Reclaiming Resilience in Iowa’s Food Economy

What do trade tariffs and disputes have to do with Iowa?

The At the Iowa Farm Table Podcast—supported by the Iowa Food System Coalition—will be posted in Substack (and Apple, Spotify, etc) every other week.

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What do trade tariffs and disputes have to do with Iowa?

Everything.

Iowa ranks second in the country for agricultural exports, sending $16.5 billion in domestic agricultural exports abroad in 2022. Our top exports include soybeans, corn, pork, and feed grains—commodities that tie the state’s economy tightly to international trade.

Now, with new tariffs and trade tensions escalating once again, that vulnerability is impossible to ignore.

This level of dependence comes with real risk. Even before the latest round of tariffs, Iowa was already in an agricultural downturn. In 2024, Iowa lost more than 11,000 ag jobs and $1.5 billion in value added activity (the turning raw agricultural materials into higher value products like flour, jam, or jerky).

Interestingly, in a state with some of the best soil in the world and more than 68% of the state’s land area dedicated to row crops, agriculture contributes only about 4% of Iowa’s total revenue. Low-priced corn and soy offer limited returns, especially with so much income supported by government subsidies. Industries like manufacturing, finance, and government contribute far more to the state’s economy, though they too are facing challenges.

A System Under Strain

Even if tariffs end tomorrow, it wouldn’t be the end of the issue. Iowa’s dependence on export markets is creating uncertainty for farmers, manufacturers and rural communities. And it is this global volatility that makes Iowa vulnerable.

Governor Reynolds responded to tariff threats by blaming the previous federal administration. While she says her job is to protect Iowans, it is unclear how current policies achieve that goal.

We agree that Iowans deserve protection. But that protection will not come from pointing fingers or preserving the status quo. It will come from building something stronger than what we currently have.

Reclaiming Resilience Starts Here

A path forward is clearer than it seems. Across political lines, people support healthier food, cleaner water, and stronger local economies. When it comes to what’s on our plates and how it’s grown, there’s more agreement than division.

At the Iowa Food System Coalition, we believe the way forward lies in using our fertile soil to makes fresh, nutritious food available to all Iowans, while improving our air and water quality. That means investing in systems designed not just for volume, but for resilience. Not just for export, but for nourishment, community health, and long-term sustainability.

Our Coalition and its Food and Farm Business Development Team is working to make that vision a reality by bringing together farmers, technical assistance providers, food entrepreneurs, and policy advocates to support a more diverse and durable food system. Join them in creating a new system to promote their priorities to:

• Diversify agricultural production in Iowa

• Expand local and regional food infrastructure

• Provide business development and technical support

• Center historically underserved producers

• Create policy solutions

Food system development is already generating results. Between 2017 and 2022, local food sales in Iowa more than tripled. If just 10 percent of Iowa’s food dollars were redirected to local products, the state could generate $466 million for Iowa’s small and medium sized independent farms and improve nutrition across the state.

The path forward is not about abandoning Iowa’s agricultural identity. It is about reclaiming it by building a food system that feeds our people, strengthens our communities, and creates lasting economic opportunity close to home.

Now Is the Time to Act

That work needs continued support and meaningful investment.

One immediate step the state can take is to fully fund the Choose Iowa Purchasing Program at $3 million and expand the Choose Iowa Value Added Grant Program. Together, these programs strengthen Iowa’s local food infrastructure by helping farmers reach institutional buyers like schools, hospitals, and food banks, and by supporting the development of value-added products that keep more of the food dollar in local communities.

At a time when federal bailouts continue to support commodity agriculture, Iowa has the opportunity to invest in a food system that is more secure, more resilient, and rooted in place.

Let’s plant something better, together.

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