Leopold Notes June 2011

RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY
Farms of the future will need both, according to presentations at a recent Leopold Center workshop. Penn State weed ecologist David Mortensen offered opening comments, followed by a panel discussion with perspectives from a farmer, researcher, university professor and local food coordinator. More than 80 researchers and educators attended the workshop, whose goal was to explore how resilience could be part of future Leopold Center-sponsored research and demonstration projects. View videos, posters that summarized past Leopold Center projects and their connection with resilience and other materials from the conference here.

FARMING FOR UNTROUBLED WATERS
Bear Creek, a Leopold Center project that grew into a nationally recognized watershed demonstration, has 20 years of research under its belt. Watch videos about two new Leopold Center research projects taking place at the site – one that connects field tiles with buffers and another that looks at what’s happening in areas upland from buffers. The three new “Farming for Untroubled Waters” videos are part of the On the Ground series available on iTunesU, YouTubeU and the Leopold Center website.

RESEARCH RESULTS
Findings from 11 recently completed Leopold Center research projects are now available. Read one-page summaries about grapes, greenhouses, dairy cows, prairie insects, high tunnels, communities of practice, distillers dried grains, land retirement programs and local foods projects at:
http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/grants/completed

A NICHE FOR MEAT PROCESSORS
Investing in Iowa’s small meat processing plants could have positive local impacts in rural communities. A new Leopold Center report analyzed some of the challenges and opportunities for the state’s meat processing facilities, particularly those that could help meet increasing consumer demand for specialized meat, such as grass-fed cattle and pastured-raised hogs or poultry. The analysis was conducted by Iowa State economist Dave Swenson. Read more

LEARNING ABOUT LOCAL
The Leopold Center has updated its popular directory of resources for people interested in local food systems. The Learning About Local directory has contact information for 85 organizations, programs, funders and consultants that offer various forms of assistance for people interested in local foods systems. Read more about the directory, or download as a printable document, on the Leopold Center website.

LEOPOLD LEGACY
Nina Leopold Bradley, the third of Aldo and Estella Leopold’s five children, died May 25 at her home in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Read a memorial, written by former Leopold Center director Dennis Keeney.

SUMMER FIELD DAYS, SUMMER FUN
A number of Leopold Center research projects will be featured at field days hosted by Practical Farmers of Iowa, ISU Research and Demonstration Farms and the Iowa Learning Farms. It’s quite a summer lineup, which you can find on our calendar of events web page. at:

PLATE TO POLITICS
Speaking of ongoing programs, the Leopold Center was among the co-sponsors of a recent summit, Cultivate 2012, that brought together 30 women to plan a collaborative effort to strengthen national leadership for women involved in agriculture and our nation’s food system. Learn more on the group’s website at: http://www.platetopolitics.org/

MAKE IT COUNT
To be included in the next USDA Ag Census (all info is confidential by law), sign up at: https://www.agcounts.usda.gov/cgi-bin/counts/

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