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Iowa Corn Growers Association Releases Top State and Federal Priorities for 2016

December 21, 2015

The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) has released the final list of state and federal legislative priorities for the upcoming year. These priorities are based on grassroots input from members across the state.

“As a long-standing, influential agricultural organization, our grassroots members drive our policy development process. ICGA knows that creating sound policy is the single most important thing that we can do for our members. We actively encourage engagement from ICGA members across the state to help develop policy to positively impact our farming operations,” said ICGA President Bob Hemesath. “We are grassroots driven at both the state and federal level, and continue working towards fair policy that protects the interests of our members and the Iowa corn industry.”

The 2016 ICGA state and federal priorities are as follows:

2016 ICGA state priorities, listed in alphabetical order:

  • Conservation: 2016 funding for the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy
  • Department of Agriculture: Funding for IDALS budget requests (state veterinarian, conservation, fuels, etc.)
  • Ethanol: Extend/renew income-tax credits for renewable fuel retailers (E15, E85, and increasing levels of biofuels)
  • Ethanol: Infrastructure cost-share for retail fuel stations up to E85
  • Ethanol: Tax credits for cellulosic ethanol production or other advanced biofuels
  • Livestock: Full $4 million funding for ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
  • Livestock: Support the livestock industry and the existing laws regulating livestock operations
  • Research: Increased funding for ISU Experiment Station, livestock related research re: animal stress and odor management
  • Research: Increased funding for ISU Extension programs
  • Value-Added Agriculture: State tax credits for bio-based products beyond food and fuel


2016 ICGA federal priorities, listed in alphabetical order:

  • Biotechnology: Create a national voluntary biotech labeling law
  • Environment: Repeal of the 2015 EPA Clean Water Act rule
  • Environment: Voluntary water quality efforts, not EPA regulatory nutrient limits
  • Ethanol: Reduce regulatory barriers to higher ethanol blends for conventional cars
  • Ethanol: Retain the Renewable Fuel Standard
  • Farm Bill: Protect crop insurance funding
  • Taxes: Extend or make permanent bonus depreciation, Sec. 179, and capital gains
  • Trade: Expand bilateral and multilateral trade agreements (ex: Trans Pacific Partnership)
  • Trade: Protect Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) funding
  • Transportation: Increase appropriations for river transportation, including locks and dams

ICGA’s 2016 state and federal priorities originated from discussion at the ICGA Annual Meeting and Policy Conference held this past August, and were finalized by the ICGA board of directors on behalf of its nearly 8,000 members at this week’s meeting. ICGA members will bring these key priority issues to their elected officials throughout coming year.

To view all of ICGA’s comprehensive policy, the 2016 Iowa Corn Growers Association policy book is available online at: iowacorn.org/policy or contact the Iowa Corn office.

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The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) is an 8,000-member strong grassroots-driven organization, headquartered in Johnston, Iowa, serving members across the state, and lobbying on agricultural issues on behalf of its farmer members to create opportunities for long-term Iowa corn grower profitability. For more information, visit iowacorn.org.

For More Information:

Shannon Textor
Director of Marketing and Communications
Iowa Corn Growers Association
515-255-9242
stextor@iowacorn.org

Lisa Cassady
Public Relations Manager
Iowa Corn Growers Association
515-225-9242
lcassady@iowacorn.org

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