January 12, 2026
Unanswered Questions About Secretary Naig’s Proposal: Favors to Pipeline and Pesticide Giants? Small Investments for Iowa Agriculture in Crisis?
Nevada, Iowa — The Iowa Farmers Union (IFU) has concerns about the undisclosed details in Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig’s Iowa Farm Act.
On Monday, January 12, Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman sent a letter to Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig outlining several concerns regarding undisclosed details about the proposed legislation. Secretary Naig issued a press release without bill language specifics on January 6.
“The Iowa Farmers Union has conducted wide-ranging discussions with policy leaders regarding the immense stress experienced by farmers and rural communities,” said IFU President Aaron Lehman. “Family farmers deserve answers to several important questions about the proposal.”
“Does the proposal include favors to pipeline companies using eminent domain for private gain? Does the proposal give protection to pesticide companies that have products that have harmed farmers’ health? Why do increased agriculture program investments not even keep up with the cost of inflation? Does the proposal reinstate funding that was eliminated last year for local food for Iowa school children? Many, many other questions are just not answered.”
“We have been deeply involved in discussions around the state about the near-crisis situation in rural Iowa. We hope Secretary Naig can join those discussions.”
Questions we have sent to Secretary Naig:
- Are private carbon pipeline companies eligible for “Farm Zoning Law Exemptions”? Private carbon pipelines should not be allowed to use eminent domain for private gain, and they should not be granted zoning law status that is reserved for farmers.
- Will the Choose Iowa School Purchasing Pilot Program funding remain at zero? Your office lobbied in favor of 2025 legislation that eliminated this funding. Making the program “permanent” but devoting zero dollars to the effort does not advance the Iowa local food movement. This response to the 2025 elimination of federal funding for similar programs was completely inexcusable. True investment is essential. Empty language without real investment is no substitute.
- Are special protections given to Bayer and other pesticide companies trying to evade their civil responsibility regarding illnesses caused by their pesticides under the veil of “regulatory reform”? Rural residents deserve the right to protect their health and well-being. While nation leading cancer rates hang over the heads of Iowans, special protections should not be handed out to those whose products are linked to cancer risks.
- How will the expanded cash rent tax exemption affect the utilization of the Iowa beginning farmer tax credits and loan programs? We support a balanced approach that supports existing farmers, retired farmers, and new and beginning farmers. However, within that balance, we see a bigger need for supporting new and beginning farmers. The Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State University provides information about the Farm Tenancy Income Exclusion provisions. The full note can be found here.
“The election to exclude income from a farm tenancy agreement does have trade-offs. Individuals who make an election under this section may not apply the Iowa capital gain deduction in current or succeeding tax years. Likewise, they are not eligible for the beginning farmer tax credit under Iowa Code §422.11E in current or future years. Iowa Code § 422.7(14)(b); r. 302.88(3).”
- Why does the proposed new state investment in the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship not even match the rate of inflation? This effective cut in investment is being proposed as Iowa farmers suffer tremendous losses and as Iowa rural communities face uncertain futures.
The full text of the letter can be found here.
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