Leopold Center - 2007 Special Dairy Project Grant Profiles

2007 Special Dairy Project Competitive Grants

List of all 2007 grant projects (including dairy)

The call for 2007 Leopold Center competitive grant projects included a special call for projects that target the challenges and opportunities for grass-based and/or organic dairies in Iowa. These projects are working across the Center's three initiatives in ecology, marketing and food systems and policy.

New Grant Projects

Developing organic/grass-based dairies in southwest and southern Iowa
Expanding grass-based organic dairy enterprises among southeastern Iowa farmers
Sustainable economic development through organic and grazing dairy farm establishment and transition

New Project Descriptions

Developing organic/grass-based dairies in southwest and southern Iowa
$35,000, 1 year, Deb Houghtaling, GROW Iowa Foundation, Greenfield [D2007-01] SOUTHERN IOWA

The goal of this project is to encourage more people to consider grass-based dairy production and to promote dairying as a viable value-added agricultural opportunity in southwest Iowa. The project will develop different scenarios of grass-based dairy production possibilities while creating a network of like-minded producers. Investigators will provide assistance in pasture development, crop production, animal husbandry and record keeping. Additionally, the investigators will prepare a plan on how to develop and operate a model grass-based organic dairy operation in southwest Iowa.

Expanding grass-based organic dairy enterprises among southeastern Iowa farmers $24,816, 1 year, Christine Taliga, Iowa Valley RC&D, Williamsburg [D2007-02] SOUTHEASTERN IOWA

Investigators will coordinate a regional effort to address the shortage of organic and grass-based dairy farms in southeast Iowa. They will survey dairy farmers in a 25-county area to provide technical assistance for those who want to transition to organic and/or grass-based operations. They also will offer technical assistance to small- to midsized dairy processors, and test samples of organic milk to document levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which is of interest in the health niche market. Four field days and two winter meetings are planned.

Sustainable economic development through organic and grazing dairy farm establishment and transition
$43,075, 3 years, Larry Tranel, ISU Extension dairy field sepecialist, Dubuque; and Robert Tigner, ISU Extension farm management specialist, New Hampton [D2007-01] NORTHEAST IOWA

The study is looking to increase the number of grass-based dairy farms in Iowa, and will target beginning (younger) and organic farmers in eastern Iowa, along with conventional producers transitioning to organic. The project will increase the technical assistance to producers and consultants/advisors they work with such as lenders, nutritionists, veterinarians and suppliers. Also as part of the project investigators will develop training activities and resources for farm advisors and extension personnel. The goal is to help producers understand market outlet options for new and transitioning operations, and help lenders understand that organic and grazing dairy farmers can be profitable alternatives to conventional systems.

Building Your Own Low Cost TRANS Iowa Parlor (presentation by Larry Tranel)
Related resources for dairy producers

Larry Tranel Picture Larry F. Tranel has held extension faculty positions at the University of Wisconsin and at Iowa State University. During his tenure in Wisconsin, he was also a successful dairy producer. He has gained valuable international dairy experience through his involvement with International Mission and Dairy Development Projects in Nicaragua, Moldova, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico. He will work with Robert Tigner who is a farm management specialist for ISU Extension in northeast Iowa.

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