2006 Marketing and Food Systems Initiative Grants

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News release [2-16-06]
Project Descriptions
 

New Project Descriptions

• Analysis of transaction costs for small and midsize Iowa farmers

$32,967, 1 year, Clyde Walter, College of Business; Randy Boeckenstedt, Center for Transportation Research and Education, ISU; and Craig Chase, ISU Extension, Tripoli [M2006-02]

Investigators will look at transaction costs incurred by direct-market farmers and producer networks that distribute products within Iowa. They will prepare case studies of six Iowa-based businesses including two meat, two dairy and two fruit or vegetable producers or producer groups. Transaction costs are cash payments and amortized costs associated with post-production handling, packaging, storage, inventory carrying and transportation.

Summary of research findings [PDF]

Clyde Walter has been a faculty member at the University of Nebraska, Western Illinois University and Iowa State University. He also spent one semester as a research fellow at Cranfield School of Management in England. His published research related to the project includes measuring pick-up and delivery costs for small shipments, developing and testing stockout cost models, budgeting practices of farm supply cooperatives, simulating distribution costs in the beverage industry, applying the inventory-carrying cost methodology to farm equipment dealers, and innovative developments in food distribution.

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• Assessing needs and fostering agricultural entrepreneurship among immigrants in several Iowa communities

$15,000, 1 year, Lyle Fleshner, M&M Divide RC&D, Carroll [M2006-07]

This planning grant will be used to assess the needs of existing immigrant farmers in Carroll County and those who would like to farm. The investigator will cooperate with an existing project in Marshall County.

Lyle Fleshner is chairman of M&M Divide Resource Conservation & Development, a non-profit organization involved in natural resource management and community development. He also has had a long career with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and has worked in the social services field for 25 years. He was a member of the United States Air Force from 1968-1972, which included a tour in Vietnam. He has a degree in psychology and sociology from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville.

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• Bridging the Gap: What does it take to bring small and medium-sized producers and retail and food service distributors together?

$49,500 over 2 years, Mary Holz-Clause, Agriculture Marketing Resource Center at ISU [M2006-05]

This project includes a survey of key representatives in the Iowa food service and retail food sectors to determine how individual producers and producer groups can best work with this sector. Information will be offered to producers at workshops and on the Internet.

Mary Holz-Clause is program manager for the Value Added Agriculture program at Iowa State University.  In that role, she assists value added ag businesses with market research, feasibility studies, business plans and other key components of business start-up and expansion.  She is director of the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC).  AgMRC is a joint project of Iowa State University, Kansas State University and the University of California that provides electronic-web based information for producers wanting to start value added ag businesses or expand existing businesses.

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• Determining the methods for measuring and the extent of economic and fiscal impacts associated with organic crop conversion in Iowa

$15,000, 1 year, David Swenson and Liesl Eathington, ISU Department of Economics, and Craig Chase, ISU Extension, Tripoli [M2006-12]

Investigators will use input-output models to look at the economic impact of farmers who are transitioning to organic agriculture in Woodbury County. The county recently approved property tax abatements for transitioning farmers.

David Swenson is a staff research scientist in economics at Iowa State University, an adjunct lecturer in community and regional planning at Iowa State University, and a lecturer in the graduate program in urban and regional planning at the University of Iowa. He teaches planning principles and techniques, urban economics, project evaluation methods and economic impact assessment. He studies regional economic changes and their fiscal and demographic implications for communities and local governments in Iowa and the Midwest. His current research focuses on assisting states, cities and other groups involved in regional economic development planning.

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• Functional quality management systems for livestock producers

$60,000 over 2 years, John Lawrence, Iowa Beef Center; John Mabry, Iowa Pork Industry Center, and Mary Holz-Clause, ISU Value Added Agriculture Extension [M2006-03]

Investigators will develop a curriculum to help livestock farmers participating in branded programs and niche markets create a Quality Management System (QMS) for their operations. The program will include an initial farm visit, two workshops and follow-up conference calls to help participants stay on track. Investigators will be recruiting small groups of farmers that include niche market pork producers, beef producers in the Iowa-80 Process Verified Program, family-owned commercial pork producers who outsource some services, and family-owned beef feedlots.

