Iowa Department of Agriculture officials are pleased with the 2018 state legislature and their decision to fund two major department needs. State Ag Secretary Mike Naig says the first was financial support for foreign animal disease response preparedness.

He says the total funding for that response preparedness over the last two years totals $250,000. With the money they’ll be able a Veterinarian to specialize on disease response.

Naig says state lawmakers also approved $282 million for long term water quality efforts.

He says at the end of this month, it’ll be the fifth year anniversary for Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Management Strategy which has helped improve the state’s water quality since its inception.