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 analysis found that locally grown produce traveled an average of 56 miles from farm to point of sale, compared to an average of 1,494 miles for 30 types of produce from conventional sources.

July 2003
Leopold Center Document Checking the Food Odometer: Comparing Food Miles for Local versus Conventional Produce Sales to Iowa Institutions
Rich Pirog, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and Andrew Benjamin, ISU graduate student

This report, prepared for the Pork Niche Market Working Group, identifies niche pork marketing opportunities for Iowa producers and offers reccomendations for reaching major Midwest markets. 

June 2003
Niche Pork Marketing Opportunities
R. Parker & Associates, Inc.

This study, prepared for the Pork Niche Market Working Group, identifies the business and technical assistance needs of producers in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

June 2003
A Survey of Pork Niche Marketers in the Midwest
Jim Ennis and Jean Anderson, Cooperative Development Series

This 16-page fact sheet covers the basics of organic agriculture, including certification programs and management strategies.

March 2003
Leopold Center Document Fundamentals of Organic Agriculture
Iowa State University Extension PM 1880

This paper was presented at the conference, "Concentration in Agriculture: How Much, How Serious, and Why Worry?" at Iowa State University on February 4, 2003.

February 2003
Economic Impact and Impacts of Continuing to Proceed as We Are Now
Neil E. Harl, ISU Department of Economics

The authors interviewed members of the agricultural community to understand motivations for adopting switchgrass as a potential biofuel source and alternative cash crop.

November 2002
Farmers' motivations for adoption of switchgrass
Patricia C Hipple and Michael D. Duffy, ISU Department of Economics

This food system atlas maps opportunities and challenges for building a community food system in Audubon County, Iowa. See grant project 2000-69.

September 2002
Exploring Community Food Systems in Audubon County
ISU Department of Sociology

This food system atlas maps opportunities and challenges for building a community food system in Benton County, Iowa. See grant project 2000-69.

September 2002
Exploring Community Food Systems in Benton County
ISU Department of Sociology

This food system atlas maps opportunities and challenges for building a community food system in Johnson County, Iowa. See grant project 2000-69.

September 2002
Exploring Community Food Systems in Johnson County
ISU Department of Sociology

This food system atlas maps opportunities and challenges for building a community food system in Marshall County, Iowa. See grant project 2000-69.

September 2002
Exploring Community Food Systems in Marshall County
ISU Department of Sociology