E15, Tariff Relief Missing from Iowa Republicans’ Long-Delayed Farm Bill
Flawed Farm Bill does nothing to address challenges Iowa farmers face
DES MOINES – After Randy Feenstra, Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Zach Nunn failed to deliver a new Farm Bill for over two years, House Republicans — led by Feenstra and Nunn — are set to mark up a deeply flawed Farm Bill tonight that does nothing to address the challenges that Iowa farmers are facing.
Here’s what’s missing from Iowa Republicans’ majorly flawed Farm Bill:
- Year-round E15: A deal on the year-round sale of E15 is a top priority for Iowa corn growers, who are struggling to break even under the weight of reckless tariffs and chaotic trade policy from D.C. Feenstra, the co-chair of the E15 Council, missed his self-imposed February 25 deadline for a vote on the year-round sale of E15 and failed to prioritize the issue in January’s government funding bill. Now, the Chair of the House Agriculture Committee has made clear E15 will not be included in the long-delayed Farm Bill — further complicating any chance of passage.
- Relief from unconstitutional tariffs: The proposed Farm Bill does nothing to address the unconstitutional tariffs that already cost Iowa families an estimated $1,000 in 2025 and have pushed Iowa farmers to the brink of another farm crisis. Feenstra, Hinson, Nunn, and Miller-Meeks have repeatedly voted to sell out farmers and uphold tariffs.
- Protection from rising input costs: Iowa farmers are facing a “financial squeeze” from rising input costs and falling commodity prices. Iowa farmers filed for bankruptcy at the second highest rate in the country in 2025 and farm income is projected to fall by 24% in 2026, but the Farm Bill does nothing to address the rising cost of fuel, equipment, and fertilizer.
“Randy Feenstra, Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Zach Nunn have dragged their feet for years and done nothing to pass a new Farm Bill — and their inaction has cost Iowa farmers dearly,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart. “Now, Iowa Republicans are playing political games by proposing a catastrophically flawed Farm Bill that does nothing to address the challenges our farmers are facing and will negatively impact Iowa’s economy. Iowans deserve better than Feenstra, Hinson, Miller-Meeks, and Nunn’s election-year theatrics.”
###