Iowa Soybean Association delegates largely reaffirmed existing policy while tweaking language pertaining to cover crops, pollinator habitat and taxation during last week’s annual meeting and policy conference. Iowa Soybean Association policy director Carol Balvanz says new policy was developed requiring that as CRP contracts expire, future programs and pollinator agreements should be more targeted so productive acres aren’t idled.

She says they’re also asking for palmer amaranth to be added to the Iowa noxious week list. Plus they want USDA to establish and enforce an inspection and certification policy for cover crop seed to make sure it’s free of noxious weeds.

Balvanz says the group also tweaked their tax policy.

The Iowa Soybean Association also renewed their support for a long-term funding source for the state’s water quality initiative. Balvanz expects that debate to come up again in the 2017 legislative session.