Feenstra

As a lifelong Iowan and proud representative of one of the most productive agricultural districts in the country, I will always stand up for Iowa farmers and our rural communities. Since my first day in office, I have been committed to delivering real results for the farmers who feed and fuel or country and the world. Whether that be keeping our farmland out of the hands of foreign adversaries, keeping farmers safe on the job, or ensuring Iowa has a strong voice at the federal level, I take my job serving our producers very seriously.

Last week, the Trump administration unveiled great news for rural Iowa by advancing the National Farm Security Action Plan, which includes my FARMLAND Act. This plan is a necessary step in ensuring that foreign adversaries – like China – stay off our farmland and keep it in the hands of the next generation, not foreign hostile nations. It also includes my work to develop new oversight measures for foreign farmland purchases, require the Secretary of Agriculture to report threats of foreign acquisition of American farmland to Congress, and hold foreign investors who fail to properly disclose farmland purchases accountable.

Last month, the Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also formally finalized the Expanding Access to Risk Protection (EARP) rule, which cuts burdensome regulations and strengthens the farm safety net for Iowa producers. This includes implementing my Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act, which lowers the cost of crop insurance for young producers and was signed into law as part of President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts. Crop insurance is a critical tool for Iowa farmers that must continually be defended and modernized, ensuring that Iowa agriculture can withstand the financial impacts of unpredictable natural disasters and disease outbreaks. I will continue to work with President Trump to lower costs for Iowa farmers, open new export markets, and grow our agricultural economy.

Additionally, protecting farmers also means protecting their lives and livelihoods. Iowa farmers feed and fuel our country and the world, working long hours, making unseen sacrifices, and risking their safety. That’s why I introduced legislation, the Roll-Over Prevention and Safety (ROPS) Act, to help prevent fatal tractor incidents on our farms. This legislation would create a cost-share grant program at the USDA to assist farmers in retrofitting tractors with rollover protection structures (ROPS). Simply put, these measures will save lives and keep our farming communities safe and strong.

Finally, I was glad to recently congratulate my dear friend and fellow Iowan Starlyn Perdue on her appointment as State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency in Iowa. Operating a century farm with her family in Pottawattamie County, I know that Starlyn will be an unwavering champion for our farmers while delivering victories for our agricultural community. This position will give our producers and rural communities a strong voice at the USDA and ensure that our farmers receive the best and most responsive service possible from their government.

My promise to Iowans is that I’ll continue to work every day to protect Iowa farmland, keep our farmers safe, and ensure rural communities have a strong voice in Congress. Representing the second largest agriculture-producing district in the country, I will continue to advance and support policies that benefit our agricultural communities and rural Iowa.

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Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, represents Iowa’s Fourth District in the U.S. House.