My Weekly Column: Strengthening Iowa Agriculture in Global Markets Through a Strong Farm Bill

Over the last several years, farmers across Iowa have endured challenging market conditions as they dealt with weather, rising input costs, and other countries targeting American agriculture to gain unfair advantages. These conditions affect their families, operations, and our rural economy, which is built on our strong agricultural sector. Growth in our agricultural industry starts with strong markets. That is why it’s critical that Congress gets the Farm Bill across the finish line and onto President Trump’s desk to be signed into law to deliver certainty and opportunity for our farmers.

Representing one of the largest agricultural districts in the country, I was proud to help move forward a comprehensive five-year Farm Bill out of the Agriculture Committee. This bill represents direct concerns and feedback I’ve heard from farmers and producers across the state. From rising input costs to unpredictable markets, our farmers continue to face serious challenges. But one issue came up time and time again during our conversations: the need for stronger access to global markets.

Expanding trade isn’t just helpful for agriculture, it’s essential to ensure Iowa’s economy flourishes. A significant share of what farmers produce is sold overseas, which means their success depends on fair and certain access to customers around the world. When producers have stronger market access, our commodities can compete on a global stage.

This Farm Bill works to strengthen those export opportunities and remove unnecessary barriers that have prevented our Iowa farmers from succeeding.

One key part of that effort is improving how products get to market and overcoming infrastructure challenges that prevent us from opening new markets. That’s why I led the FRIDGE Act to address a major bottleneck and vulnerability in our supply chain. Issues from insufficient cold storage to a lack of adequate refrigeration at our ports remain a consistent barrier for our producers. Without proper infrastructure and safeguards, high-quality products like beef, pork, turkey, and chicken risk spoilage before even reaching consumers overseas. By modernizing these facilities, we can help ensure that Iowa-grown products are the highest quality and arrive safely – opening the door to more reliable trade and better returns for our farmers.

Another priority is protecting our markets from disruptions beyond farmers’ control. A foreign animal disease outbreak in one region can quickly trigger widespread trade restrictions, even if it does not affect another state or if the issue is contained. That’s why I introduced the SAFE Act, which allows the United States to pursue regionalization agreements with trading partners. These agreements ensure that unaffected areas can continue exporting, preventing unnecessary economic damage and maintaining confidence in our agricultural supply chain.

In addition to infrastructure and risk management, the Farm Bill strengthens programs that actively promote American agriculture abroad. By increasing funding for the Market Access

Program and the Foreign Market Development Program, we are equipping producers with the tools they need to compete in an increasingly competitive market. These programs help build strong relationships, promote U.S. producers, and create long-term demand in key regions.

We have seen significant new trade agreements under this Administration, and expanding trade policy plays an important role in this success. Recent agreements have helped expand markets in countries like Japan, the United Kingdom, and across Europe, giving American farmers new opportunities and more access to sell their goods. The Farm Bill will build on this momentum by ensuring we have the support systems in place to take full advantage of these new openings.

When Iowa farmers have fair access to compete on a global stage, American agriculture succeeds. Our farmers need dependable markets, modern infrastructure, and policies that recognize the realities they face.

This Farm Bill will recognize and deliver on those priorities. Now, it is time to finish the job, get it to President Trump’s desk, and ensure our farmers have the tools they need to keep feeding and fueling the world for the next generation.