NE Iowa News

Many Iowans who face a beef shortage won’t go hungry thanks to producers who are prepared to "meat" the challenge.

The state has formed "Beef Up Iowa," a partnership between the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University and beef producers in the Hawkeye State.

Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced the program on June 18. Iowa State University students and staff will process the beef provided by farmers without their usual access to options due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a press release from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

The first cattle to be marketed came from FFA and 4-H members on July 1. The program will continue through the summer and as long as funds are available.

Where’s the beef going? Food banks and pantries will be the beneficiary to reduce food insecurity in this time of economic uncertainty, with the Iowa Food Bank Association and the six Iowa food banks coordinating distribution.

“From family farms to the grocery store shelves, to our family’s dinner table, our entire food supply chain has been impacted by COVID-19,” Reynolds said in a release from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. “Beef Up Iowa brings high-quality, nutritious beef to families in need of food security. I want to thank Iowa’s beef producers and generous members of the community who are all stepping up to help Iowans in need.”

Gregg leads Reynolds’ Feeding Iowans Task Force.

“Once again the Feeding Iowans Task Force has found a creative way to help food-insecure Iowans by leveraging Iowa’s extensive agricultural ties and developing mini-supply chains,” he said in the release. "The Beef Up Iowa program is particularly important to me in light of my family’s ties to the beef industry.”

State House candidate Anne Osmundson, a Republican from Clayton County seeking a District 56 seat in the Legislature, applauded the program in a June 30 Facebook post.

“The Pack the Pantry grant program will help food pantries across the state meet the increased demand of food due to COVID-19,” Osmundson wrote. “Thank you to Gov. Reynolds’ Feeding Iowans Task Force for addressing food insecurity in Iowa and helping our food pantries during a truly unprecedented time for Iowans.”

While Reynolds has allocated dollars sent to Iowa through the federal CARES Act — the state received $1.25 billion — for processing costs and other expenses, there are additional expenses, including purchasing cattle and storing, transporting, and delivering the beef.

To help support this program, go to Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation at donorbox.org/beefupiowa.

For details on available food resources, go to coronavirus.iowa.gov.