Grow Iowa Ag

03/16/2020

Our Grow Iowa Agriculture Day at the Capitol on March 24 is cancelled. The fast evolving coronavirus situation has caused the Iowa General Assembly’s 2020 legislative session to be suspended at least 30 days. We will be in contact when the Iowa Legislature does address appropriations for the next fiscal year. We may ask for your help with an email or phone call to your legislator.

This is an unprecedented event for all of us, so in the meantime, please do everything necessary to keep yourself, your families and your communities safe and healthy.

Thank you for your understanding, your care for one another — and your continued support of Iowa agriculture.

Jim

02/25/2020

It is very important that you make plans to attend our Grow Iowa Ag day on Tuesday, March 24, at the Capitol, starting with a 7:00 AM breakfast for all legislators in Room 116. We need a big turnout to support the legislative agenda of ISU President Wendy Wintersteen, ISU Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean Dan Robison, ISU Veterinary Medicine Dean Dan Grooms, and ISU Vice President for Extension and Outreach John Lawrence. Please join us and RSVP by Monday, March 16 to [email protected] .
Jim

12/06/2019

Thanks to the more than 150 people who showed up on December 2nd to demonstrate their support for agriculture in Iowa. There was lots of great discussion, especially with many of the state legislators attending. We heard from Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen, Veterinary Medicine Dean Dan Grooms, Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dan Robison, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. They spoke about how support for science and technology are essential to strengthening Iowa agriculture and the Iowa economy.

We also heard stories from Craig Rowles and Jacob Handsaker on the practical value of the services of the Vet Diagnostic Lab, agricultural research results from the ISU Experiment Station and science-based information and decision-making support from ISU Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension and Outreach.

Now we need you to engage with your local legislators (at legislator coffees, forums, or whenever you see them at community events), beginning today through the legislative session. Tell them your personal story of exactly how ISU, the Experiment Station, ISU Extension and Outreach and the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab are essential to the success of your operation or business. Please stress the importance of sustaining state investment in Experiment Station agricultural research and Extension and Outreach, plus the rest of the specific Grow Iowa Ag priorities outlined for the 2020 Legislative Session.

Our next big event in this process for you to participate in is the Grow Iowa Ag Legislative Breakfast at the Capitol on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM. We also hope you will invite your local legislators to attend and visit with you.

I would also encourage you to stay updated on the latest research, news and college events by connecting with Iowa State's social media accounts, including College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' Twitter and Facebook, College of Veterinary Medicine’s Twitter and Facebook, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension's Twitter and Facebook, and ISU Extension and Outreach’s Twitter and Facebook.

I wish you and your family the best for the holidays.

Thanks,
Jim

12/06/2019

Grow Iowa Ag Dinner, 12/2/2019

12/06/2019

09/25/2019

03/27/2019

THANK YOU for showing great support for growing agriculture in Iowa! On Tuesday, more than 40 Grow Iowa Agriculture members showed up at the State Capitol for an early morning breakfast that attracted more than 50 Iowa legislators. You did an excellent job conveying our messages of support for the Iowa State University budget lines for research, extension and veterinary diagnostics of critical importance to Iowa agriculture.

But I want you to be aware that one of Grow Iowa Agriculture's priorities is at risk — President Wintersteen's request for a biosciences initiative that she outlined at our December dinner and reported in a recent Alliance for Iowa State story.

It is very important that you email or phone your legislators this week let them know that the $4 million annual funding for the Bioscience Innovation Ecosystem is a significant step for Iowa's future, impacting our economy, jobs and reputation for science-based innovation. It is a long-term investment that leverages existing resources and investments, and the payoff over time has enormous potential. To find legislative maps and contact information for your legislator, go to https://www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislators/find.aspx.

Also, please visit with your legislators on this issue and our other priorities at upcoming legislative coffees in your hometowns.

Finally, please email or call me if your legislator replies to your email or asks for more details about this important biosciences effort. Again, thanks for your support.
Jim

Information pertaining to the Iowa Legislature as well as the Executive and Judicial branch in as much as they relate to the legislative branch

02/20/2019

It is very important that you make plans to attend our Grow Iowa Ag day on Tuesday, March 26, at the Capitol, starting with a 7:00 AM breakfast for all legislators in Room 116. We need a big turnout to support the legislative agenda of ISU President Wendy Wintersteen, ISU Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean Dan Robison, ISU Veterinary Medicine Dean Dan Grooms, and ISU Vice President for Extension and Outreach John Lawrence. Please join us and RSVP by Friday, March 15 to [email protected]

Thank you! Jim