Journal Issue:
Agricultural Policy Review: Volume 2023, Issue 3
Agricultural Policy Review: Volume 2023, Issue 3
Volume
Number
Fall 2023
Issue Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Journal Volume
Journal Volume
Articles
Publication
Federal Food Policy Changes following the COVID-19 Pandemic
(
2023)
This article discusses changes in federal food policy following the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the policy options that were created in response to high rates of unemployment and school closures have now sunset. This article discusses the implementation and phase-out of food policy options that were designed to assist households during the pandemic.
Publication
Strategic Risk and Collective Action in Agriculture
(
2023)
Collective action is advocated as a solution to common challenges encountered by agricultural producers, including accessing new markets, sharing capital investment expenses, and negotiating with companies both upstream and downstream in the supply chain (Bouamra-Mechemache and Zago 2015). Collective action is also proposed as a solution to problems related to externalities and public goods within the agricultural community and between farmers and other economic actors (Ayer 1997). Recently, there is growing interest in utilizing collective agri-environmental strategies to efficiently deliver public goods, such as biodiversity, water availability and quality, resilience against fires and flooding, storage of carbon to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhanced agricultural landscapes (Vanni 2014).
Publication
Agricultural Projections Going into 2024
(
2023)
USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report outlines the current view for agricultural markets over the next 12–18 months. In general, extreme weather events and domestic and international economic concerns have shaped the agricultural projections for the near future. While US meat demand remains resilient, cattle numbers have continued to decline due to drought and high production costs. Meanwhile, USDA projects the pork and poultry industries will grow. Livestock prices have a mixed outlook for 2024, with beef and pork prices expected to increase, while prices for broilers and turkeys fall. This year’s acreage shifts seem to have bigger impacts on crop production than the ongoing drought, with corn acreage and production jumping higher, while soybean area and production fell. Crop usage eroded from sustained higher prices; however, the forecast shows a rebound in crop usage for the 2023 crops, with the exception of soybean exports.
Publication
Linking Water Quality Improvement with Economic Benefits to the Iowa Population
(
2023)
The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS) establishes a goal of reducing nutrient discharge by 45% to Iowa streams and water bodies by 2035 (IDALS 2020), consistent with the nutrient reduction goal reported in the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan (MRGMWN Task Force 2008). The INRS also embraced an interim Hypoxia Task Force goal to reduce nutrient losses 20% by 2025 (IDALS 2020). However, formidable challenges remain to attaining these goals as evidenced by pervasive elevated in-stream nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels in Iowa streams reported by Jones et al. (2018a; 2018b; 2019) and Schilling et al. (2020). Algal blooms have also been increasing in Iowa lakes and rivers, resulting in eutrophication, fish-kills, and harmful impacts on drinking water supplies, outdoor recreation, and tourism (IEC 2023; INRS 2023; Christianson et al. 2013). Mitigation of the seasonal hypoxic zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico, which is driven by nutrient export from the Mississippi River, has also proved elusive (Rabalais and Turner 2019).
Publication
Solar Energy Surge in Iowa: Policies, Public Opinions, and Future Opportunities
(
2023)
In 2022, Iowa ranked first in the United States for percentage of state electricity produced by wind energy, which contributed 62% of its net electricity generation (USEIA 2023a). In contrast, in 2023, Iowa ranks 34th in solar generation, which represents only 1% of its total electricity generation (Glover 2023).
Over the past two decades, solar energy systems have improved in efficiency and declined in cost of installation. At present, solar energy represents the most economical option for electricity generation based on the metrics of the average levelized cost of energy (USEIA 2023b). Given the availability and consistency of high-quality solar natural resources across Iowa, coupled with its cost-effectiveness, solar energy can play a crucial role in attaining Iowa’s established goal of reaching 100% clean power by 2035 (IEC 2021) and further driving down electricity rates.
This article briefly explores the development of solar energy systems in Iowa, describes a range of policies concerning solar energy development at the federal and local levels, and summarizes a sample of Iowans’ preferences for and interest in solar energy systems.