Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Iowa's waters focus of latest Leopold Center annual report

Back to Leopold Letter Spring 2009

Iowan's were deeply concerned with water in 2008, and the latest annual report from the Leopold Center reflects the Center’s work on a variety of Iowa waterfronts.

Whether it was responding to the summer’s floods, efforts to maintain water quality, or ways to appropriately manage water resources, the Leopold Center has been active in water-related research, demonstration, and education over the past year. The FY2008 annual report, “Water,” offers readers a brief, well-illustrated overview of how the Center maintains its long-standing commitment to Iowa’s groundwater protection.

The report highlights research projects and outreach done under the auspices of the Leopold Center’s current initiatives in ecology, policy, and marketing and food systems. In addition to the full-scale competitive grants program, the Center’s 2008 significant involvement and investments included: a new grass-based livestock working group; cover crops research; an organic crops information web site; two new working groups for fruit and vegetable growers and small meat processors; ongoing efforts by the Green Lands, Blue Waters consortium; and a web site showing where produce travels to reach the grocery store.

The publication also includes updates from the some of the “strategic investments” funded by the Center beyond its extensive competitive grants program: Iowa’s Grape and Wine Institute, Practical Farmers of Iowa on-farm demonstrations, promising students in the Graduate Program for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State, long-term organic crop research plots all over the state, and the Agricultural Systems Initiative in ISU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Director Jerry DeWitt’s leadership of the Iowa Learning Farms project paid dividends in a new “culture of conservation” initiative. Distinguished Fellow Fred Kirschenmann continued his extensive speaking and writing career while taking on half-time leadership of the Stone Barns Center promoting sustainable agriculture. The first lecture in honor of former director Dennis Keeney focused on health links to agriculture.

The annual report was edited by Mary Adams of the Leopold Center staff and designed by longtime graphic collaborator, Juls Design of Ankeny.

To request a printed copy of the 40-page annual report, contact the Center at (515) 294-3711.

Back to Leopold Letter Spring 2009