The Iowa Legislature wrapped up its 2026 session with several agriculture-related priorities crossing the finish line, including the bipartisan Iowa Farm Act and a major water quality and infrastructure funding package.
Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig said the Farm Act marked the first time Iowa approved a broad package of comprehensive agriculture legislation addressing multiple industry concerns at once.
The legislation includes provisions aimed at improving Iowa’s ability to respond to foreign animal disease outbreaks, strengthening biosecurity efforts, helping recruit and retain veterinarians in rural communities, and providing tax relief for beekeepers. Naig said many of the priorities included in the package came directly from conversations with farmers, ag businesses, and rural communities across the state.
Naig also highlighted a water quality and infrastructure package approved near the end of the session. The plan redirects unused funding into conservation projects, nitrate reduction efforts, and improvements to water systems across Iowa.
The funding package includes targeted conservation work in watersheds north of the Des Moines metro, additional nitrate removal capacity through Central Iowa Water Works, and expanded grant and loan opportunities for smaller communities investing in drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems.
Naig said the effort recognizes the need for a broader approach to water quality challenges as weather variability continues to impact both conservation and treatment demands across the state.
He said Iowa must continue balancing upstream conservation practices with investments in treatment infrastructure to ensure communities have long-term access to safe drinking water.
Naig said the legislation approved this year reflects continued bipartisan support for agriculture priorities at the state level while also addressing long-term concerns surrounding conservation, infrastructure, and rural services.
