by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch
March 7, 2025
Iowa’s federal delegation is calling for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide financial relief for turkey farmers impacted by the spread of avian metapneumovirus.
In a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Farm Service Agency Acting Administrator Kimberly Graham Tuesday, Iowa’s U.S. senators and representatives asked for avian metapneumovirus (aMPV), also known as turkey rhinotracheitis, to be classified as an eligible adverse event under the Livestock Indemnity Program. This classification would give farmers who have had many of their livestock die from the disease access to financial compensation.
In Iowa, the lawmakers wrote, turkey farmers have reported flock losses between 30% to 50% because of aMPV, killing an estimated 569,700 turkeys in the last year and leading to a loss of $18 million in farm income.
“Despite devastating financial shortfalls and supply chain disruptions caused by aMPV, there are currently no federal assistance programs available to offset these devastating losses, leaving many family-owned operations at risk of closure,” the Iowa delegation wrote. “Without immediate support, the viability of these farms—and the stability of the U.S. turkey industry—is in jeopardy.”
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn was the lead author of the letter, saying that support for turkey farmers was needed as the process of vaccine approval and distribution for aMPV is still underway.
The Iowa Turkey Federation thanked Nunn for bringing attention to the impact of aMPV on farm families.
“Addressing this crisis is critical to restoring the financial security of our turkey farmers and ensuring a stable supply of turkey for consumers,” the Iowa Turkey Federation stated.
U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst also sent a letter to Rollins in February asking for USDA action to stop the spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has been detected in four Iowa commercial bird flocks in 2025.
Iowa representatives back flood relief bill
Nunn and U.S. Rep Randy Feenstra backed legislation introduced by Rep. Don Davis, D-North Carolina, that would expand the scope of flood-assistance programs to direct funding toward flood protection and flood-prevention infrastructure.
The Flooding Prevention, Assessment and Restoration Act would update guidelines for programs like the USDA’s Emergency Watershed Protection, which currently only provides assistance for land restoration to pre-disaster conditions. Feenstra said in a news release that the legislation would provide “greater flexibility” by allowing these assistance programs to fund repairs and improvements for infrastructure.
Feenstra said that after major flooding in northwest Iowa last summer, many homes, farms, schools and other buildings were left severely damaged.
“While we need rapid emergency response to floods, we also need to take proactive measures to protect farmland and our rural communities from devastation and equip our producers with the tools that they need to safeguard their land from excessive water damage,” Feenstra said. “By acting before floods strike, we can keep our farmland in production, save money in the long run, and help our rural communities mitigate and respond to flooding.”
Nunn said in a news release that after the 2020 derecho, Iowa farmers’ crop losses totalled more than $490 million.
“Iowa’s farmers are the backbone of our nation’s food and fuel supply, and when disaster strikes, they’re often the first to feel the impact,” Nunn said in a statement. “Floods and other natural disasters devastate local communities, and this bill will ensure that our rural communities have the resources to restore their land, rebuild their livelihoods, and keep feeding America.”
Larry Weber, cofounder and director of the Iowa Flood Center, said in a news release that the legislation would help flood-mitigation efforts in the state.
“This bill works progressively to balance the needs of agricultural productivity with flood mitigation and will help protect Iowa’s valuable farmland and rural communities across the state,” Weber said. “The proposed legislation aligns with much of the flood center’s efforts, and I am strongly supportive of the impact it will have on enhancing flood resiliency efforts in Iowa.”
Hinson calls for action on trade crimes by China
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson reintroduced a proposal to establish a new task force in the U.S. Department of Justice that would focus on investigating and prosecuting trade-related crimes, saying that the measure would help protect American workers and industries from Chinese entities that violate U.S. trade laws.
The Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act would appropriate $20 million in fiscal year 2026 if approved for this effort, and require the Attorney General to submit an annual report to Congress on the efforts taken by the DOJ to tackle trade crimes, and how these funds were used.
Hinson said in a news release Friday the legislation will help President Donald Trump’s administration tackle trade law violations by Chinese entities.
“For decades, Communist China and its subsidiaries frequently—and purposefully—violated U.S. trade laws through fraud, duty evasion, and transshipment,” Hinson said in a statement. “These illicit practices devastate American industry—undercutting wages, forcing manufacturers to close their doors, and hollowing out rural communities that rely on these jobs. … American workers have felt pain for far too long because of Communist China’s malfeasance — now it’s time for Communist China to face consequences.”
The measure was co-sponsored by Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Michigan who chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois, who serves as the ranking member of the committee.
“This bipartisan legislation sends a strong message, in one voice, that the Chinese Communist Party must end its illegal trade practices now,” Krishnamoorthi said. “From violating the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act to flooding the American market with dumped goods and illegal vape products, this economic aggression has gone unchecked for too long. This legislation will give the Department of Justice the tools it needs to fight back against the CCP’s predatory trade practices and protect American workers and companies.”
Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com.
