Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Leopold Notes August 2011

Notes from the Leopold Center Archive

CHECK OUT THESE FIELD DAYS
We’re midway through the field day season and already 2011 will be remembered for the searing summer heat and high humidity. In spite of the weather, attendance has been good, with a lot of people learning about new systems and projects funded by the Leopold Center, from rainwater management for high tunnels to grazing cattle on public lands. Here are several other upcoming field days related to Leopold Center-supported research and demonstration projects:

CANOLA, A THIRD CROP FOR IOWA?
ISU professor Mary Wiedenhoeft explains her research project funded by the Leopold Center’s Ecology Initiative in the newest On the Ground video. She is looking at the environmental benefits of adding canola to conventional corn-soybean rotations, which take advantage of spring and fall growing seasons to keep the ground covered with vegetation. Get a link to the video and view experimental rotations

TRANSFORMING THE LANDSCAPE
A recent survey shows that Iowa has about 680 hoop barns for beef cattle, which accounts for about 15 percent of the cattle fed in the state each year. This system minimizes runoff from the feedlot because cattle are kept under a curved roof that deflects rain. The system was tested at a pilot hoop barn built at the ISU Armstrong Research Farm with a grant from the Leopold Center. Get links to fact sheets, details

TWO WASH STATION DESIGNS
Iowa growers who want to make sure they are following good postharvest handling and food safety practices now have access to plans for building their own vegetable wash stations. The plans are based on what’s being used at One Step At a Time Gardens near Kanawha, which hosted a recent field day. The plans are online, a project of the Fruit and Vegetable Working Group. Details and other resources

DREAM GREEN
Distinguished Fellow Fred Kirschenmann and Malcolm Robertson, who leads the Leopold Center’s Cross-cutting Initiative, were guests for a recent hour-long program in the “Dream Green Iowa” series. The series is produced by KRUU-FM in Fairfield, the Midwest’s first solar-powered community radio station. The series, supported by an Iowa Power Fund grant, focuses on Iowa innovators and what’s happening in renewal energy. Robertson discussed sustainable methods used by his Horticulture Enterprise Management class at the ISU Hort Farm, and Kirschenmann addressed tough questions on sustainability and agriculture. Listen to the program on the Green Iowa website.

LOCAL WONDERS
Artists are invited to submit ideas for projects that explore an agricultural/food theme or have a tie to the Ames community. Proposals will be funded by proceeds from an AgArts dinner on August 27 at the Montebello B&B Inn in Ames. Possible projects include funds to help a farmer plant wildflowers in a waterway, to hire a director for a local theatrical production, or to finance a roadside culture stand selling both produce and artwork. Details on the group’s website: http://agarts.eserver.org/groups/local-wonders/

SAME WORK, NEW WEBSITE
The USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has redesigned its national and regional websites to make them easier for farmers, ranchers and ag professionals to find grant information, books, videos and online courses. Check out: www.northcentralsare.org

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