Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Pubs & Papers

Research can take many forms and lead to many different outcomes. The ultimate goal is sustainability – for the landscape, Iowa’s people and natural resources. Below is a list of intermediate outcomes of Leopold Center-supported projects, partnerships and activities. Included are extension publications, in-house research projects, informative presentations and other reports – all with some link to the Leopold Center.

All Pubs & Papers are PDFs, which require a free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click on the image or title to view the PDF.

Leopold Center Document These materials were written, reviewed or presented by Leopold Center staff. All other materials are related or based on projects supported by the Leopold Center.

Pub & Papers here are sorted by date with the newest at the top. You can filter the list by selecting a topic area below and clicking "Apply." To see all again you can select "<Any>" as the topic, or click here. There is also an alphabetical listing available.

This fact sheet offers estimated costs/returns for 14 different fruit and vegetable crops in Iowa, complementing Ag Decision Maker spreadsheets A1-17.

February 2006
Leopold Center Document Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Production Budgets
Craig Chase, Iowa State University Extension

Leopold Center Distinguished Fellow Fred Kirschenmann explores "the pleasure of good eating," which he says is "more than the taste of food" rather a "deep appreciation for everything on our plates." It was presented as a keynote address at the annual Food Alliance dinner in Portland, Oregon.

February 2006
Leopold Center Document The Pleasure of Good Eating
Leopold Center Distinguished Fellow Fred Kirschenmann

In making tillage decisions for CRP land, consider conservation concerns, farming objectives, and plant and soil conditions. This publication is part of a series, “Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options series,” designed to help CRP contract holders assess the land-use options available to them when the contracts expire. The series began as a project of the Leopold Center based on research supported by the Center.

February 2006
Tillage Options After CRP
Iowa State University Extension CRP-3

Sample and test soil to determine how much fertilizer, manure, and lime to apply to meet crop needs when converting land in CRP to crop production. This publication is part of a series, “Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options series,” designed to help CRP contract holders assess the land-use options available to them when the contracts expire. The series began as a project of the Leopold Center based on research supported by the Center.

February 2006
Applying Fertilizer and Lime to CRP Land
Iowa State University Extension CRP-5

Get the details on planting corn or soybeans into CRP sod ground. Soybeans may offer fewer problems than corn. This publication is part of a series, “Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options series,” designed to help CRP contract holders assess the land-use options available to them when the contracts expire. The series began as a project of the Leopold Center based on research supported by the Center.

February 2006
Planting Corn or Soybeans into CRP Sod Ground
Iowa State University Extension CRP-18

This report, prepared for the University of Minnesota Department of Applied Economics, discusses local foods in public schools.

January 2006
Making the Farm / School Connection: Opportunities and Barriers to Greater Use of Locally-grown Produce in Public Schools
JoAnne Berkenkamp, Food Systems Consultant

Kirschenmann questions common assumptions of modern agriculture and outlines eight principles for future agricultural systems.

November 2005
Leopold Center Document Potential for a New Generation of Biodiversity in Agro-ecosystems of the Future
Leopold Center Distinguished Fellow Fred Kirschenmann

The local food system is one of the fastest-growing markets in agriculture. Learn more about using organic agriculture and sustainable crops and livestock in local food systems.

November 2005
Using Organic Agriculture and Sustainable Crops and Livestock in the Local Food System
Jerry DeWitt and Kathleen Delate, Iowa State University Extension PM 1995

Consumers who participated in this Internet survey would like to see farmers receive a higher share of the profits for retail food products. See related grant project 2004-MSP05.

October 2005
Leopold Center Document Consumer perceptions of place-based foods, food chain profit distribution and family farms
Thomas E. DeCarlo, ISU College of Business, Veronica Jean Franck, Drake University College of Law, and Rich Pirog, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

In this paper prepared for the Concord (MA) School of Philosophy, Fred Kirschenmann considers how the scientific revolution has resulted in a fragmented approach to agriculture, and the need for a systems approach that focuses on ecological relationships.

October 2005
Leopold Center Document Spirituality in Agriculture
Fred Kirschenmann, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture