Iowa farmers launch ‘Commonsense’ coalition amid economic strain

DES MOINES — A coalition of Iowa farmers is launching a new organization, “Iowa Farmers United by Commonsense,” as frustration grows over rising costs, trade disruptions and what they describe as inaction from federal lawmakers.
The group, announced this week, brings together farmers from across the state who say a combination of global instability and federal policy decisions has deepened an already difficult economic climate in rural Iowa. Members argue that tariffs, trade disputes, high input costs and consolidation within the agriculture industry are threatening the long-term viability of family farms.
“Our Iowa congressional delegation is failing to deliver relief for farmers who are struggling under the weight of failed and chaotic policies out of Washington DC,” said Seth Watkins, a Page County farmer. “We elected them to fight for us in Congress, but on important votes to end the tariff madness or bring down input costs they’ve sided against farmers. It’s time for new leaders who can deliver commonsense policies that will help farmers make a living without relying on handouts caused by self-inflicted disasters.”
The formation of the group comes at a time when many Iowa farmers say they are facing a convergence of economic pressures. Input costs — particularly for fertilizer, equipment and fuel — have risen sharply, while commodity prices have remained relatively stagnant. At the same time, international trade tensions have limited export opportunities for key crops like corn and soybeans.
Shelby County farmer Daniel Rosmann, one of the group’s members, said the organization grew out of a shared sense of frustration among farmers who feel their concerns are being ignored in Washington.
“The frustratingly consistent inaction from our Iowa delegation in Washington DC led to the formation of this group,” Rosmann said. “Instead of challenging the Trump administration on disastrous tariffs, corporate consolidation, or the war in Iran, they have stood idly by, or worse, have falsely claimed these policies are good for Iowa’s farmers.”
Rosmann said the group is still small but reflects broader concerns across rural communities.
“It is a small group at this time, but it represents the growing number of Iowa farmers and rural folks who are seeing their communities decline due to the numerous agricultural challenges we are all facing,” he said.
Farmers involved in the effort point to a widening gap between costs and revenue as a central issue. While prices for crops have struggled to keep pace, the cost of doing business has continued to climb.
“Iowa farmers have been dealing with stagnant prices for decades with input costs rising during that time,” Rosmann said. “Now with the war in Iran, prices for many inputs, especially fertilizer, has skyrocketed.”
Ryan Marquardt, a Madison County cattle rancher, echoed those concerns, describing the economic environment as unsustainable.
“Farmers United by Commonsense was created to express the shared frustration thousands of farmers across Iowa are feeling when we go to purchase expensive fertilizer, try to repair our unaffordable equipment, or are forced to sell our product at a loss,” Marquardt said. “The war in Iran is just the latest blow to farmers who have been dealing with chaotic tariffs and high input costs over the last year.”
Beyond immediate costs, Rosmann said federal agricultural policy has contributed to structural challenges within the industry.
“The last several farm bills have prioritized just a few commodities, for Iowans, corn and soybeans,” he said. “This has lead to a large overproduction and has subsequently kept prices low. As a result, only the farms able to massively scale up their operations have been able to comfortably be profitable. Promotion of alternative crops that could potentially help small farms enter new markets has been basically nonexistant.”
International trade policy is another major concern for the group. Tariffs and trade disputes have strained relationships with key export markets, leaving farmers vulnerable to shifting global demand.
“Tariffs have had an overwhelmingly negative effect on farmers over the past year,” Rosmann said. “Many countries are now looking to competitors to fulfill their commodity needs.”
Group members also point to broader geopolitical issues,  including ongoing conflicts abroad, as contributing to volatility in agricultural markets and input costs. They argue that global instability can quickly ripple down to the farm level, particularly in a state like Iowa that relies heavily on exports.
At the heart of the group’s mission is a push for what members describe as “commonsense” agricultural policy, an approach they say prioritizes family farms and rural communities over corporate interests.
“Common sense ag policy is policy that gives small and midsized Iowa farmers a level playing field,” Rosmann said.
Wendy Johnson, a Floyd County farmer, said she wants elected officials to focus on long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes.
“As a farmer, I want my congressional leaders to listen to us – not just the big lobbyists. They need to do what is right for Iowa and Iowans,” Johnson said. “We are facing a looming farm crisis that is not getting better, but worse. Instead of pointing fingers, our leaders should be helping solve problems, fight for prevention, and not just use hard-working taxpayer dollars for band-aids because we can’t afford to keep doing the same old thing.”
Rosmann said that includes rethinking how farm policy is crafted at the federal level.
“Iowa’s congressional delegation needs to have the courage to stand up to the disastrous policies of the Trump administration,” he said. “They need to craft a farm bill that actually addresses the needs of small farmers instead of constantly caving to the wishlist provided to them by corporate ag.”
Still, he expressed skepticism that meaningful change will come from current leadership.
“Congress and the administration have had numerous opportunities to do right by Iowa farmers,” Rosmann said. “They have been confronted by concerned rural Iowans and have consistently ignored those concerns. It is hard to have any faith that this will change. The only real change will come in the form of representatives that understand and sympathize with the challenges facing our farmers.”
“Iowa Farmers United by Commonsense” includes a mix of active and retired farmers from across the state, representing counties from Tama and Muscatine to Montgomery and Shelby. While the organization is in its early stages, members say they plan to focus on education, advocacy and potentially supporting candidates who align with their priorities.
“Iowa Farmers United by Commonsense is a new group, but it is working to educate and promote positive policy positions and the candidates with the common sense to stand behind those policies,” Rosmann said.
The group’s long-term goal is to reverse what members see as troubling trends in rural Iowa, including population decline and increasing consolidation in agriculture.
“This group will be a success if it can help elect leaders that will fight for the policies that will reverse the negative trends being felt by Iowa’s farmers,” Rosmann said.
If those concerns are not addressed, he warned, the consequences could be severe. “Corporate consolidation, larger farms, and hollowed out rural communities are already a major problem in Iowa and will only continue to get worse if these concerns keep being ignored.”
For many of the farmers involved, the stakes go beyond economics. They say the future of family farming  and the communities built around it  hangs in the balance.
“We’ve all seen enough of our current Congressional leadership at this point to know they’re not going to be the ones to get us out of this mess,” Marquardt said.