Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Leopold Notes May 2012

Notes from the Leopold Center Archive

CONSERVATION WEEK
You’re invited to celebrate Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week, which runs through May 6, and the quality of life that depends on proper use and management of our rich soil and abundant water resources. The celebration coincides with National Stewardship Week, sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts. Iowa events are coordinated by the Division of Soil Conservation in the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Details on our event calendar

LEOPOLD LETTER
Did you get our latest issue? The spring 2012 issue offers a look at what we’re doing in renewable energy, what makes this year special in Leopold Center history, new resources for high tunnel users, and reports from several recent events.

Check out our online issue

RESEARCH RESULTS
Read summaries of four recently completed projects funded by the Leopold Center. One-page and multi-page summaries are available here:

DREAM TO FARM
Do you want to farm? Enroll in a 14-week class at Iowa Western Community College to learn the basics of starting a farm. Classes start May 30, and are supported by the Leopold Center.

Check out a brochure [PDF]

WOODLAND MANAGEMENT
If you live on an acreage with wooded areas, you might be interested in a Forest Management and Stream Water Quality workshop May 5 at Wesley Woods near Indianola. ISU researchers have been studying the important roles that understory plants have in forest communities as part of a Leopold Center grant.

Details on our calendar page

NETWORKS WORK
A new report from Michigan State University features a case study of the Regional Food Systems Working Group (RFSWG) in Iowa and how networks can build resilient local and regional food systems. “Creating Change in the Food System: The Role of Regional Food Networks in Iowa” was written by Rich Pirog, who leads the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and formerly coordinated the Regional Food Systems Working Group (RFSWG) in Iowa, where he was associate director at the Leopold Center and its Marketing and Food Systems Initiative leader. Co-author is Corry Bregendahl, an assistant scientist and evaluator at the Leopold Center.

The report is on the MSU website

EARLY IOWA SPRING
Aldo Leopold always kept a journal and this year’s early spring would have intrigued him.

Check out our photo gallery

EARLY GREEN
While most fields are bare and brown, Stefan Gailans canola plots are lush and blooming.

Read about this project:

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