Farm bill must expand American food security and the farm safety net

• Brent Johnson is Iowa Farm Bureau president and a fifth-generation Calhoun County farmer.

Food security starts on the farm.

As a fifth-generation farmer, providing for my neighbors, state and nation is something I take to heart. Long after I’m gone, the farm needs to be here to fulfill this essential role. However, weather and market volatility, regulation and global events out of a farmer’s control can make that calling a challenge. That’s what makes the farm bill a significant piece of legislation for all Americans — not just farmers — despite its name.

The passage of a modernized version of the farm bill by Congress is vital to securing our nation’s food supply. The bill also ensures the sustainability of family farms through risk management tools, conservation programs, investments in agricultural research and trade opportunities.

Unfortunately, food security is being threatened by a patchwork of rules enacted by individual states that limit food accessibility and affordability. For example, recent actions in California that dictate pork production practices have led to a 10% to 40% price increase for specific pork cuts, per U.S. Department of Agriculture Chief Economist Seth Meyer.

And that’s just the beginning.

If other states follow suit, it will be impossible for farmers (and other businesses) to adhere to state-by-state regulations and will hurt America’s trade opportunities. When interstate commerce is limited, progress on the farm is stifled resulting in increased costs for farmers to comply and increased costs for consumers on goods like meat, milk, eggs and produce. Low-income families will bear the weight of these actions when their basic human needs cannot be met due to their state limiting what types of food, goods and services can be sold within their borders.

This is why Farm Bureau has continued to work with elected officials to ensure state and local governments cannot dictate livestock regulations outside of their borders to prevent negative impacts on American families and enable them the freedom to choose the goods and services that fit their lifestyle and budget.

Risk management tools through the farm bill are also a crucial piece of food security. In recent years, farms have been slammed by supply chain shocks, resulting in astronomical prices to grow a crop compared to the prices received for selling the crop. Iowa State University data shows the cost of growing corn in Iowa rose from $3.91 per bushel in 2019 to $5.14 per bushel in 2024. This rise includes a 40% increase in machinery costs and a 36% increase in seed and chemical costs. Meanwhile, the USDA estimates that the average price farmers will receive for corn this year is $4.40 per bushel, resulting in a forecasted 74-cent loss per bushel. Additionally, farmers have been affected by rising interest rates, with rates for farm operating loans increasing by 39% since 2019. The updated farm safety net in the farm bill is essential to keep farm families farming and shield them from factors out of their control that affect the food supply we all depend on.

Preserving the integrity of our land also guarantees the success of these endeavors and Iowa farmers have made great progress — leading the nation in conservation tillage, grassed waterways, water quality wetlands, bioreactors, buffer strips and pollinator habitats. Not only do these practices protect water quality but many of them improve soil health to keep Iowa’s rich farm ground fertile for generations to come. A new farm bill is needed to ensure farmers have the latest data and tools to continue conservation progress.

The farm bill impacts all American families and must be prioritized. The Iowa Farm Bureau thanks Iowa Reps. Randy Feenstra and Zach Nunn for their work on the House Ag Committee to pass the bipartisan farm bill. We urge House leaders to continue the momentum with a vote on the floor, and we hope the Senate Ag Committee begins their process.

When it comes to an issue as important as food security, America can’t afford to wait.

Brent Johnson is Iowa Farm Bureau president and a fifth-generation Calhoun County farmer.