Three new board members chosen to advise the Leopold Center in 2009

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AMES, Iowa -- Three new members have been appointed to the advisory board for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture in 2009. The advisory board is comprised of members who represent various institutions and agricultural interest groups. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Practical Farmers of Iowa and the State Soil Conservation Committee each named one new member in the 2009 appointments.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resource’s (DNR) new representative is Bill Ehm, who is replacing long-term member Lyle Asell. Ehm brings more than 20 years experience as a farmer and was a member of the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission for more than a decade. Ehm currently serves as water policy director for the Iowa DNR and is leading the effort to create a strategy to better use Iowa’s water resources, a plan that addresses water quality and quantity and allocation and conservation policies, among other issues.

Practical Farmers of Iowa appointed the owner and operator of ZJ Farms, Susan Jutz of Solon, to serve as its representative. Jutz is a past president of PFI, a member of the Henry A. Wallace Endowed Chair for Sustainable Agriculture’s advisory board and a lifetime farmer. Jutz also works with the Local Foods Connection, a private nonprofit group in Iowa City that is active in addressing local food issues. She is replacing Paul Mugge, who had served on the advisory board since 1999.

John Sellers, Jr. is returning to the board after a three-year absence during which he served as coordinator for the Leopold Center’s Grassland Agriculture Program. Sellers has been appointed by the State Soil Conservation Committee to replace Russ Brandes. Sellers was an early adopter of rotational grazing and biomass production and continues to manage 240 acres for forage production and wildlife habitat. Sellers has served more than 33 years on the Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District board, is a past president of the Iowa Forage and Grasslands Council and is serving a second six-year term on the State Soil Conservation Committee.

“These members represent longstanding and important partnerships for the Leopold Center,” said Jerry DeWitt, director of the Leopold Center. “It’s important to have a diversity of interests and experiences represented, and these members bring new insights, renewed energy and important issues to the table.”

The Leopold Center was founded by the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act. Its legislatively mandated goals are to identify and reduce negative environmental and socio-economic impacts of agricultural practices, contribute to the development of profitable farming systems that conserve natural resources and cooperate with Iowa State University Extension to inform the public of new findings. 

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The Leopold Center was established by the 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act as a research and education center at Iowa State University to develop sustainable agricultural practices that are both profitable and conserve natural resources. Iowa State does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Vietnam Era Veteran. Any persons having inquiries concerning this may contact the Director of Affirmative Action, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

This page was found at http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/06-08-2009/three-new-board-members-chosen-advise-leopold-center-2009 on 01/21/2013