Alternative Agriculture Aids Iowa Farmers

That live Christmas tree you bought from an Iowa farmer this year is one example of alternative agriculture in the state. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge says other alternative crops such as grapes are starting to gain ground. But, Judge says the state needs to come up with a new way to determine if a product fits under the agricultural heading so all Iowa farmers get the same tax advantages. Not all products are being treated the same way, and some products aren’t getting the proper tax breaks because they aren’t classified as agricultural. Judge says elk farmers are one example, and there’s also a question about whether greyhounds qualify as an agricultural product. Judge says she’ll try to get Iowa’s law changed in the upcoming legislature so Iowa farmers get proper credit for alternative crops.