Wallace's Farmer, IA
05-11-07
ISA Pleased With Outcome of Legislative Session
Rod Swoboda rswoboda@farmprogress.com
The Iowa Legislature adjourned for the year on April 28. This was the first year
since 1965 that Democrats controlled both chambers and the governor's office.
Over the course of the 112 days from January to April, the Iowa Soybean
Association lobbied lawmakers from both parties on the nearly $6 billion state
budget and various policy bills. Overall it was a good year for ISA and agriculture,
says Matt Caswell, ISA's public affairs director.
In December, ISA sets its policy priorities. Then throughout the legislative
session, which begins in January, ISA policy staff work to lobby for legislation
that addresses these priorities. "We also work on any issues that come up during
the course of the session," says Caswell. "In addition, on March 20, hundreds of
soybean producers and leaders from across the state came to Des Moines to
participate in Soy Day on the Hill at the state Capitol."
This year ISA policy priorities were organized in five categories: soybean
research, biodiesel, water quality, livestock and biotechnology. Caswell gives the
following summary of what happened in each of these areas in the 2007 session.
* Soybean research - ISA lobbied aggressively to increase state funding for
soybean research. Proposals to increase the amount spent, especially in the
area of research to improve yield, were rolled into the Power Fund authorization
language. The Power Fund provides $100 million to fund grants and projects
related to renewable fuel. A soybean yield project at Iowa State University
would qualify for a Power Fund grant. ISU will work with the yet-to-be-appointed
Power Fund board to ensure that this research is funded.
* Biodiesel - ISA led an effort to establish a fuel quality testing laboratory for
biofuels. ISA believes that maintaining quality is the most important issue for our
state's biodiesel industry. In order to successfully ensure the biodiesel produced,
marketed and used in this state meets ASTM D6751 standards, Iowa needs its
own laboratory focused on biofuels.
Legislation that was passed this year provides critical funding to establish such a
lab, which will also be capable of testing ethanol samples. In addition, efforts led
by the petroleum industry were made near the end of session to change the
definition of "biodiesel" to include "renewable diesel." Because these two
products are not the same, ISA opposed any language change and were
successful in defeating these proposals. The biodiesel industry vigorously
opposed any change in the definition of biodiesel.
* Water quality - Although there were no major bills passed addressing water
quality, ISA sought to continue funding for the On-Farm Network, an ISA led
program dealing with nutrient management and water quality. For the fourth year
in a row, the state budget includes $400,000 for the ISA project. This farmerdirected program conducts more than 200 replicated strip trials, located in all 99
Iowa counties and encompassing over 150,000 acres of cropland.
* Livestock - ISA, in a supporting role to animal agriculture groups, successfully
helped to prevent passage of bills designed to establish local control of livestock.
Bills requiring greater separation distances and adjustments to the livestock
matrix also did not pass this year's session of the legislature.
* Biotechnology - ISA opposed all efforts to establish tighter restrictions on
genetically enhanced seed contracting and use. There were several bills
introduced to limit biotechnology, although none passed.
Adjournment of the legislature is not the end of the process. The next stage is the
bill signing. The governor has 30 days from end of session to sign or veto bills.
ISA has contacted the governor's office regarding bills of interest to ISA." We are
hoping and anticipating that Gov. Culver will sign our bills," says Caswell.