Agriculture and Rural Iowa

Governor Culver visits with farmers to talk about recent storm damage in Fayette and Winneshiek counties. Governor Culver and Lt. Governor Judge believe Iowa farmers are the best in the world, and they have worked hard to help our farmers succeed.  Whether promoting renewable energy, promoting new markets in foreign countries, working to protect family farms, or creating new jobs and opportunities in rural communities, both the Governor and Lt. Governor have never stopped fighting for rural Iowa.  They know that the heart of our state lies in rural Iowa, and they will continue to do all they can to ensure that both all Iowans – whether on the farm or in the city – have a bright future.

  • Under Governor Culver, Iowa ranks 1st in the U.S in the production of ethanol and 2nd in biodiesel.
  • Governor Culver signed legislation to increase the number of blender pumps, which will increase the amount of ethanol used and the amount of corn produced.
  • Governor Culver is working with the federal government to increase the blend of ethanol at the pump, thereby using cleaner, homegrown Iowa ethanol.
  • When pork and diary prices were down, the Governor worked with the federal government to implement new changes that will help raise prices and protect family farms.
  • The Governor passed IJOBS, which includes $105 million for roads in every county and community and for deficient bridges statewide.  Of that total, $27.5 million will be directly allocated to all 99 counties to be used to repair Iowa’s gravel and farm-to-market roads, $27.5 million will be directly allocated to Iowa’s 947 cities to improve city streets, and $50 million will be allocated to the Iowa DOT to repair or replace over 50 bridges on the primary system throughout the state.  IJOBS also includes more than $35 million for investments in renewable energy projects through the Iowa Power Fund, which has been leveraged into more than $190 million in investment.
  • More than $35 million has been invested in renewable energy projects through the Iowa Power Fund, which has been leveraged into more than $190 million in investment.
  • Communities statewide are seeing renewal thanks to Governor Culver’s efforts to bring wind energy companies to Iowa.
  • Governor Culver pushed and signed School Infrastructure Local Option (SILO) legislation that provides millions of dollars for rural schools all over Iowa.