Iowa Raw Milk Laws & Regulations

Iowa legalized on-farm raw milk sales starting July 1, 2023, through Senate File 519 (signed by Governor Reynolds in May 2023), which added a farm-direct raw milk provision to Iowa Code §190A. Licensed producers meeting herd health, testing, and sanitation requirements set by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) may sell raw milk directly to consumers at the farm. Raw milk sold under the license must be labeled with a health advisory statement. Prior to SF 519, Iowa prohibited all raw milk sales, making the 2023 legalization a significant policy change.

Iowa's raw milk market developed quickly after the 2023 legalization, with producers licensing and opening to consumers across the state. Iowa's agricultural tradition and rural density support a distributed farm-direct supply. A 2025 bill sought to expand Iowa's framework to permit licensed retail store sales of raw milk, going beyond the current farm-direct-only model, but did not advance into law during the 2025 session. Retail legalization remains a legislative priority for Iowa raw milk advocates. Iowa's licensed producers are concentrated in the eastern and south-central parts of the state, reflecting the dairy farming geography of the region.