Iowa House Passes Bipartisan Farm Act

Secretary Naig praises strong support for comprehensive agriculture legislation

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:55pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a collection of polished, geometric objects representing various aspects of the Iowa Farm Act, such as a small tractor, a jar of honey, and a stack of documents, all arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic seamless background with sharp, dramatic studio lighting and deep shadows.The Iowa Farm Act aims to support farmers, strengthen rural communities, and position the state's agricultural economy for long-term success.Des Moines Today

The Iowa House of Representatives has passed the Iowa Farm Act, a comprehensive legislative package introduced by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, by a bipartisan vote of 81 to 8. The bill is designed to support Iowa farmers, strengthen rural communities, and position the state's agricultural economy for long-term success.

Why it matters

The Iowa Farm Act reflects priorities identified by farmers, agribusinesses, and stakeholders, delivering practical solutions to today's challenges while preparing for the future. The legislation aims to expand economic opportunities, provide targeted tax relief and regulatory clarity, invest in the next generation of agriculture, enhance biosecurity and foreign animal disease preparedness, and modernize state operations to better serve the agricultural community.

The details

The Iowa Farm Act is a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive legislative package that expands economic opportunities by supporting value-added agriculture, agritourism, and new market access. It also provides targeted tax relief and regulatory clarity to reduce costs, promote fairness, and support farm succession. The package invests in the next generation of agriculture by prioritizing beginning farmers and strengthening the rural veterinary workforce. Additionally, it enhances Iowa's biosecurity and foreign animal disease preparedness while protecting farmer confidentiality during emergencies. Finally, the Iowa Farm Act modernizes state operations and improves efficiency to better serve farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities.

  • The Iowa House of Representatives passed the Iowa Farm Act on April 9, 2026.

The players

Mike Naig

The Iowa Secretary of Agriculture who introduced the Iowa Farm Act.

Derek Wulf

The Iowa state representative who floor-managed the bill.

Pat Grassley

The Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives who has continued to support the Iowa Farm Act.

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What they’re saying

“Thank you to members of the Iowa House for their strong bipartisan vote in support of the Iowa Farm Act. I appreciate the leadership of Rep. Derek Wulf for floor-managing the bill and Speaker Pat Grassley for his continued support—both farmers who are constant champions for agriculture. This kind of bipartisan backing sends a clear message about the importance of agriculture to Iowa's economy, communities, and future.”

— Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture

What’s next

The Iowa Farm Act will now move to the Iowa Senate for consideration.

The takeaway

The bipartisan passage of the Iowa Farm Act in the Iowa House demonstrates the strong support for comprehensive legislation that addresses the needs of Iowa's agricultural community, from supporting farmers and rural communities to positioning the state's agricultural economy for long-term success.