Kapucian Korner by Senator Tim Kapucian

Iowa State Senator Tim Kapucian

Greetings from Under the Golden Dome

This was our second funnel week. Bills, other than Appropriations or Ways and Means Committee legislation, need to have been passed out of one chamber and a committee of the other to still be considered alive for the session.

One of the bills that came from the House Agricultural Committee that I served on in the Senate was House File 457. House File 457 directs that when the Department of Natural Resources, (DNR), has farm land for rent it be directed to give first chance to qualifying beginning farmers. This bill also stipulates the DNR cannot lease more than 240 acres of crop land per individual but does not limit the amount of land that might be grazed under a DNR lease. This bill also stipulates the rental amount be based on rental history, market factors and other DNR specified conservation practices that might be applicable, rather than through a competitive bid. The measure also provides the lease shall be no longer than seven years. If more than one qualified beginning farmer is interested in the same parcel, the DNR would select the person who would get the lease by draw of name. If no beginning farmer expresses an interest in a DNR offered land lease, then the DNR is allowed to lease it to another individual. The DNR is not required to rent out any additional lands as a result of this bill. I believe this is a great opportunity for a young person to break into the farming occupation. I look forward to seeing this one hit the Governor’s desk.

Some of the visitors this week were from our sister state organization in China. They continue to show strong interest in our Ag commodities.