A butcher shop in Holstein is part of a bigger pitch Iowa’s agriculture secretary is making to voters: invest in rural businesses, strengthen farm markets and improve water quality without adding more regulations.
Republican Mike Naig visited Tiefenthaler Quality Meats Thursday to see the results of a state grant awarded to the family-owned business. In a Friday interview with Storm Lake Radio, Naig also defended his record on farm profitability and conservation as he seeks a third term in office.
Tiefenthaler received a $45,000 Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Grant in 2025 to add a smokehouse. The project was part of a statewide investment of $355,000 in nine small-scale meat processors, with the grants expected to leverage nearly $1.94 million in total project investments.
Naig says the improvements he saw in Holstein demonstrate how investments in equipment can help local processors handle more business while addressing labor and workplace safety challenges.
The state has also opened a new round of Choose Iowa funding for small-scale meat processors and custom lockers. Eligible businesses can apply for up to $20,000 for cold storage, processing or packaging equipment. The program has $105,000 available for fiscal 2027, requires a dollar-for-dollar match and has a Nov. 20 application deadline.
Beyond rural business development, farm profitability is another major concern for Naig. He says farmers continue to face high input costs, while uncertainty over federal farm policy and the need to expand markets put additional pressure on their bottom lines.
Naig says his department is working to develop international and domestic markets, promote biofuels and expand opportunities for Iowa-grown and Iowa-made products through Choose Iowa.
Water quality, however, has become one of the defining issues in this year’s secretary of agriculture race.
Naig supports voluntary, farmer-led conservation, including cover crops, wetlands and buffer strips. He said applications for cover-crop cost-sharing doubled this year compared with last year and pointed to five consecutive years of record conservation adoption, with another record expected.
His Democratic opponent, Chris Jones, a retired water quality scientist, argues Iowa needs stronger regulations to reduce agricultural pollution. Jones has criticized the state’s largely voluntary approach, saying more needs to be done to address the sources of contamination rather than relying on downstream treatment.
Naig rejects that approach, arguing farmers should be able to adopt practices suited to their individual operations.
Both candidates have expressed support for expanding grass-fed cattle production in Iowa, an area they see as an opportunity for the state’s livestock industry.
Naig says his record on conservation, market development and support for rural businesses is why voters should return him to office.
Naig has served as Iowa’s agriculture secretary since 2018, first taking office after being appointed and later winning election to two full terms.
Iowa voters will decide between Naig and Jones in the Nov. 3 general election.
