South Iowa News

U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) has introduced two bipartisan bills aimed at assisting Iowa's farmers in enhancing water quality, preventing soil erosion, and protecting critical wildlife habitat. The Conservation Innovation Act, co-led by U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), will establish an Office of Conservation Innovation within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The second bill, the Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act, will provide for increased public input and strengthen the NRCS.

Nunn emphasized the importance of providing farmers with the tools and resources they need to succeed. He stated, "No one understands the needs of their land better than farmers, so we must also ensure Iowa's producers are in the driver's seat as new conservation practices are developed."

The current process for determining conservation practices involves recommendations from state committees, which are then sent to the USDA NRCS. However, this process lacks engagement from stakeholders, including Iowa's farmers, and is often cumbersome. By the time new practices are implemented, they may be outdated and fail to keep up with the latest advancements.

Representative Spanberger, who co-led the Conservation Innovation Act, highlighted the need to cut unnecessary red tape and make the process more transparent. She stated, "By cutting unnecessary red tape and making the process more transparent, our bipartisan bill would help make sure that farmers are able to benefit from the most up-to-date, efficient practice standards."

The Conservation Innovation Act aims to establish an Office of Conservation Innovation within the NRCS. This office will ensure the utilization of the most effective new technology during the revision of current conservation standards and the development of new standards.

On the other hand, the Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act will require the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to provide a process for stakeholder input on each conservation practice during the review process. It will also review all conservation practice standards on a rolling basis every five years and establish an expedited review process for new conservation practices.

These bipartisan bills from Representatives Nunn and Spanberger seek to address the issues surrounding the current conservation practices. They aim to ensure that the most cutting-edge technology is utilized and that input from farmers is taken into account.

The full text of the Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act and the Conservation Innovation Act can be found on the respective links provided.

Overall, these bills represent a step forward in supporting Iowa's farmers and improving environmental conservation efforts. By empowering farmers and streamlining the process, these measures will contribute to the sustainable development of agriculture in the state while protecting its natural resources.

Click this link to access more information: https://nunn.house.gov/media/press-releases/nunn-introduces-bipartisan-bills-help-iowas-farmers-improve-environmental