Latest news from the Leopold Center
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11-20-09
Leopold Center project studies alternative bioimass crop systems
Wouldn't it be great to produce energy, food and feed in Iowa with cropping systems that are profitable for farmers, protect our soil and water and help rural communities? A team of Iowa State University researchers is imagining that future right now in a long-term project supported by the Ecology Initiative of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. They are studying a suite of cropping systems that incorporates high-yielding biomass forages such as triticale and sorghum into corn-soybean row crops, plus hybrid aspen trees for long-term biomass yield. Read more
11-20-09
Workshops offered for writing small-farm, rural energy grants
Workshops on writing grants for the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) will be offered in several Iowa locations in early 2010 for farmers with small to mid-sized operations and owners of rural “main street” businesses. To participate, send an e-mail to Dana at richd@ncat.org. Read more
11-18-09
Iowa Organic Conference December 4-5 marks ninth year
The keynote presentation at the ninth annual Iowa Organic Conference has special significance for Iowa State University’s Organic Program. The featured speaker will be Jerry DeWitt, whose work at ISU helped establish the nation’s first organic research program at a land grant university more than a dozen years ago. Read more
11-09-09
Ideas sought for grass-based livestock projects
The Grass-Based Livestock Working Group (GBLWG) is seeking ideas for research and demonstration projects that will boost the viability of the grass-based livestock industry in Iowa. The group hopes to award three to five grants totaling $21,000 with funds from the Leopold Center. Read more
11-09-09
ISU Extension to offer training for local meat producers, consumers [ISU Extension]
Have you ever wanted to purchase meat from a local producer, but didn’t know how to find someone to purchase it from? Or, are you a local producer who would like to sell meat to local consumers but aren’t sure how to go about it? Both producers and consumers will benefit from the tips and training being offered on this topic Monday, Nov. 16 from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Iowa State University (ISU) Extension-Sioux County office in Orange City. Read more [PDF]
11-02-09
Energy demonstration grants awarded to three Iowa farmers [Leopold Center and University of Northern Iowa]
The Iowa Farm Energy Working Group has awarded $5,000 grants to three farmers with small to mid-sized operations to demonstrate how they can meet their energy needs through energy efficiency or the use of renewable sources on their farms. The University of Northern Iowa Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE) facilitates the working group, which is funded by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. Read more
10-30-09
Farm partners sought for ISU on-farm research [Leopold Center and Practical Farmers of Iowa]
Iowa State University seeks ideas and proposals for a unique program pairing farmers with Iowa State University researchers to work on topics related to conservation and sustainability. Proposals are due on December 16, 2009 for the 2010 ISU On-Farm Research and Demonstration Grant Program. All ISU faculty, staff and students are eligible to apply. Read more
10-28-09
LSU oceanographer to discuss farm-to-Mississippi Gulf impact November 12
One of the scientists who has measured the size and researched the science of the oxygen-deprived “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico every year since 1985 will share his findings at Iowa State University on November 12. R. Eugene Turner, Distinguished Research Master at Louisiana State University, will speak on “Mississippi River Water Quality: Policy, Farm Landscapes and Hypoxia” as part of the 2009 Dennis Keeney Distinguished Lecture Series. Read more
10-26-09
Fairfield dairy couple win 2009 Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture
10-23-09
Deputy Secretary Merrigan shows new face of the USDA [listen to podcast]
9-29-09
Leopold Center study: Local foods could bring jobs to southeast Iowa
9-10-09
Perennial prairies and row crops can work well together
9-9-09
The Post Carbon Institute's Richard Heinberg to speak Sept. 24 [listen to podcast]