U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) joined five of his Iowa Republican colleagues and the state’s governor in requesting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) consider bringing USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) projects to Ames, Iowa, as the department continues its reorganization efforts.
“In conjunction with the mission of bringing federal agencies closer to constituents, Iowa serves as a prime location with its unmatched production of food and fuel,” the lawmakers wrote in a Sept. 30 letter sent to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. “Our state has 35.7 million acres of land, more than 85 percent of which is used for agriculture. Iowa is a national leader in the production of corn, soy, swine, beef, biofuels, and more.”
In addition, Ames currently has one of the largest concentrations of USDA facilities and employees outside of Washington, D.C., that advances the city’s preparedness, minimizing transition complications for other ARS projects like those studying plant sciences, animal health, and the environment, wrote the lawmakers, who included U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Iowa also would benefit on the research front in being able to work with Iowa State University, and ARS employees would be able to own homes and enjoy the lower cost of living in Iowa, which falls 10.3 percent below the average cost of living and ranks the second-lowest for grocery prices in 2025.
“As the heart of our nation and a leading agriculture producing state, Iowa brings firsthand knowledge and real-world experience to the USDA,” wrote Rep. Feenstra and his colleagues. “To put it simply, Iowa knows agriculture and would contribute unparalleled opportunities for the agency.”