Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

Credit, crop insurance and sustainable agriculture

Project ID: P2009-07

Abstract

Various factors make it harder for farmers using sustainable practices to access financial resources. This project used surveys and interviews to pinpoint what these factors are and how they might be alleviated.

Key Question: Are the systems that provide the financial underpinning of modern farming in the Midwest--credit and crop insurance--naturally biased toward intensive commodity agriculture systems that reduce the risk of lenders, insurance companies and the government? If so, does this stem from a lack of information and understanding regarding sustainable agricultural practices and markets?

Findings: The study found that there are obvious disconnects between producers and non-producers in regard to knowledge of sustainable agriculture.

Lead investigator: Chris Petersen, Iowa Farmers Union

Co-Investigator(s):

Jon Bailey, Center for Rural Affairs

Year of grant completion: 2012

This competitive grant project was part of the Leopold Center's Policy Initiative.

Topics: Policy