Budget & Taxes (Agriculture)

This bill establishes a Choose Iowa school purchasing program that matches school district spending on local agricultural products with state funding, allowing schools to purchase meat, poultry, dairy, grains, eggs, honey, and produce from Iowa farms at a one-to-one reimbursement rate. It also creates a Choose Iowa food bank purchasing program that provides matching funds to Iowa food banks and emergency feeding organizations for similar local food purchases, with a cap of $50,000 per organization annually. The legislation authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to administer these programs, set membership criteria for participating farms and businesses, and use up to 5% of program funds for administrative costs. Additionally, the bill allocates $1.75 million annually to support renewable fuel infrastructure for retail motor fuel sites and $150,000 for program administration.

This Iowa bill establishes a new water quality practice program that provides tax credits to farmers for implementing specific environmental measures on their land. The program offers two main tax credits: one for edge-of-field practices like wetlands or buffer strips that filter water draining from fields, and another for cover crops planted to protect soil health between growing seasons. Farmers must meet eligibility requirements including a net worth limit of two million dollars and qualify for the family farm tax credit to receive these credits. The Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will administer the program and has the authority to inspect practices on farms to verify compliance. The bill also clarifies that farmers receiving these tax credits cannot simultaneously receive other non-repayable financial assistance for the same water quality improvements.

This bill establishes funding and programs to improve water quality in Iowa through agricultural best management practices, tax credits, and monitoring initiatives. It allocates approximately $28 million to support a water quality monitoring network and the water quality initiative, which will help farmers implement practices that reduce nutrient pollution in watersheds. The legislation creates a tax credit for agricultural operations that install eligible water quality practices and expands funding for the Iowa Clean Water Farm Program to encourage voluntary adoption of conservation measures. Additionally, the bill provides for water quality practices loans and establishes a cost-share program where the state may contribute up to 50 percent of the cost for eligible projects, while also supporting urban soil and water conservation efforts.

HF 369 proposes a grant program within Iowa's Department of Education to expand high school agriculture education. It allows school districts to apply for grants covering up to 100% of costs for teachers providing up to 60 days of extra instruction in agriculture, food, and natural resources programs (for new programs under 10 years) or 50% of costs (for established programs). Grants must supplement, not replace, existing district funding, and the program includes a statewide tracking system for teacher hours. Funds would be held in a dedicated state treasury account that rolls over annually, avoiding fiscal year expiration. This bill directly affects Iowa public school districts offering agriculture education for grades 9-12.