Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Iowa Local Food and Farm Plan

Latest news

This preliminary report to the Iowa legislature describes the activities of the Local Food and Farm Program from September 2011 to mid-January 2012.

A six-member advisory council has been appointed and met for the first time in January.

The new statewide Local Food and Farm Program is moving ahead on several fronts, each led by people already working on similar programs throughout the state. Learn more in the Winter 2011 newsletter article.

Funds were budgeted to set up a new Local Food and Farm Initiative for the state of Iowa. Craig Chase, interim leader of the Center's Marketing and Food Systems Initiative, has been appointed coordinator of this new statewide program.

Read the plan

The Iowa legislature asked the Leopold Center to develop and submit a Food and Farm Plan with recommendations to create a more robust local and regional food and farm economy in the state.

Here's the amendment:

LOCAL FOOD AND FARM PLAN. To the extent feasible, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture established pursuant to section 266.39 shall prepare a local food and farm plan containing policy and funding recommendations for supporting and expanding local food systems and for assessing and overcoming obstacles necessary to increase locally grown food production. The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture shall submit the plan to the general assembly by January 10, 2011. The plan shall include recommendation for short-term and long-term solutions, including but not limited to the enactment of legislation.

Iowa Local Food and Farm Plan, submitted to the Iowa Legislature January 2011 [PDF]

How we developed the plan

More than 1,000 people from 95 of Iowa’s 99 counties contributed to the Iowa Local Food and Farm Plan. Information was gathered at workshops, 15 listening sessions throughout the state and two surveys. The draft recommendations were discussed with leaders of 21 state agencies, institutions and organizations.

More than 150 people attended an initial work session to discuss short- and long-term strategies that could be used to reduce obstacles in 10 agricultural sectors, including crop and livestock production; processing, distribution and aggregation; financial assistance; marketing and market venues; food safety and other regulations; beginning and underserved farmers; planning; and consumers. Discussion is summarized in this document  [PDF].

Recommendations address 12 issues that emerged from these discussions:

  1. Farmers, processors, and food entrepreneurs need access to affordable loans to start and grow businesses.
  2. Farmers, processors, and food entrepreneurs need incentives (such as tax credits, tax rebates, grants, and equipment cost-share programs) to supply markets.
  3. Existing and beginning farmers need access to land and water to initiate or expand operations.
  4. Farmers, processors, and food entrepreneurs need affordable and comprehensive insurance products to minimize risks in crop production, liability, and health.
  5. Existing and beginning farmers, processors, and food entrepreneurs need education and technical assistance to develop profitable enterprises.
  6. Small and mid-sized farmers need customized environmental and food safety regulations to be profitable, protect natural resources, and ensure food safety.
  7. Farmers and processors need access to a skilled, affordable, and reliable workforce.
  8. Iowa needs investment in aggregation, distribution, storage, and processing facilities (such as cold storage, packinghouses, and distribution warehouses) to reach existing and new markets with high-quality local food products.
  9. Iowa needs marketing networks for local food processors, food entrepreneurs, and farmers.
  10. Consumers need better access to local foods and more information about local foods.
  11. More coordination and data collection on the state of local foods is needed within and across organizations and agencies supplying technical assistance, financial assistance, and regulatory oversight to local food producers, processors, and entrepreneurs.
  12. Iowa needs innovative and creative ways beyond tax instruments and funding reallocation to pay for programs and assistance to build a strong local food business sector.

Other resources

  • Local Foods in Iowa: Increased Opportunities for Economic Growth, handout about the benefits of local foods, January 2011
  • Local food and farm plans have been developed in at least a dozen other states and regions including Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, North Carolina and the City of New York. This document [PDF] has links to those plans, as well as efforts in several other countries, July 2010.
  • Learning About Local, a directory of Iowa organizations and programs that support local and regional food