WEST DES MOINES, IOWA (January 15, 2025) — Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), the state’s largest grassroots farm organization, will address key priorities including the modernization of the state’s Grain Indemnity Fund, protecting property tax-payers and other important policies impacting Iowa’s farmers and rural communities during the 2025 legislative session.
Throughout the past year, Farm Bureau members from every county provided input on policy important to Iowa agriculture. Critical issues were voted on and prioritized to shape the organization's efforts for the 2025 Iowa legislative session.
Farm Bureau will work toward the modernization of the Grain Indemnity Fund to adequately protect farmers affected by a grain elevator failure through no fault of their own. The Grain Indemnity Fund is a participant-funded safety net and an important risk-management tool for farmers, but efforts are needed to adequately reflect modern grain prices and crop production. Among neighboring states with an indemnification fund, Iowa has the smallest fund level and is the only state not covering credit sale contracts, which represent nearly 40% of commercial sales in the state.
IFBF applauds the legislature for recent successes on property-tax reform and highlights the importance of not shifting any state budget obligations onto the backs of property tax-payers.
As tax reform is prioritized by the Iowa Legislature, members strongly support efforts to slow the growth of property taxes which have doubled over the past eighteen years. Other property tax-payer protection policies include the state continuing to fund the Homestead Property Tax Credit and Ag Land/Family Farm Tax credits and rejecting proposals to change credits into exemptions.
“Through our grassroots policy process, our members have provided clear direction on legislative priorities for the upcoming session,” says Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson. “We look forward to working with lawmakers and Governor Kim Reynolds to advance policies supporting the vitality of Iowa agriculture and our rural communities.”
About Iowa Farm Bureau
The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is the largest statewide, grassroots farm organization in Iowa, celebrating more than 100 years of creating a vibrant future for agriculture, farm families and their communities. For more information, visit iowafarmbureau.com.
