Research results focus on local food systems, grassland health

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June 25, 2012

AMES, Iowa -- Summaries of eight recently completed projects are now available on the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture website, covering topics that range from local food networks to invasive species to cattle grazing.

All five projects in the Marketing and Food Systems Initiative dealt with aspects of local food systems. Project investigators created new regional networks, offered food safety training, and studied how to help refugees and immigrants start farm enterprises.  

One Ecology Initiative project designed a prototype rainwater catchment system for a high tunnel. A video and seven-page fact sheet about the project can be found on the Leopold Center website. Two other projects studied the spread of eastern red cedar in southern Iowa grasslands and examined the factors that influence how cattle congregate around pasture streams.

The 2012 research results are listed by project title below. Find research summaries on the web at www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/results.

Marketing and Food Systems Initiative

• Iowa immigrant and refugee incubator farm program
• Regional Flavors
• South Central Iowa Area Partnership, local foods network
• Impacts of GAPs and post-handling practices certificate training on producers’ on-farm food safety behaviors and perceptions of customer assurance
• Building a food system framework to advance the health of Iowans – A blueprint for action

Ecology Initiative

• Systems model and prototype development to capture and use rainwater run-off from a high tunnel
• Quantifying eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) in southern Iowa: A starting point for conversations with landowners about threats to grassland resilience
• Site specific implementation of practices that alter the spatial/temporal distribution of grazing cattle to improve water quality of pasture streams in the Rathburn Lake watershed

The Leopold Center has funded more than 480 research, education, and demonstration projects since the competitive grant program began in 1988. The program covers four initiatives: Marketing and Food Systems, Ecology, Policy and Cross-cutting (water, energy, soil and alternative farming systems).

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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/06-25-2012/research-results-focus-local-food-systems-grassland-health on 01/20/2013