Leopold Notes February 2011 | Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Leopold Notes February 2011

FROM THE INTERIM DIRECTOR
Whenever I use the words resilience and sustainability, I see landscapes − grasses and trees, crops and soils, rivers and creeks. However, ecological systems include people, and the actions of people also affect these ecosystems. In the latest Leopold Letter, I write about the ‘people factor’ and the process of change, adaptation and innovation in complex systems. It’s important to have many diverse voices and people with many different fields of expertise involved in the conversation about sustainable agriculture. And that’s what I hope is reflected in every issue of our newsletter – let me know what you think. – Lois Wright Morton

CLIMATE CHANGE
No matter how you describe it, Iowa’s climate is changing and the impact on Iowa agriculture will be very significant. Iowa State University professor Gene Takle will address this issue, and how shifting weather patterns also are changing how Iowa farmers do business, at the annual Shivvers Memorial Lecture on Sunday, February 6. The lecture poses the larger question: “Will Climate Change Impact the Sustainability of Iowa Farms?” The speech will begin at 7 p.m. in the Sun Room of ISU’s Memorial Union. News release

FIERCE GREEN FIRE
Aldo Leopold buffs will know exactly how those words were used many years ago. A new documentary by the same name celebrates Leopold’s extraordinary career and how he influenced the modern environmental movement. There will be two free opportunities to see the new film in Ames next month.

“Green Fire” will be shown at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, at the Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Avenue, as part of the annual Ames Reads Leopold event.

On Monday, March 7, organizers of the Iowa Water Conference are inviting the public to hear comments from Leopold biographer Curt Meine and then watch the film in Benton Auditorium of the ISU Scheman Building (Meine’s session will begin at 5 p.m.). The Leopold Center is supporting both events. Learn more about this amazing project on the Aldo Leopold Foundation website: http://www.aldoleopold.org/

WILL THE RAIN EVER STOP?
That’s the topic for the next Iowa Learning Farms’ webinar at noon, February 16. Presenter will be Christopher Anderson from the ISU Climate Science Program. To watch the webinar, or catch archived versions of past webinars, go to: http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/ilf/

LISTEN IN
Hear from four nationally known food system consultants who met with local food businesses and networks throughout Iowa last November. They shared their observations and recommendations to build a stronger local food economy during a recent webinar hosted by the Leopold Center and funded in part by a grant from USDA Rural Development's RBEG (Rural Business Enterprise Grant) program. Listen to the 90-minute session at: https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/p54535349/

FARM ENERGY WORKING GROUP
The working group, supported by a grant from the Leopold Center and administered by the University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Energy and Environmental Education, reports on several fascinating projects in their latest newsletter. Topics include use of renewable energy on a dairy farm, results of a recent energy use survey of Iowa farmers market vendors, and information about an upcoming workshop on micro-scale biogas production. The group’s website is: www.ceee.uni.edu/farmenergy.aspx

HUNGER IN IOWA
Over the past year, Des Moines saw a 60 percent increase in requests for emergency food assistance, and officials estimate that 20 percent still goes unmet. Learn more about these and related topics in the January 2011 issue of The Forum, a monthly e-zine of the Iowa Food Access and Health Working Group that is part of the Value Chain Partnerships project. The group is a statewide network of food and nutrition assistance program providers and health professionals interested in regionally-based food systems that address hunger and improve the health of all Iowans. The Forum is on the group’s website at: www.iowafoodsystemscouncil.org/food-access-health/