controlled sources of renewable energy including wind and biofuels
Give top priority to energy efficiency and renewable energy to create local jobs and benefit rural economies

4) Improving Rural Quality of Life
Promote, expand, and sustain localized economies by developing local food systems, improving infrastructure, and providing opportunities for value-added agriculture

Supporting points:
Protecting Our Environment
•    Redesign the scoring of the Master Matrix, requiring livestock production facilities answer all questions and receive a passing score of at least 70% in each of the three categories
•    Promote conservation structures such as buffer strips, grassed waterways, and terraces
•    Mandate participation in the sensitive site registry and institute enforcement measures for spray applicators causing damage due to drift
•    Pass legislation to allow a constitutional amendment dealing with Sustainable Funding for recreation and the environment to move to a vote of the people
•    Stop further development of animal feeding operations on flood plains

Promoting Sustainable Independent Livestock Production and Processing
•    Require livestock processing facilities to purchase 25% of slaughter on the open market
•    Eliminate property tax exemption on CAFO manure storage facilities
•    Tax animal confinement buildings at the industrial rate if property owner does not own the livestock
•    Define animal confinement buildings as industrial facilities for zoning purposes if animals are not owned by the farmer
•    Promote small livestock processing facilities to benefit local economies, independent farmers, and consumers

Promoting Sustainable Energy Independence
•    Develop interconnection standards that support renewable sources of distributed electric generation, particularly on farms and in rural areas
•    Provide feed-in tariffs, incentives, and mandates for locally owned 20 megawatt or smaller electric generating facilities
•    Encourage development of locally owned and controlled renewable energy cooperatives
•    Provide funding and incentives for research and development for sustainably produced biofuels
•    Require all utilities to maximize energy efficiency before constructing new electric generating capacity

Improving Rural Quality of Life
•    Promote sustainable local food systems
•    Direct infrastructure funds toward rebuilding sewer, bridge, and road systems in rural communities
•    Require state institutions to purchase locally grown food when available
•    Promote value-added agricultural production including organic production, processing, and preservation
•    Make state aid available to transition to non-program crops and organic production
•    Provide no taxpayer funding for the odor control study approved in the 2008 legislative session
•    Protect farmers from losses due to prepaid chemicals, fertilizers, seed, other inputs, or voided grain contracts in the case of supplier or buyer bankruptcy