This project seeks to develop comprehensive strategies for addressing the overwhelming costs associated with managing the spread of emerald ash borer in Iowa, which threatens the valuable ecological and social benefits that trees add to the Iowa landscape. The project will build effective partnerships and business networks towards supporting sustainable land management activities and economic opportunities that capture value in low-quality woody material, and specifically emerald ash borer-infested wood.
Competitive Grants
The Leopold Center supports projects in a variety of areas that enhance sustainability for all Iowa agriculture. Since 1988, the Leopold Center has operated a Competitive Grants Program that has funded more than 420 Iowa-based agricultural and research projects in every county in Iowa.
About the grant process
The Leopold Center’s Competitive Grants Program that is open to all Iowa educational and non-profit organizations. Each year, the Center selects 20 to 30 new research and demonstration projects to fund. A Request for Pre-proposals (RFP) is issued in June, pre-proposals are due in late summer, and decisions on full proposal development are made in early fall. Final funding decisions occur in January.
Project Spotlights
Here's a sample of some of the projects we are funding.
Grazing prairie: Improving species diversity while maintaining cattle and goat productivity and resting home pastures
This three-year project seeks to increase species diversity at Chichaqua Bottoms Wildlife Area in Polk County by grazing cattle on a 263-acre reconstructed prairie and browsing goats in three oak savanna areas degraded by invasive species. Calf-weaning weights, body condition scores, and the economic value of winter forage harvested or stockpiled on resting home pastures also will be measured.
Cultivating the agrarian dream: Aspiring agri-entrepreneurs helping one another choose their path
This is an outreach education effort led by ISU Extension's Small Farm Sustainability program. The investigator will develop, offer and evaluate workshops for farmer entrepreneurs, and create a forum for participants to interact with veteran entrepreneurs. The program will allow participants to look at where they currently are and where they'd like to be in relation to their dream farm business. Cultivating the Agrarian Dream will direct the most dedicated participants into more comprehensive training.
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture |
Ames, Iowa 50011 |
(515) 294-3711 |
leocenter@iastate.edu