Policy

Our policy work is focused on getting practical tools into the hands of farmers. We are proponents for key Farm Bill policies that target conservation, beginning farmers and sustainable agriculture research. At the state level we work closely with Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioners and on Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy issues.

Policy work at Practical Farmers strives to reflect the organization’s history and values of supporting positive alternatives for farmers. Practical Farmers does not support campaigns, regulations or actions against any specific agricultural practice, policy or entity. We recognize that government programs have an immense impact on the lives of our members and in shaping modern agriculture. We know that our members’ research, knowledge and experiences can help shape sensible policy and government programs, and we feel we have a responsibility to share this farmer knowledge with the world and, at times, with policymakers.

Policy positions

We are proponents of several Farm Bill policy areas, including specific programs: Conservation for working lands

  • Protection and expansion of Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), a working lands conservation program designed to protect and improve natural resources and the environment.
  • Protection and expansion of Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a voluntary conservation program in which farmers and ranchers implement conservation practices on agricultural working land in return for financial cost-share assistance and technical assistance.
  • Reforms to federal crop insurance that align with conservation goals

Beginning farmer and rancher

  • Protection and expansion of Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), a competitive grant program that funds education, extension, outreach and technical assistance initiatives directed at helping beginning farmers and ranchers.
  • Equal access to federal crop insurance for beginning and diverse farmers

On-farm research

  • Protection and expansion of Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SARE), a program advancing agricultural innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking research and education.
  • Support for other public funds for rigorous, unbiased sustainable agriculture research

State Technical Committee

  • Per section 1446 of the 1990 Farm Bill, the Iowa USDA established a State Technical Committee to provide advice for technical considerations and technical guidelines necessary to implement conservation provisions of USDA legislation. The committee also helps assure that Civil Rights requirements in Program Delivery are met. The NRCS State Conservationist chairs the committee. PFI has a representative on this committee.

 

At the state level we work closely with the Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioners and on Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy implementation to make sure that farmers are seen as leaders to help other farmers make practical changes.

Policy Committee

The PFI Policy committee serves to vet policy issues as they arise.  The committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding policy positions of the organization. Current Policy Committee members are:

  • Gayle Olson
  • David Rosmann
  • Sally Gran
  • Anna Johnson
  • Chad Ingels
  • Don Elsbernd
  • Donna Brahms

Get Involved

Farmer fly-ins

In cooperation with our partners at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Practical Farmers regularly provides opportunities for farmers to directly participate in policy discussions with legislators in Washington D.C. The face-to-face interaction and sharing of stories helps to ensure that federal programs have real and effective results on the ground for farmers and their communities. Read about past fly-ins below:

Action Farmers

At times there is a need for immediate contact through letters and calls to our congressional leaders – for instance, during the mark-up and amendment periods of Farm Bill creation. Action farmers are a self-selected group of farmers (and friends of farmers) who stand ready to act on behalf of Practical Farmers of Iowa on the policy issues listed above.

County leadership

Practical Farmers works closely with its members that also serve as Soil and Water Conservation District commissioners – helping to network individuals across the state and share information regarding working lands conservation practices such as cover crops, crop rotation, grazing and other continuous living cover practices.

Interested in getting involved in your local Soil and Water Conservation District? Learn more at this blog, and contact Steve Carlson for assistance: steve.carlson@practicalfarmers.org.

PFI Perspectives email discussion list

Open to all members of Practical Farmers of Iowa, the PFI Perspectives email list is a place for discussion of policy concerns, legislation, and action alerts. Email debra.boekholder@practicalfarmers.org if you’d like to be added to the list.