State-Wide Action Teams (SWAT) work to support the FB Strategic Plan’s three organizational goals:
1. Increase the positive influence of the organization and its members
2. Improve rural vitality
3. Ensure organizational excellence

Action Teams are organized in the following topic areas:
1. Animal Production & Health and Ag Biosecurity
2. Conservation and Natural Resources
3. Crop Production and Biotechnology
4. Education
5. Energy
6. Environmental Regulations
7. Livestock Marketing
8. Risk Management and Farm Programs
9. Rural Vitality/Development
10. Specialty Ag
11. Taxation
12. Transportation and Rural Infrastructure

Purposes of Action Teams: Farm Bureau created the Action Teams to provide:

• Education to Action Team members so FB has a well-informed “panel of expert” members on issues,
• An additional avenue for input to the organization in issue surfacing,
• A group that can be asked to participate in policy implementation as directed by staff (feedback on specific regulations, attendance requested at town hall meetings, etc.),
• Input on Farm Bureau programming needs.
• Input to the IFBF Board of Directors on items for their information.

Self-Application Process: Members can apply to be included in State-Wide Action Teams on the Farm Bureau website: www.iowafarmbureau.com.

Function as Virtual Teams: Communication with SWAT will be by e-mail and Internet. In-person opportunities to meet would be at Annual Meeting (for issue surfacing) and at the Policy Information Conference in March (issue education and programming).  For in-person meetings, SWAT members are reimbursed for transportation costs only.

1. Animal Production & Health and Ag Biosecurity – Animal ID, Animal disease control (Avian Influenza, BSE, FMD, Scrapie, Pseudorabies, etc), veterinary issues, embryo transplant, animal welfare, bioterrorism, Federal & State Emergency management and recovery programs, etc.

2. Conservation and Natural Resources – Conservation title of the farm bill, federal & state conservation cost-share programs, CRP, CSP, buffer strips, wetlands, wildlife damage, etc.

3. Crop Production and Biotechnology – Ag production technology, biotechnology, ag pharmaceuticals, input costs, etc.

4. Education – State & local issues related to education, schools, curriculum, standards, Ag in the Classroom, etc.

5. Energy – renewable and alternative energy issues (Ethanol, E-85, biodiesel, wind energy, biogas, bio-refineries, state fuel standards, federal CAFÉ standards), energy title of the farm bill, Comprehensive Energy bill, transmission lines, etc.

6. Environmental Regulations – State & national regulatory issues affecting livestock & crop production, EPA, DNR, CAFO issues, manure and nutrient management & regulations, air quality, etc.

7. Livestock Marketing – Market access, Production & marketing contracts, anti-trust enforcement, GIPSA, market structure, etc.

8. Risk Management and Farm Programs – Market structure and market standards (all commodities), crop and livestock insurance, risk management components of farm bill, commodity title of farm bill, risk management educational programs, statistics/census data, business succession, etc.

9. Rural Vitality/Development – economic development, land use, zoning, eminent domain, recreation & trails, property rights, rural development title of the farm bill, etc.

10. Specialty Ag – farmers markets, local food systems, horticultural crops, honeybees, fruit & nut crops, specialty crop pricing & marketing, agro-tourism, etc.

11. Taxation – Federal & state income, estate and sales taxes, property tax issues, local taxes, bonding issues, etc.

12. Transportation and Rural Infrastructure – Rivers, locks, dams, river flow, load limits, bridges, roads & right of ways, recording keeping requirements, HAZMAT issues, licensing issues, etc.