Providing for programs and regulations related to agriculture, including crop production, animal health, and agricultural processing, providing for powers and duties of the department of agriculture and land stewardship, providing fees, and providing penalties

CROP PRODUCTION —— APPLICATION OF NUTRIENTS —— BACKGROUND.3). DALS also regulates fertilizing material which is a substance used to compound a fertilizer, and a commercial fertilizer which refers to a fertilizer, fertilizing material, and a fertilizer-pesticide mixture. A secondary input is referred to as a soil conditioner which is a substance other than a fertilizer that improves the condition or structure of the soil and is also used to improve plant growth. DALS licenses persons who manufacture, offer for sale, sell, or distribute a fertilizer or soil conditioner.4).5).6).8).10).11).12).14).17).22).12).17) each include such a reference.1).1) covers the use of a soil conditioner.11). CROP PRODUCTION —— APPLICATION OF NUTRIENTS —— BILL. The bill replaces the term “soil conditioner” with “beneficial substance”, which is defined as a substance or compound that is beneficial to one or more species of plants, soil, or media. “Beneficial substance” includes a plant amendment, plant biostimulant, plant inoculant, soil-amending ingredient, soil-amending ingredient form, soil amendment, soil inoculant, and compost.10). APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES —— CERTIFICATION —— BACKGROUND.2).5).). DALS is required to administer an educational program in cooperation with the Iowa cooperative extension service in agriculture and home economics of Iowa state university of science and technology.5). APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES —— CERTIFICATION —— BILL. The bill removes a requirement that DALS adopt by rule criteria allowing a person required to be certified to complete either a written or oral examination. The bill provides that DALS has discretion to adopt such rules. ANIMAL HEALTH —— CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS OR CONTAGIOUS DISEASES AFFLICTING ANIMALS —— BACKGROUND. DALS is granted authority to provide for the health of animals and specifically the control of an infectious or contagious disease (disease) afflicting livestock populations (Code chapter 163).2). ANIMAL HEALTH —— CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS OR CONTAGIOUS DISEASES AFFLICTING ANIMALS —— BILL. The bill provides that DALS may determine and employ the most efficient and practical means to identify and control a possible, imminent, or actual threat to an animal population caused by a disease. The bill provides that DALS may adopt any necessary rules for the control of an infectious disease affecting animals within the state by emergency rulemaking.4(3)). The bill requires that such emergency rulemaking be “double barreled”. Under the process known as double-barreled rulemaking, when an agency files an emergency rule, it also files the same rule as a notice of intended action that will follow the regular rulemaking process. Normally, a rule cannot be effective prior to days after its filing with the administrative rules coordinator and publication in the Iowa administrative bulletin.5(2)(b)(1)). ANIMAL HEALTH —— PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE —— BACKGROUND. Veterinarians are regulated by the board of veterinary medicine (veterinary board) which is responsible for licensing and imposing disciplinary action, including the suspension or revocation of a license for cause following a notice and hearing before the veterinary board.13). ANIMAL HEALTH —— PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE —— BILL. The bill provides that, in addition to imposing disciplinary action, the veterinary board may assess a civil penalty. The amount of the civil penalty cannot exceed $10,000 per violation. The attorney general may initiate a claim to collect a civil penalty and any amount collected must be deposited in the general fund of the state. ANIMAL HEALTH —— COURT-ORDERED MANAGEMENT OF LIVESTOCK IN IMMEDIATE NEED OF SUSTENANCE —— BACKGROUND. DALS is granted the authority to petition a court to conduct a hearing regarding the condition of livestock.3). The order creates a super-priority lien attached to the livestock, proceeds from the sale of livestock, and any associated unmanufactured products, for the benefit of DALS. DALS may also petition a court to order the disposition of the specified livestock. The proceeds from the sale of the livestock are to be used to reimburse DALS according to the lien’s super-priority status.4A). ANIMAL HEALTH —— COURT-ORDERED MANAGEMENT OF LIVESTOCK IN IMMEDIATE NEED OF SUSTENANCE —— BILL. The bill rewrites a provision requiring DALS to repay the remediation fund any proceeds that DALS receives from the disposition of the livestock less expenses in providing for the sustenance and disposition. The bill provides that if the court orders the disposition of the livestock, the order shall be deemed as acting in response to a petition by a receiver appointed by a court in Code chapter 680. AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING —— SLAUGHTER AND PROCESSING OF MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS —— LICENSURE —— BILL. The bill provides that a home food processing establishment licensed by the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing is exempt from DALS licensing requirements (Code chapter 137D).1). The bill also provides that the term of a license issued by DALS to a slaughter and processing establishment is extended to a two-year period (from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027). The licensee fee is doubled from $25 to $50 and from $50 to $100 to reflect the license’s biennial term. DALS is required to prorate the license fee for a new establishment. The bill makes various changes in terminology to improve readability.