Protecting Iowa agriculture

Upmeyer Column: While we are finally getting warmer weather, this has creat-ed some serious flooding issues across the state with all the melting snow. Gov. Reynolds has already issued a disaster proclamation for much of west-ern and north Iowa, including Butler and Cerro Gordo coun-ties. If you were affected by the recent severe weather, you may qualify for state disaster relief. Visit DHS.Iowa.gov/disaster-assistance-programs to see if you are eligible.
After the first funnel dead-line, it is important that we get our bills over to the Senate so that they can be considered before the next funnel. That meant that the week was filled with debate and discussion of bills on the floor. We passed a number of priority bills includ-ing an extension of the school infrastructure tax (SAVE), enshrining the right to keep and bear arms in our state con-stitution, and several bills that will improve health care access in our state.
One of the most important bills that we passed this week is aimed at protecting Iowa’s agriculture industry from hos-tile individuals, groups, and foreign countries. Agriculture is the backbone of Iowa’s econ-omy and our rural communities. Iowa is a national leader in agricultural production when it comes to corn, soybeans, pork, eggs and many other commodities. And agriculture doesn’t just impact farmers. This is a wide-ranging industry also includes small business owners, manufacturers, and financial services.
Because agriculture plays such a significant role in Iowa, it often makes us a prime target for attack whether it is eco-nomic or biological.
We know that China is engaging in agricultural espio-nage, trying to steal intellectual property related to seed and livestock technology. There is also the potential for individu-als to engage in bioterrorism by infecting livestock with highly contagious diseases. The Afri-can Swine Fever is a serious concern for livestock producers right now. With a nearly 100 percent mortality rate, someone could deploy this deadly dis-ease in an effort to reduce the hog supply and negatively impact the market for pork. This would be devastating to Iowa’s economy, leading to thousands of job losses and would likely shut down count-less family farms.
Acts like these not only put the world’s food supply at risk but it also harms the competi-tiveness of Iowa and American businesses.
It is due to these serious threats that Senate File 519 is necessary. This legislation pe-nalizes individuals that use deception or false information to gain access to agriculture production facilities with the intent to cause physical or economic harm. We passed similar legislation in 2012, but a federal court recently struck it down. This year’s bill is much more narrowly tailored and includes provisions from a law that was passed in Idaho that has withstood court chal-lenges. The bill passed with support from both Republicans and Democrats on a vote of 65-32.
This legislation is not an attack on free speech like some opponents have said. It simply holds those who lie or deceive accountable.
This bipartisan legislation is critical for not only agriculture, but the future of Iowa. We will always look for ways to sup-port Iowa farmers so that they can focus on growing and raising the food that feeds the world. Upcoming Forums: Friday, March 29 10-11:30 a.m., Center One, 5 First St. SW, Hampton 1-2:30 p.m., Allison Public Library, 412 Third St., Alli-son.
As always, please keep in touch. As legislation moves forward, feel free to send me comments, questions or feed-back that you may have re-garding issues before us in the House. I can be reached at lin-da.upmeyer@legis.iowa.gov or 515-281-3521.