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Iowa Ag Department Seeks Budget Boost to Expand Choose Iowa Program
Funding request includes $1.3 million increase to cover operational costs and $300,000 to grow local food marketing initiative
Jan. 30, 2026 at 6:15am
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The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has requested a $1.3 million increase to its operating budget, with the majority of the funds going towards operational costs and $300,000 earmarked to expand the state's Choose Iowa local food marketing program. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig cited the need to cover rising costs like salaries, health insurance, and other expenses, as well as invest in growing the Choose Iowa initiative that helps promote Iowa-raised products.
Why it matters
The Choose Iowa program has seen significant growth since launching in 2023, with over 300 members across 86 counties. Expanding the program would provide more market opportunities for small, young, and beginning farmers, while also giving Iowans greater access to locally-sourced food. The funding request comes as the state faces ongoing threats from foreign animal diseases like avian influenza, underscoring the importance of supporting local agriculture.
The details
The $1.3 million budget increase request includes over $1 million for operational costs like a 2% across-the-board salary increase, rising health insurance costs, workers compensation, and association fees. The remaining $300,000 would go towards developing a retail and distribution system for the Choose Iowa program, as well as hiring a staff member to facilitate infrastructure with members. Choose Iowa offers grants to help local food producers expand their businesses, and the program has seen 113% growth in membership in 2025.
- The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship made the budget request to lawmakers on Thursday, January 30, 2026.
- The Choose Iowa program was launched in 2023.
The players
Mike Naig
Secretary of Agriculture for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
Choose Iowa
A state-run marketing program that helps promote Iowa-raised food products and offers grants to local producers to expand their businesses.
What they’re saying
“What we're finding is there's a real opportunity here for beginning, small, young farmers. A lot of rural impact here as well, it's growing an economy, it's creating more market opportunities for folks, and it's giving Iowans something they're looking for.”
— Mike Naig, Secretary of Agriculture
What’s next
The Iowa Farm Act, which would further expand the Choose Iowa program and establish a school purchasing initiative, advanced from a subcommittee on Wednesday with broad support from agriculture groups.
The takeaway
The Iowa Department of Agriculture's budget request highlights the state's commitment to supporting local food producers and expanding consumer access to Iowa-grown products through initiatives like Choose Iowa. As the state faces ongoing challenges from foreign animal diseases, investing in local agriculture can help strengthen the resilience of the state's food system.
