Iowa agriculture department seeks $500,000 to combat animal disease

On the heels of an bird flu outbreak that resulted in the death of 34 million birds on 77 Iowa farms, the Iowa Department of Agriculture is seeking an additional half-million dollars to be prepared to respond to any future animal disease outbreak.

The $500,000 request will fund additional staff and resources at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey said Monday after presenting his fiscal 2018 budget request to Gov. Terry Branstad.

'It's going to be a tough budget year,' Northey said, but $500,000 is a small investment to protect a $13 billion industry.

Overall, Northey requested $45 million, an increase of $7.8 million.

In 2015, the bird flu outbreak that hit egg and turkey production mostly in northwest Iowa had a $1.2 billion economic impact in Iowa, according to a report commissioned by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. That includes the loss of laying hens and turkeys as well as the loss of more than 8,000 jobs in production, processing and allied industries such as feed suppliers.

The study also noted an impact of $427 million in lost wages and $145 million in lost taxes.

The funds Northey requested would provide a couple of staff people to help farmers with biosecurity on their farms and planning for bird flu as well as other animal emergencies.

Livestock producers and their commodity groups spend some money on biosecurity issues, but 'we have an industry that is hugely valuable, so it makes sense to have some state resources,' Northey said.

Northey also reiterated his support for the water quality funding proposal his department helped draft to provide nearly $500 million through 2029 for water quality efforts without raising taxes. It prioritized existing infrastructure funds toward edge-of-field and infield infrastructure, like wetlands, saturated buffers and bioreactors to improve water quality.

The bill also directed fees Iowans already pay on their water bills toward improving wastewater and drinking water facilities. It was approved by the House earlier this year, but not the Senate.

If approved, it would allow the agriculture department to expand current water quality efforts.

More than 5,000 farmers have signed up to try water quality practices on their farms and there are currently 45 demonstration projects in rural and urban settings. More than 100 organizations are participating.

Northey also requested $6.75 million for conservation cost share again in fiscal 2018. Last year, the state's $6.29 million investment generated $8.676 million in matching funds from Iowa farmers and land owners to support conservation practices.

l Comments: (319) 398-8375; james.lynch@thegazette.com