Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Farmer joins as Farm Bureau rep

Back to Leopold Letter Spring 2008

A farmer from west central Iowa has joined the Leopold Center advisory board. Doug Gronau, who operates a farm near Vail in Crawford County, represents the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation on the board. He replaces Doug Beckman, who had served on the board since 2004.

“I want to serve on the advisory board to be a part of alternative cutting-edge technology that is being studied,” Gronau said. “I bring the perspective of a general farmer with a determination to be proactive in soil conservation and the environmental discussions. I want to help present studies that will benefit all of agriculture.”

Gronau said he has read materials from the Leopold Center for many years, noting that the Center is involved in research projects that few other universities explore.

“I think the Leopold Center can point out alternative methods for agriculture that can offer another way for a segment of our industry to prosper,” he added.

Gronau farms with his wife, Judy, and their son, Greg. They grow corn, soybeans and hay in a system that has been no-till since 2003.

The Gronaus are members of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and Iowa Soybean Association. They have participated in the soybean association’s Certified Environmental Management Systems for Agriculture (CEMSA) program, a process by which participants can measure the impact of current practices to reduce energy use and use of commercial fertilizers. Their farm also is enrolled in a carbon credit program.

Gronau has a degree in history and economics from Wayne State College in Nebraska. Since joining the Crawford County Farm Bureau in 1974, he has served in numerous leadership capacities. For the past six years, he served on the Iowa Farm Bureau Foundation’s Board of Directors, representing 11 counties in west central Iowa. He also served on several statewide committees, including the federation’s speaker corps and on several statewide environmental committees.

Judy Gronau is a District Soil Commissioner and serves on the M&M Divide RC&D Board of Directors. The Gronaus have been involved in community, church and school activities. Doug has served on the county extension council and currently is a member of the Crawford County Board of Adjustments.

They have four children and several grandchildren.

Back to Leopold Letter Spring 2008