By: Matt Scher, matts@977thebolt.com
Humboldt, IA – Democratic candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Chris Jones brought his campaign focused on water quality to Humboldt Wednesday, Sept. 2, making the city one of the stops on his Paddle for Clean Water Tour.
Jones and supporters gathered at Bicknell Park for a Clean River Rally following a 22-mile paddle on the West Fork of the Des Moines River.
The event included music, food and remarks from Jones and Kyle Kruse, a Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 56, which includes Humboldt, Wright and Hancock counties.
Jones said the condition of the West Fork of the Des Moines River demonstrates the challenges Iowa faces with water quality.
“These rivers are highly disturbed,” Jones said. “But, you know, rivers can respond relatively quickly when we correct things on the landscape. And so it’s not hopeless.”
Jones said he saw few insects, birds or minnows while traveling down the river and described the water as looking unlike what a healthy river should look like.
The candidate, who previously worked at Des Moines Water Works managing its laboratory, said his experience testing the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers helped shape his focus on water quality.
He argued that Iowa’s agricultural system is failing to provide the outcomes desired by farmers, rural communities and residents concerned about water quality.
Jones said Iowa needs to move away from an agricultural system dominated by corn, soybeans and concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs. One of his primary proposals is increasing the production of oats in Iowa.
Jones said the United States imports approximately 800 million bushels of oats from Canada each year, with about 600 million of those bushels coming to Iowa. He argued that Iowa could transition roughly one million acres of corn production to oats if markets and infrastructure were developed to make the crop profitable for farmers.
“For the last 40 years, the infrastructure has completely aligned with just corn and soy,” Jones said during an interview following the event.
Jones said diversifying crop rotations could also improve soil health and reduce weed and insect pressures while providing water-quality benefits. He also called for more livestock to be returned to pasture rather than concentrated in large confinement operations.
Jones said Iowa has approximately one million beef cattle on feed and suggested transitioning some of that production to cow-calf operations on pasture. He said that could potentially allow approximately three million acres of cropland to be used differently while providing opportunities for young farmers and strengthening rural economies.
Jones also pointed to other crops and agricultural products Iowa could produce, including alfalfa, clover, hay crops, fruits and vegetables. He said Iowa once ranked among the nation’s leading states for production of crops such as apples, popcorn, sorghum and barley.
While Jones said conservation incentives remain important, he argued voluntary programs alone have not been sufficient to address Iowa’s nutrient pollution.
He said some agricultural practices should be regulated, including fall tillage, fall anhydrous application, row-crop production near perennial streams and manure application on snow-covered or frozen ground. Jones proposed a 50-foot setback for row crops along perennial streams, similar to a requirement in Minnesota. He also suggested taxing fall anhydrous application to make spring application more economically attractive.
“I do think we need some regulation on the corn and soy system,” Jones said.
During the media scrum, Jones emphasized that he does not believe the conservation regulations he is proposing would threaten farmers’ businesses. He said some practices he considers problematic are allowed because they are convenient rather than necessary.
“The stuff I mentioned tonight is not a business-threatening or an income-threatening scheme,” Jones said.
Jones also identified pesticide drift and overspray as the first issue he would address if elected. He said complaints about pesticide drift have increased and pointed to damage to fruit trees, vegetables, grape vines and other crops.
Jones cited a recent example of a vegetable farmer in Page County who he said lost approximately $60,000 worth of produce because of pesticide drift.
He said Iowa needs stronger enforcement of existing pesticide regulations and suggested the state should examine how pesticide applicators are licensed and renewed.
“We need much more zealous enforcement of the existing pesticide regulations,” Jones said.
Jones also said getting young people into farming is less about creating interest and more about giving aspiring farmers access to land.
He questioned whether Iowa’s existing beginning-farmer loan programs are accomplishing that goal and said policymakers should examine land-ownership patterns involving investment groups and wealthy individuals.
Jones said helping young farmers establish operations could also provide an alternative to some of the economic-development strategies currently being promoted in rural Iowa. He specifically criticized the idea that data centers are the answer to rural economic development, arguing that agricultural diversification could create more opportunities in small communities.
Jones also voiced support for Iowa’s Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, commonly known as IWILL.
He said voters approved the constitutional amendment establishing the fund and argued that lawmakers should follow the funding formula approved by voters. Jones also encouraged Democrats not to concede rural legislative races ahead of the 2026 election.
“I would not rule this out,” Jones said of the possibility of Democrats gaining control of the Iowa Legislature. “Do not give up on these rural candidates.”
Kruse, who is running for Iowa House District 56, also spoke during the Humboldt event. Kruse discussed his background growing up on a dairy farm and said Iowa needs to make better use of its agricultural and conservation resources. He called for increased water monitoring, expanded conservation programs and greater access to locally grown fruits and vegetables. Kruse also criticized corporate consolidation in agriculture and expressed his support for Jones’ campaign.
Jones is seeking the Democratic nomination for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Republican incumbent Mike Naig is seeking another term.
The Humboldt rally was part of Jones’ Paddle for Clean Water Tour, a roughly 100-mile journey intended to draw attention to Iowa’s water-quality issues.