Iowa Democratic Candidates Propose Farm Bill Reforms at Union Forum

Democratic candidates for state and federal office met with nearly 100 members of the Iowa Farmers Union on July 25, 2026, at the Big Oak Barn in Elkhart. The candidates addressed the economic distress of family farms, specifically citing a 53% drop in farm incomes over three years and rising bankruptcy rates linked to tariffs and high input costs from the ongoing Iran conflict.

Sarah Trone Garriott, running for U.S. House District 3, proposed using the farm bill to incentivize sustainable practices such as cover crops and no-till farming. U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek pledged to fight farm foreclosures and advocate for a non-passive farm bill and the right of farmers to repair their own equipment.

Other candidates focused on systemic and structural shifts. Lieutenant governor candidate Dave Muhlbauer highlighted the instability of the state economy, while secretary of agriculture candidate Chris Jones called for diversifying Iowa's crop systems beyond corn and soybeans to improve water quality and increase local food access.