ICA Announces Building Iowa’s Cattle Future Policy Package

Contact: Iowa Cattlemen's Association, 515-296-2266, Contact Us.

Today, the Iowa Cattlemen's Association (ICA) announced a policy package to build Iowa's cattle herd, create opportunities for the next generation of producers, and address consumer prices.

The Building Iowa's Cattle Future policy package includes five state-level priorities designed to help Iowa maximize its role in rebuilding the nation's cattle herd and strengthen the economic and rural vitality of communities across the state.

ICA developed the package through its grassroots policy process, reflecting priorities cattle producers identified during the Association's recent Policy Summit.

"Iowa has the resources, infrastructure, and people to play an important role in helping rebuild America's cattle herd," said Craig Moss, ICA president. "By bringing these priorities together in one package, we can have more meaningful conversations with policymakers about what Iowa's cattle industry needs to grow."

While unable to attend the press conference, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig also said he believes Iowa has an opportunity to play a significant role in growing the nation's cattle herd.

"I'm proud of the work we've done to build and expand the Cattle and Conservation Working Lands Program, and I will continue pushing to bring this successful model to every county in Iowa. It is a true win-win that keeps working lands working, creates more opportunities for cattle producers and young farmers, and improves Iowa's water quality and soil health," said Sec. Naig. "I also launched Choose Iowa to create new markets and more opportunities for Iowa farmers, and we've made strengthening local meat processing a priority through the Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Grant Program. Whether it is expanding grazing opportunities, investing in local processing capacity, building demand for Iowa beef, or opening new markets for state-inspected meat, I will continue looking for every opportunity to grow Iowa's cattle herd and strengthen the farm families and rural communities that depend on it."

Five Priorities Where Iowa Can Lead

ICA's Building Iowa's Cattle Future policy package focuses on five areas where state policy can help create opportunities for growth:

Creating opportunities for young and beginning farmers - Improve access to capital and help new and beginning producers overcome barriers to entering or expanding in the cattle industry.

Supporting regional meat processing - Strengthen Iowa's regional processing infrastructure and create additional market opportunities for cattle producers.

Maximizing the Working Lands Program - Expand a proven state program that helps farmers keep land productive while incorporating cattle and conservation practices. Demand for the program has exceeded available funding, demonstrating the need to maximize its potential.

Protecting Iowa's agricultural land - Support policies that keep productive farmland in agriculture for future generations.

Integrating cattle into land management to improve water quality - Build on the stewardship work cattle producers already do by supporting practices that integrate cattle and land management to continue to improve Iowa's water quality.

Together, these priorities address several barriers and opportunities facing Iowa's cattle industry.

"Rebuilding the cattle herd will take time, but Iowa is in a leadership position to be part of that growth," Moss said. "This package gives us a roadmap to make sure Iowa is prepared to take advantage of that opportunity."

ICA will continue working with policymakers to advance the priorities outlined in Building Iowa's Cattle Future during the upcoming legislative session.