The NCSL Agriculture Task Force gathered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for a dynamic two-day meeting that combined site tours and hands-on learning with policy-rich discussions.
The bipartisan event, held June 6-7 and co-chaired by Iowa Sen. Annette Sweeney (R) and Minnesota Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL), brought together legislators, legislative staff, academic experts and industry leaders to explore the evolving landscape of American agriculture.
Friday’s agenda was packed with immersive site visits. Attendees toured a farm owned by Jim O’Connell to learn about runoff management and water-quality improvement projects; Archer Daniels Midland Co.’s sprawling corn processing operation to hear about local and regional growers’ connection with national and international supply chains; and Red Star Yeast’s production facility to learn some of the complexities of yeast product development and production.
Afternoon stops included the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program Food Reservoir, which distributes food to low-income individuals and families, and Sundog Farm, home to Local Harvest CSA, where conversations centered on food security and sustainable farming practices. Attendees heard directly from both community benefit providers and new and beginning farmers about the daily challenges they face and the needs that legislators could help to address.
Policy and Practice
Saturday’s sessions shifted focus to policy and practice. The day began with staff providing a state trends report, which spotlighted patterns NCSL has tracked in recent state-level policymaking, as well as an update on federal policy, including an overview of recent congressional and administrative actions. A roundtable followed, with lawmakers sharing priorities and highlights from their 2025 state legislative sessions.
Next, Chad Hart, professor of economics at Iowa State University, delivered a comprehensive update on the state of the agricultural economy. His presentation included real-time economic data on crop prices, farmer debt and other key indicators, He also addressed broader economic forces, such as trade policy, weather variability and supply chain disruptions.
The conversation deepened with a session titled “From Crisis to Resilience,” which explored how states are helping agricultural producers recover from natural disasters and build long-term stability. Roy Beckford, associate dean and director of extension at the University of Vermont, and Grant Menke of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship shared strategies their states have used to minimize producer losses, enhance resilience and ensure sustainable recovery.
The final session, tackled the urgent topic of animal disease prevention. James Roth, of Iowa State University’s Center for Food Security and Public Health, discussed the devastating impact of diseases like avian flu, African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease. He outlined proactive measures such as early detection, quarantine protocols and vaccination programs, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between states and producers to safeguard both animal health and the agricultural economy.
Created to examine state and federal agriculture policy issues, the task force comprises members from 28 states and a Canadian province. The Agriculture Task Force helps develop NCSL policy, studies critical ag and rural development issues, explores policy options to address these concerns, and serves as a conduit for state legislative communication with Congress, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies. The task force also can develop and recommend policy to the appropriate NCSL standing committee to guide NCSL’s federal advocacy work in Washington, D.C.
The Agriculture Task Force will gather again in August.
Megan Bland is an associate legislative director in NCSL’s State-Federal Affairs Division.