Local farm and economy analysis for northeast Iowa

Ken Meter, Crossroads Resource Center, Minneapolis, worked in collaboration with Michael Nash / Solveig Hanson of GROWN Locally, and Brenda Ranum of Winneshiek County Extension, to provide comprehensive economic data covering the prevailing conditions in the local farm and food economy, for local use in outreach, education and marketing. Other partners included the Regional Food Systems Working Group, ALCES Foundation, Allamakee and Winneshiek County Extension offices, and local chapters of the Cattlemen's Association, Corn and Soybean Growers, Dairy Producers Association, and Pork Producers Association.

The two counties are among the leaders in organic produce production for Iowa. However, overall farm income has declined steadily since the late 1970s. The main factor driving declining cash receipts is the loss of revenue from selling livestock and related products. Yet, due to having lower dependence on commodity grains than many regions, northeast Iowa farmers earned $1.8 billion over production costs (in 2002 dollars) during the period 1969-2002. Moreover, local food markets are significant in size. The region's consumers buy $70 million of food each year, primarily from external sources.

Ken Meter
Crossroads Resource Center
Phone: 612.869.8664
Email: kmeter@crcworks.org