WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - May 17, 2013 - The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), the state's largest grassroots farm organization, applauds the passage of HF 649, a measure to protect farmers and landowners who allow visitors onto their farm for recreational purposes. The measure unanimously passed the Iowa House and Senate and is now before Gov. Terry Branstad.

The measure resulted from an Iowa Supreme Court ruling in February which opened farmers and private landowners up to liability if someone was injured while on their land for recreational purposes such as fishing, hunting, and field trips.

"This is a big win for Iowa farmers and all Iowans who want to experience and learn more about life on the farm," said IFBF President Craig Hill. "By restoring this liability protection that farmers have had for four decades, the Legislature took a common sense approach that will be good for all Iowans."

The Iowa Supreme Court ruling stemmed from a field trip an Iowa kindergarten class took to a northeast Iowa dairy farm. A chaperone fell in a barn, claimed the landowner was negligent and sued.

The Iowa Supreme Court imposed a far more narrow interpretation of 'recreational' and liability protection than those that Iowa farmers have had since the 1970's. It said landowners could be protected only if they opened up their land to the general public and if the recreational activity occurred outdoors, not in a barn or shed. It also ruled that landowners lost liability protection if they acted as tour guides on the farm. That had prompted many legal experts to recommend that Iowa farmers severely limit the visitors onto their land or close their farm gates completely.

Hill added, "Not only does HF 649 restore liability protection for previous activities, it also includes educational activities, directs broad interpretation, eliminates public access concerns and removes the peril from the 'tour guide' role of landowners. The unanimous vote is a clear indication that the legislation is a common sense measure that will serve the needs of farmers, landowners and the general public."

-30-

About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online Newsroom page at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

Former Hawkeye All-American, Current NFL Star Advocates ANF

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - May 16, 2013 - Chad Greenway, a small-town farm boy, now a dominant defensive player in the National Football League (NFL), is the latest football star teaming up with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and the University of Iowa (UI) to promote the America Needs Farmers (ANF) campaign.

Greenway was raised on a small South Dakota farm that his parents still operate.  Today, he is one of the NFL's most prolific linebackers, but underneath his jersey and pads is a farmer passionate about highlighting the vital role agriculture plays in our country.   "The importance of farmers is never going to go away.  The foundation of human nature is farming: being able to produce something from the land, being able to feed your family, feed your community, and feed the world," Greenway said.  "It's the backbone of America.  It's what we're all about.  It's the fabric of our being."

Greenway says the life lessons learned on the farm help motivate him on the football field.  "There are so many levels where hard work and growing up on a farm can correlate to football.  I've used all the principles I gained growing up on a farm to really push me in the profession that I'm in now," said Greenway, star linebacker of the Minnesota Vikings entering his eighth season in the league.  "The game of football is unique and tests you in many ways; it tests your will; it tests your ability to get up from being knocked down; it tests your work ethic, for sure, and the want-to that you have."

Greenway joins an impressive list of former Hawkeye players who support ANF, a campaign launched by legendary Hawkeye coach Hayden Fry in 1985 during the Farm Crisis. The ANF emblem is displayed on Hawkeye football players' helmets today and is a source of pride for the former Hawkeye great.  "I'm proud that I went to the University of Iowa and that ANF is part of what the UI symbolizes and tries to push.  I'm proud that the people of Iowa can turn on the Hawkeye game and be proud of the people we are putting on the field who wear that emblem," said Greenway.

With most people two to three generations removed from the family farm, IFBF and the UI joined forces to promote the ANF message and talk to consumers about the food, fuel and fiber raised by farmers. "Consumers want to know more about where their food comes from and the ANF effort is just one way farmers are helping build that understanding," said Craig Hill, IFBF president.

Greenway joins former Hawkeye greats Hap Peterson, Mike Haight, Matt Kroul, Casey Wiegmann, Jared Devries, and Dallas Clark as ANF supporters.  The ANF campaign continues to create excitement with the 2013 Hawkeye football season drawing closer.

• Learn more about why Chad Greenway and the other members of the ANF team believe America Needs Farmers at www.iowafarmbureau.com/articles/89871/pro_bowl_linebacker_chad_greenway_joines_america_needs_farmers_team.
• ANF and Iowa farmers will be featured at Farm Bureau Park, located on the Grand Concourse at the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 8-18. Visitors can register for prizes, play games and learn more about farming.
• "ANF Day at Kinnick" will be held Oct. 26 for the Iowa versus Northwestern game.  The day will feature pre-game events featuring Iowa farmers and an autograph session with former NFL and Hawkeye greats.
• Kinnick Stadium visitors can see ANF Plaza and the Wall of Fame, located between the stadium's west grandstand and the north grandstand.
• ANF merchandise is for sale at www.bravosportsmarketing.com. Farm Bureau members can take advantage of special discounts throughout the year at www.iowafarmbureau.com.  A portion of the proceeds goes to the Iowa Food Bank Association.
• The website www.AmericaNeedsFarmers.org features fun facts, trivia, ANF events and comments from former University of Iowa football players who proudly wore the ANF on their game helmets during their playing days at the UI.

-30-

About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online media center at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

###

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that as much as 90 percent of commodity crop acres utilize seeds improved through modern biotechnology.  Trade disruptions caused by barriers to biotechnology derived crops hurt both American farmers and the international customers they serve," the senators wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Acting U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis.

Grassley was joined by Senators Debbie Stabenow, the Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Michael Bennet of Colorado, Roy Blunt of Missouri, John Boozman of Arkansas, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Chris Coons of Delaware, Dan Coats of Indiana, Thad Cochran of Mississippi, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Joe Donnelley of Indiana, Al Franken of Minnesota, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Johnny Isakson of Georgia, Mike Johanns of Nebraska, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Pat Roberts of Kansas, John Thune of South Dakota, and Mark Udall of Colorado.

A copy of the text of the letter is here.  A signed copy of the letter can be found by clicking here.

May 7, 2013

Secretary Thomas Vilsack

U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20250

Ambassador Demetrios Marantis

Acting United States Trade Representative

600 17th Street NW

Washington, DC 20508

Dear Secretary Vilsack and Ambassador Marantis:

American agriculture has made significant advancements in the last 100 years. We have seen vast improvements in how farmers grow crops, raise livestock, manage risk, and conduct their operations. American farmers are constantly looking for new tools to maximize efficiencies and productivity.  Biotechnology has been one of these tools.  Biotechnology helps farmers better manage droughts, pests, and weeds with fewer resources.  Biotechnology provides a major boost to American farmers that face an increasingly competitive international market.  Biotechnology has also helped feed a growing world population with abundant, nutrient rich crops.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that as much as 90 percent of commodity crop acres utilize seeds improved through modern biotechnology. Trade disruptions caused by barriers to biotechnology derived crops hurt both American farmers and the international customers they serve. Regulatory asynchrony, zero tolerance policies, and re-registration requirements are among the most prevalent and costly regulatory hurdles.

We know and appreciate how both of you and your offices have given priority to these international regulatory challenges, and work extensively with our trading partners to find long term solutions.  For instance, USDA has been engaged in efforts to launch a pilot project with China which aims to address, bilaterally, some asynchrony issues.  We also understand that the U.S. government is engaging trading partners in multilateral efforts to discuss how to best address other critical issues, including unintended low-level presence.

Given the widespread adoption of biotechnology by American farmers, it is imperative you further raise the priority of these regulatory issues in discussions with our trading partners, emphasizing the importance of facilitating robust international trade.  We appreciate your attention to this important matter, and we look forward to working with you to address these important and complex issues.