Political Voices: When Agriculture is Strong, Iowa’s Economy is Strong

By: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig 

Iowa’s economy is built on agriculture. What happens at the farm gate ripples through our entire state. When farmers are doing well, Main Street businesses thrive, equipment dealers stay busy,  manufacturers expand production, and rural communities remain strong. When agriculture struggles, the  effects are felt everywhere.  

That’s why helping farmers succeed is not just an agricultural issue, it’s an Iowa issue. Every Iowan benefit from a strong agriculture.  

Our hardworking farmers and naturally rich soil make Iowa an agricultural powerhouse. Iowa ranks first in the nation in corn, pork, eggs, and biofuels production. We are second in soybeans and consistently rank in the top ten for beef, turkey, and dairy. Only California exceeds Iowa in agricultural sales, making us the second-largest ag-producing state in the country.  

Agriculture contributes nearly $160 billion annually to Iowa’s economy and supports roughly one in every five jobs. Those numbers tell an important story: when agriculture is strong, Iowa is strong.  That’s why Iowa must continue to embrace common sense agricultural, business and tax  policies that support growth and reward hard work and innovation, while protecting our natural  resources.  

First and foremost, we must increase demand for the agricultural products Iowa farmers grow  and raise. That starts at home. Expanding domestic use should be a top priority, because American consumers benefit from a food supply that is safe, reliable, and affordable — and Iowa farmers deliver all  three. At the same time, we must continue pressing for stronger, more balanced trade agreements. Iowa  has a proven track record of working with farmers and industry leaders through trade missions and  direct engagement with global partners to open doors for Iowa-grown corn, soybeans, pork, beef, and biofuels. For Iowa, trade isn’t abstract — it often makes the difference between a profitable year and a  tough one for farm families.  

Second, we should continue investing in programs that keep dollars circulating in local  communities. The Choose Iowa initiative does exactly that by connecting consumers with Iowa-grown, Iowa-made, and Iowa-raised food and ag products. When people buy local, they support small businesses, strengthen rural economies, and help family farms capture more value from the products they produce. Choose Iowa is about more than branding — it’s about giving farmers and entrepreneurs the tools to grow, diversify, and succeed.  

Just as important, Choose Iowa supports farms of all sizes and production methods. Iowa agriculture is diverse, and success doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some farms want to grow and scale up; others want to remain smaller operations that serve local markets. Our job is not to pick  winners and losers, but to ensure farmers have the freedom and opportunity to choose the path that  works best for their family.  

Third, we must continue to invest in and accelerate farmer-led conservation work that improves  water quality and soil health. Iowa farmers care deeply about the land, and they are leading the way by adopting conservation practices like wetlands, cover crops, and reduced tillage. The state’s role should be to partner with farmers, not punish them, by providing cost-share support, technical assistance, and science-based practices that deliver results. Conservation and productivity are not competing goals;  when done right, they go hand in hand and help ensure Iowa agriculture remains sustainable for future  generations.  

Finally, Iowa must maintain a tax and regulatory climate that allows farmers to plan for the future.  Republicans have worked to eliminate the death tax so farm families can pass their operations on to the next generation without being forced to sell land or assets just to pay the tax bill. That matters deeply in  a state where more than 21,000 Century (100 years) and 2,000 Heritage (150 years) Farms have been in families for generations.  

We also need to recognize a hard truth: excessive regulation and higher taxes often accelerate consolidation in agriculture. When compliance costs rise, it’s the smallest farms that feel the impact first.  If we want to preserve family farms and rural communities and keep costs at the grocery store and gas pump affordable for working families, we must be thoughtful about the policies we impose and the  burdens we create. 

Iowa agriculture has always been resilient. Our farmers adapt, innovate, and lead — but they shouldn’t have to do it alone. By growing markets, strengthening local economies, accelerating conservation, and maintaining a commonsense tax and regulatory environment, we can ensure Iowa’s ag economy remains strong today and for generations to come.

Because when agriculture is strong, Iowa is  strong.