Statewide Iowa (RI) — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is proposing the first-ever “Iowa Farm Act” that includes a wide ranging of proposals, from targeted tax relief to promotion of agritourism.
Naig says the bill was developed after discussions with different groups about their priorities.
Naig describes one section of the bill as an attempt to modernize zoning exemptions. For example, if an apple grower decides they want to start making apple cider or hard cider on site, Naig says it would be good to clarify whether that’s still a farming operation or a commercial operation.
The bill includes some “agricultural experience” definitions, in order to boost agritourism.
The Iowa Farm Act includes a few tax proposals, too, like expanding a tax break for retired farmers and exempting honey bee purchases from the state sales tax.
Naig says there’s no sales tax on livestock sales, but beekeepers have to charge the sales tax on the queen bees they raise and sell to clients, many of whom are in other states.
KIWA Staff Photo
