by Ben Nuelle
Iowa Farm Bureau again makes water quality improvement funding a top priority for 2017. Voting delegates met in West Des Moines Wednesday and Thursday to discuss policy changes for 2017. The three biggest topics included water quality improvement, animal disease litigation and property rights protection.
?The culmination of the annual, two-day Summer Policy Conference provides the IFBF with clear policy direction for the upcoming year,? said IFBF President Craig Hill. ?IFBF?s grassroots policy development is a year-round process with engagement and input from members in each county of the state. This process helps to ensure a strong, unified voice on behalf of our membership.?
Delegates reaffirmed their support for prioritizing long-term, dedicated funding within the state budget. They also concluded that as any new future funding options are being considered by the Iowa legislature, the distribution of funds must focus on implementing the Water Quality Initiative (WQI), and the funds should not be used to fund land acquisition and other expenditures that have little impact on water quality.
?It is really important that we lead on this issue and bring all Iowans with us,? said Fayette County voting delegate Chad Ingels.
The IFBF Summer Policy Conference is the culmination of a year-round grassroots policy process. National policies are subject to debate during American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) policy discussions, which will take place at the AFBF Annual Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, January 6-11, 2017.
