Developing Farmer-Driven Policy & Legislation
Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) is singularly focused on supporting sound policy development and pro-farmer legislation to support long-term profitability for corn growers. ICGA works to support state and federal policy on increasing blends and access to renewable fuels, decreasing regulatory burdens on Iowa’s livestock industry, improving Farm Bill programs, promoting trade policies and so much more.
And as an ICGA member, you can help form policy priorities.
Get Involved with Policy Development
ICGA policy development is a three-step, member-driven process that contributes to the creation of the ICGA policy book for the approaching year. Federal policies are then sent to be debated at the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Corn Congress during Commodity Classic.
Member-Wide Survey
Policy development starts with a full membership survey on issues impacting your farms. By gaining valuable insight, discussion goes to the Iowa Corn roundtables for the next phase of developing sound policy.
Regional Roundtable Meetings
Roundtable meetings allow ICGA members to come together, share a meal and discuss key issues impacting corn farmers. Policies brought forward and approved at roundtable meetings move onto the Grassroots Summit for ICGA delegates to debate.
Iowa Corn Grassroots Summit
As an ICGA member, the Annual Grassroots Summit is one of the many opportunities for you to get involved and make your voice heard. Attendees get an in-depth look at the issues facing the corn industry, debate key policies that impact your farm, help set the direction for the organization moving forward and get to know other corn growers from across the state.
Interested in serving as a delegate? Please contact your District Field Manager (DFM) or call 515-225-9242.
Legislative Priorities
ICGA members bring key issues to their elected officials throughout the year. Here is the current list of priorities for policy and legislation. Listed in alphabetical order, not by priority ranking.
State Legislative Priorities
- Conservation/Water Quality – Maintain legislative funding stream for Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, including Maximum Return to Nitrogen
- Ethanol – Obtain and increase funding for infrastructure cost-share program (Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program)
- Ethanol – Promote ethanol as a carbon reduction solution
- Livestock – Support existing regulatory framework for the livestock industry
- Taxes – Protect critical tax credits (Section 179 and biofuels)
Federal Legislative Priorities
- Carbon – Support carbon credit sequestration programs
- Ethanol – Retain the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), reallocation of unjustified Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs), reduce regulatory barriers for higher blends, and support low carbon high octane fuel (including the Next Generation Fuels Act)
- Farm Bill – Protect crop insurance
- Taxes – Protect critical tax credits
- Trade – Expand new and protect existing bilateral and multilateral trade agreements and protect/expand funding for Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) as part of the Farm Bill