Iowa ag secretary candidates differ on water quality, fertilizer rules

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) — The candidates for Iowa secretary of agriculture have different ideas about how to improve the state’s water quality, including how farmers use fertilizer.

Jones proposes fall fertilizer tax

Democrat Chris Jones says Iowa needs to do more to address water quality. He wants to tax fertilizer applied in the fall, when he says the risk of nitrate runoff is highest.

“They’ve known for 50 years that fall application of anhydrous ammonia is a suboptimal practice,” Jones said.

Jones also wants to diversify Iowa’s crops. He says growing so much corn and soybeans makes improving water quality harder.

“We could put a tax on anhydrous ammonia such that the price would be similar to what the farmers are paying in the spring, I think that would inspire farmers to do more spring application,” Jones said.

Naig focuses on education, not taxes

Republican Mike Naig says improving water quality starts with working alongside farmers, not adding new taxes. He wants to focus on education and helping farmers apply fertilizer at the right rate, in the right place, and at the right time.

“Why don’t we look at overall nutrient management, the right rate, the right place, the right time,” Naig said. “And again, there’s an economic reason to do that because fertilizer is expensive and we want to make sure we’re getting the maximum use out of it. But there’s also an environmental benefit to making sure that you’re putting the right rate on and not using any more than you need to.”

Naig pointed to a state tool called N-Fact that recommends to farmers when to fertilize their land.

It comes as Iowa farmers face high fertilizer costs, putting pressure on them to protect both their bottom lines and the state’s water quality.

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Isabella Warren covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email her at isabella.warren@kcrg.com; and follow her on Facebook at Isabella Warren TV on X/Twitter@isabellaw_gray, and on Instagram@IsabellaWarrenTV.