House Democrats Pitch Aid Plan for Iowa Farmers

Proposed legislation aims to make agricultural policies and markets more fair and competitive.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Iowa House Democrats have unveiled a series of bills they are calling the 'Regaining Iowa Farmers' Independence Plan.' The goal of the legislation is to make agricultural policies and markets more fair and competitive, addressing issues like farm equipment repairs, farmland ownership transparency, country-of-origin food labeling, and establishing a state-level farm bill.

Why it matters

The proposed legislation is a response to the pressures that independent farmers in Iowa are facing, such as corporate control over multiple levels of agricultural production. By addressing these issues, the House Democrats hope to help protect the future of independent farming in the state.

The details

The 'Regaining Iowa Farmers' Independence Plan' contains five key measures that will be introduced as separate bills: 1) Require companies to provide access to diagnostic tools so repair shops can fix farm equipment more quickly; 2) Increase transparency around who owns Iowa farmland to protect family farms; 3) Create clear country-of-origin labeling on food products; 4) Prohibit large agricultural companies from controlling multiple levels of production; and 5) Establish a 'farmer-focused' state version of the federal farm bill.

  • The House Democrats unveiled the plan on Monday, February 10, 2026, during a press conference at the Iowa Capitol.

The players

J.D. Scholten

A Democratic state representative from Sioux City who spoke at the press conference about the goal of the legislation to help restore some independence for Iowa farmers.

Josh Turek

A Democratic state representative from Council Bluffs who said the plan reflects ongoing conversations with farmers, rural communities, and agricultural stakeholders across the state.

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What they’re saying

“This would allow farmers to have back a little bit of their independence. So much has to be done nationally, but we're doing all we can at the state level to try to push for this.”

— J.D. Scholten, State Representative (thegazette.com)

“This plan reflects ongoing conversations with farmers, rural communities, and agricultural stakeholders across the state and response directly to the pressures threatening the future of independent farming in Iowa.”

— Josh Turek, State Representative (thegazette.com)

What’s next

The five bills that make up the 'Regaining Iowa Farmers' Independence Plan' will now be formally introduced and considered by the Iowa legislature.

The takeaway

The legislative package proposed by Iowa House Democrats aims to address key challenges facing independent farmers in the state, from equipment repair access to corporate consolidation in the agricultural sector. By tackling these issues at the state level, the lawmakers hope to help protect the future viability of family farms in Iowa.