Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

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This is our quarterly 12-page newsletter. Below is a description of what you'll find in each issue. Click on issue date for links to newsletter articles, download a PDF by clicking on the newsletter image, or sign up to receive the Leopold Letter by email or in your mailbox.

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Leopold Letter Winter 2010

Organic promise: This issue recaps the 10th anniversary of the Iowa Organic Conference, the Leopold Center’s small but important role, and challenges ahead. You’ll also hear from Interim Director Lois Wright Morton and the important role that people have in creating innovations in the landscape, plus a look at resilience from two different but complementary perspectives. Distinguished Fellow Fred Kirschenmann talks about the food and agriculture landscape of our future.

Other features: Meet Vic and Cindy Madsen, the newest recipients of the Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture; a unique public-private partnership that’s working for goat and cattle producers; and a report from environmental author Bill McKibben.

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Leopold Letter Fall 2010

Looking for resilience

Resilience – where is it, what does it look like and why we need it. Look at resilience through the eyes of researchers involved with two Leopold Center projects hit by heavy floods this summer, new Interim Director Lois Wright Morton and Distinguished Fellow Fred Kirschenmann. You’ll also see how longer crop rotations have mysteriously curbed Sudden Death Syndrome in soybean research plots and learn about a powerful new tool to explore new local food markets.

Other features: An ISU research team hopes to test its weeding robot, peek at a new publication about the many benefits of prairies for landowners, and meet another new advisory board member.

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Leopold Letter Summer 2010

Making plans for a future

You cannot plan for the future without understanding the present. and this issue offers a glimpse into food production, farmland ownership and protecting Iowa’s water. Learn about a new Local Food and Farm Plan that the Iowa legislature has asked the Leopold Center to prepare, farmland ownership and its implications for conservation and the next generation of farmers, and how experts hope to improve the grassed waterways that protect Iowa streams from field runoff.

Other features: Outgoing Director Jerry DeWitt shares his Top 10 list and Distinguished Fellow Fred Kirschenmann talks about “idea-spaces” that lead to change. We also document success of our working group networks, tell you about Iowa’s native pawpaw fruit and the new Conservation Station.

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Leopold Letter Spring 2010

All kinds of agriculture

From beginning farmers, produce farmers and graziers to farmers seeking cover crop solutions, this issue looks at the needs of many kinds of farmers involved in agriculture today. Headlining this issue are the Leopold Center’s new competitive grant projects and a report from a national forum about America’s new farmers.

Other features: Meet the Leopold Center’s new interim director, and say goodbye to our outgoing director who offers parting advice and images. Our resident philosopher, Fred Kirschenmann, talks about the futility of putting a price on something that’s priceless.
 

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