Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig visited Buena Vista County yesterday morning, delivering a blunt message for producers: the 2026 farm economy is tightening, and policy gridlock isn’t helping.
Naig delivered the warning to about 50 farmers and ag lenders at the Citizens First National Bank Annual Crop Insurance Meeting at the Cobblestone Ballroom and Event Center in Lakeside—part of his annual 99‑county tour, with additional stops in Wall Lake and Charter Oak later in the day.
Naig, a 2000 graduate of Buena Vista University, opened with a nod to his Storm Lake roots.
He quickly pivoted to the economic strain facing Iowa agriculture.
After the meeting, Naig told Storm Lake Radio the pressure is widespread, with high input costs, softer commodity prices, and no clear policy roadmap from Washington.
Naig told meeting attendees the lack of a new federal Farm Bill—now operating under multiple extensions—is creating uncertainty at a time when farmers can least afford it. He also renewed his push for nationwide, year‑round E15, calling the stalled effort “beyond frustrating.”
Iowa has already expanded E15 access dramatically—from about 330 stations a few years ago to more than 1,100 today—and Naig said a national standard would grind another 2 billion bushels of corn annually, strengthening both markets and margins.
Beyond federal gridlock, Naig is also pushing his own major state‑level package: the Iowa Farm Act, a first‑of‑its‑kind comprehensive bill he plans to advance this legislative session. The proposal includes tax relief, expanded Choose Iowa programs, and new biosecurity measures—all aimed at stabilizing rural communities and strengthening long‑term ag competitiveness.
Naig highlighted strong export performance for corn, ethanol, pork, and specialty meat cuts—but confirmed that an upcoming trade mission to Mexico was postponed this week due to security concerns—a setback given Mexico’s role as one of Iowa’s top buyers of corn, DDGs, pork and turkey.
He said diversification in soybean markets is helping soften China‑related volatility, and that new trade frameworks with India and Indonesia could open additional opportunities for Iowa producers.
Naig also emphasized Iowa’s record pace of conservation adoption—including wetlands, cover crops, and edge‑of‑field practices—and told Storm Lake Radio that northwest Iowa watersheds like the Raccoon and Little Sioux rivers should expect more visible progress in the next one to two years.
Naig closed his speech by urging Iowans to recognize agriculture’s central role as the nation prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence this year.
He said food, energy, and ag security must be part of the national conversation—and that Iowa, as the nation’s No. 2 ag state, should lead that message.