John Lawrence is an extension livestock economist and professor in the ISU Department of Economics. He has been the director of the Iowa Beef Center since 1998, and Assistant Director of the Iowa Agricultural and Home Economics Experiment Station since July 2004. His primary responsibilities include cattle and hog price outlooks, livestock producer marketing and management decision-making, and livestock and meat industry structure. More recently he has worked in environmental regulations and management systems for beef producers.

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• Investigation of economic feasibility of pasture-based dairy operations in NW Iowa

$7,500, 1 year, Chris Mondak, ISU Extension, Orange City, and Tom Olsen, Storm Lake [M2006-09]

Investigators will gather baseline data to determine the economic feasibility of pasture-based dairies in northwest Iowa. They also will look at the potential economic impact of adding 10-20 new pasture dairies in the region.

Chris Mondak has served northwest Iowa as an ISU Extension dairy field specialist since September 2000. Prior to this position, she worked as a dairy veterinarian with smaller traditional farms in southwest Wisconsin, and as on-farm veterinarian for two large start-up dairies in Minnesota. Since 2000, she has hosted educational meetings on herd management, production records analysis, employee management, milk marketing and manure management, also working with peer groups, advisory teams and individual consulting. She also coordinated sessions to bring together the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance to represent the community at state-level meetings and projects. She will work with ISU Extension ag business field specialist Tom Olson, who also serves northwest Iowa.

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• Iowa taste of place project Phase II: Outreach

$10,000, 1 year, Rachelle Saltzman, Iowa Arts Council, Des Moines [M2006-13]

2006 Marketing and Food Systems Initiative Competitive Grants

This project includes the production of web-based fact sheets for five Iowa place-based foods, selected as part of a 2005 Leopold Center Marketing and Food Systems Initiative grant. Each fact sheet will consist of text, photos, audio of the producers, information about how to obtain the product, and a downloadable version of the fact sheet. The web site will be based on the successful Iowa Roots© documentary series produced with WOI Radio.

Summary of research findings [PDF]
Go to Iowa place-based food web site

Rachelle Saltzman has been the folklife coordinator for the Iowa Arts Council/Department of Cultural Affairs since 1995. The recipient of a grant from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture to study place-based food in Iowa, Saltzman works with communities and individuals to provide assistance with multicultural and diversity issues, project development, event planning and implementation, presentation of traditional arts and artists, grant writing, and curriculum content. Saltzman produces “Iowa Roots,” a public radio series about Iowa cultures. Since 1982, she has directed folklife festivals and other public programs, organized conferences, curated exhibits, conducted research, and received several grants from the NEA and NEH. Saltzman has a Ph.D. in anthropology/folklore from the University of Texas-Austin and has authored public folklore publications as well as peer-reviewed articles in the Journal of American Folklore, Anthropological Quarterly, Journal of Folklore Research, New York Folklore, Southern Folklore, Southern Exposure and edited collections.

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• New food entrepreneurs - Value added enterprises for farm profitability

$21,188, 1 year, Rich Graves, Wallace House Foundation, and Christine Pardee, Des Moines [M2006-23]

This project includes a "Common Ground" study circle process for Iowa producers, small food processors and policy makers to identify areas of public policy change that would enhance Iowa's small food processing sector. Also included is creation of a web site clearinghouse for information for new food entrepreneurs and food processors in Iowa, a mentor's listserv and handbook of basic Q&As for food entrepreneurs on regulations, food safety, financial resources and other types of assistance available. All resources will be featured in a one-day workshop for current and potential business owners by the ISU Agricultural Marketing Resource Center.

Rich Graves is executive director of the Wallace House Foundation that helps facilitate discussion of and education about contemporary issues in agriculture, conservation, democracy and quality of life. Prior to his work with Wallace House, Graves directed Leadership Iowa and the Excellence in Teaching Institute for the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation. He holds degrees in history and theology from the College of Idaho and Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California. He is an ordained Episcopalian priest and served as vicar of a congregation in Grinnell, where he still resides.

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• Niche-markets in the agricultural enterprise mix: Farm profit optimization and risk analysis

$16,370, 1 year, Shane Ellis, Iowa Beef Center [M2006-16]

The project investigator is developing a computer-based interactive program, FARMOR-Niche, that considers the risks and benefits of niche markets. The program will include extended enterprise budgets for producing livestock and crops that satisfy niche market requirements, plus other expenses to be included in the analysis of a more integrated niche market. The program will be used and promoted by the Beginning Farmer Center and ISU Extension, and available for general use on the Internet.

