Ag Secretary Naig and Challenger Jones Spar over Ethanol Industry

by Sam Heyn (KIWA Radio) The two candidates running for Iowa secretary of agriculture offered opposing views on the future of Iowa’s ethanol industry during a taping of Iowa PBS’s “Iowa Press” on Thursday (October 1, 2026).

Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig, a Republican seeking a third term, said ethanol has been a major benefit to Iowa’s economy and agricultural sector.

Democratic challenger Chris Jones, a retired research scientist whose work focused largely on water quality, argued the state has become too dependent on a corn-soybean production system supported by ethanol.

Jones says demand for liquid fuels, including ethanol, is likely to decline as vehicles become more fuel efficient. He says that if elected, he would lead a conversation about what comes next for the Iowa land currently devoted to growing corn for ethanol plants.

Naig said that rising fuel prices show the need for more domestic energy production, including renewable fuels like ethanol.

The candidates made their comments during a taping of this week’s “Iowa Press,” which is scheduled to air Friday on Iowa PBS. READ MORE; includes AUDIO

Excerpt from Radio Iowa: Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig, a Republican who’s running for a third term, says ethanol has been “a very good thing” for the state of Iowa. “We’re spinning off important feeding ingredients for livestock producers, corn oil where you’re creating more value,” Naig said. “And by the way we know that this is a $5 billion contribution to our state’s economy, thousands of jobs (and) affecting corn prices for farmers.”

Chris Jones, the Democrat running for state ag secretary, is a retired research scientist who spent most of his career focused on water quality issues. “What has ethanol cost us, right? It’s entrenched this corn-soy system, it makes it difficult to diversify the system,” Jones said. “It’s directly responsible for a lot of this water pollution and, you know, I would suggest that it just has not been good for Iowans in general.”

Jones argues that as vehicles get more efficient, the demand for liquid fuels — including ethanol — will decline. Jones said if he’s elected, he’ll lead the conversation about what’s next for the Iowa land that’s planted with corn that winds up at an ethanol plant. “The ethanol industry has created about 7000 jobs,” Jones said. “How do you reconcile that with eight-or-nine million acres commited to this economic activity? It’s the worst jobs program in history if you look at the natural resources we have to commit to this.”

Naig argues renewable fuels like ethanol are part of the country’s future. “Fuel prices being what they are, doesn’t that just drive home the idea that more domestic energy production, more renewable energy production is a good thing for us in all forms ethanol, renewable diesel, biodiesel?…We can look for expanded markets around the world,” Naig said. “There’s more domestic usage to be had, so that’s what we should be focused on.” READ MORE

“I think the condition of our water here is the biggest failure of our state government in the history of the state,” Jones said.

Jones pointed to beaches with high E. coli levels and drinking water with elevated nitrate concentrations, which have been associated with certain cancers. He said cities often have more “capacity to cope with this problem.”

“If you live in a small town of 2,000 people and your well gets contaminated with nitrate and you need a new well or a new treatment plant, that's a burden,” Jones said.

Naig said the bipartisan Farm to Faucet legislative package signed into law earlier this year is a good example of what can be accomplished to address water quality issues.

The package is expected to drive nearly $320 million over the next 12 years for water quality monitoring, water treatment plant upgrades and conservation practices to reduce nutrient runoff in targeted watersheds. It does not include direct funding for a network of river sensors operated by the University of Iowa, which Jones helped develop.

Jones said corn-based fuel has “entrenched” a farming system that contributes to water pollution and called ethanol an environmental and economic dead end. He said it’s time for the state to strategize a way forward without this market.

When asked whether Summit Carbon Solutions can build its proposed pipeline without eminent domain, Naig said, “I believe that's how it's going to get done, if it's going to get done.”

The Ames-based company wants to capture carbon dioxide emissions from ethanol plants and transport it through a network of pipes to be stored deep underground or used for industrial purposes. The project faces legal and regulatory hurdles and strong opposition from many landowners.

“Iowans have been very clear about that they don't want the pipeline built using eminent domain, and we need to look at strengthening private property rights when it comes to the use of eminent domain,” Naig said. “But I will say this, you've got expansion being announced or being talked about in the ethanol industry, and it's not happening in Iowa.”

Jones is strongly opposed to the proposed pipeline and the 45Q federal tax credit, which has incentivized the project to move forward.

Under the Biden administration, 45Q was designed to pay facilities $85 per metric ton of carbon dioxide captured and stored or $60 per ton when CO2 was used for enhanced oil recovery or other purposes. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made the dollar amount for using CO2 on par with sequestration.

“This is not a climate change solution,” Jones said. “The CO2 is going to be used to scavenge recalcitrant oil out of these oil wells.” READ MORE