Iowa’s farmers are wrapping up one of the strongest harvests we’ve seen in years. Soybean yields could top 500 million bushels, and corn is projected to reach nearly 223 bushels per acre — close to a new record.
The problem: That’s a big win for Iowa, but ongoing uncertainty from the government shutdown and frozen USDA operations is making it harder to move this year’s crop to market and nearly impossible to plan for next year.
Yesterday, I joined Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig at Heartland Co-op for a roundtable with local farmers.
We shared updates on the new trade deals President Trump delivered for Iowa producers. But the message from farmers was clear: the shutdown is disrupting loans, delaying disaster payments, and putting critical USDA support programs on hold right when they’re needed most.
Why it matters: This is the busiest season of the year — and Washington needs to understand what’s happening on the ground. When farmers can’t access the tools they rely on, it adds risk at a time when confidence matters most.
We’ve made real progress opening global markets for Iowa crops. Now it’s time to reopen the government so farmers can move forward with the support they’ve earned.
Bottom Line: Iowa’s farmers are doing their part and delivering record crops. Washington needs to do theirs — and that starts with restoring trade access, reopening the government, and giving Iowa’s farmers economic certainty.