Shane Ellis is a program specialist for the Iowa Beef Center. He came to ISU in 2004 from Utah State University Extension, where he served as agricultural risk management specialist. A native of Valentine, Nebraska, Ellis has associate degrees from Brigham Young University-Idaho (Rexburg) and a master's degree in applied economics from Utah State University. He specializes in market analysis for cattle and hogs, as well as dissemination and presentation of market forecasts.

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• Plan demonstration farm to include farm business incubator and educational use

$17,850, 1 year, Linda Barnes, Marshalltown Community College, Marshalltown [M2006-24]

This grant will be used to develop a master plan for a new Midwest Center for Entrepreneurial Agriculture (MCEA) to be located on 145 acres adjacent to Marshalltown Community College. Planners also will explore the idea of using the demonstration farm as an incubator for farmers who want to learn about nonconvential perennial crops such as viticulture.

Linda Barnes coordinates the Sustainable and Entrepreneurial Agriculture Program and is associate professor of biology at Marshalltown Community College. She has worked in private industry for five years and holds 11 U.S. and international patents for increasing the protein levels of corn. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. from Iowa State University. She lives on a small farm and operates High Hopes Gardens LLC with her husband and three children. They direct market chickens, turkey, lamb and eggs. She also sells cut flowers, fruits, berries and vegetables at farmers markets.

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• Planning a facility for value-added farm business incubation and educational use

$7,089, 1 year, Linda Barnes and Tom Deimerly, Marshalltown Community College, Marshalltown [M2006-25]

This project complements master planning for the new Midwest Center for Entrepreneurial Agriculture with a feasibility study for locating an community incubator kitchen on the property. They will survey potential users, look at costs and equipment needs, and draft an operating budget and business plan for the kitchen. They expect that an incubator, once established, could impact four to eight small and midsize producers in food ventures, create 10 to 25 new jobs, and be used for food service training for 75 individuals and businesses.

Linda Barnes coordinates the Sustainable and Entrepreneurial Agriculture Program and is associate professor of biology at Marshalltown Community College. She has worked in private industry for five years and holds 11 U.S. and international patents for increasing the protein levels of corn. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. from Iowa State University. She lives on a small farm and operates High Hopes Gardens LLC with her husband and three children. They direct market chickens, turkey, lamb and eggs. She also sells cut flowers, fruits, berries and vegetables at farmers markets.

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• Strategies to stabilize locally grown produce for year round sales: A feasibility study

$53,410 over 2 years, Sam Beattie, Lester Wilson and Aubrey Mendonca, Food Science and Human Nutrition, ISU [M2006-21]

This includes a feasibility study for a small, mobile on-farm processing unit (for freezing) that could be used to provide year round locally grown produce. The team, composed of microbiologists, processing quality faculty and an engineer, will look at costs, food safety issues, willingness-to-pay by consumers and institutions, and where such units might be used. They also hope to develop plans and determine resources that would be needed for construction of a pilot unit.

Sam Beattie is a food safety and processing extension specialist for the ISU Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. His background in organic food processing began in 1987 when he assisted Oregon Tilth in developing processing standards and inspection forms. He also has worked as an inspector and trainer.

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• A survey of currently available commercial broilers originating from organic, natural and conventional production systems for cooked meat yields, meat composition and relative value

$32,793, 1 year, Joseph Sebranek and Dong Ahn, Animal Science, and Sam Beattie, Food Science and Human Nutrition, ISU (M2006-01)

This project surveys the fat, moisture and protein content of organic, natural and conventional broilers purchased from a variety of sources.

Summary of research findings [PDF]

Joseph Sebranek has a B.S. degree in animal science from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in meat and animal science and food science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He joined the ISU animal science department in 1975 and received an appointment in food science and human nutrition in 1976. His appointment includes teaching and research in meat science and meat processing, with a focus on improved quality and safety of meat and processed meat products to achieve greater value-added status for these products.

 

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Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, 209 Curtiss Hall,
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-1050 PH: (515)294-3711
Fax:(515)294-9696 Email: leocenter@iastate.edu leocenter@iastate.edu