Amour at a Mall Two Iowans Tie the Knot Where They Met a Year Ago — on a Shopping Trip

AMOUR AT A MALL TWO IOWANS TIE THE KNOT WHERE THEY MET A YEAR AGO — ON A SHOPPING TRIP. METRO & IOWA, 3A

harvest of CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 | THE NEWS IOWA DEPENDS UPON | DESMOINESREGISTER.COM | METRO EDITION A GANNETT COMPANY

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE Bradshaw IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION expects greater use of h a r v e s t o f CHANGE cameras

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION But outfitting all officers and storing video is expensive.

By Regina Zilbermints [email protected]

Outgoing Des Moines Police Chief Judy Brad- shaw expects to see the department’s officers equipped with body cameras and other improvements in law enforcement technology, a development she believes will be both a benefit for police and a challenge. The cameras, which are being worn by increasing numbers of law enforcement officers nationwide, have drawn praise from the public who say the body cameras CHRISTOPHER GANNON/REGISTER PHOTOS hold officers accountable. Jayden Dammann waits for a tractor ride while his father, Justin, visits with others on the family farm in rural Page County in July. Justin says he feels Leaders in law enforce- confident about the management of the family farm one day passing on to Jayden. ment say the cameras help officials when they handle complaints. Bradshaw and other local officials said they would like to have the cameras. But equipping Iowa’s largest police department ROOTS AT RISK with the devices requires a large and ongoing financial investment during a EVEN A SOLID, CENTURY-OLD OPERATION FACES CHALLENGES, UNCERTAINTY time of tight budgets. In- creased use of the cam- By Sharyn Jackson | [email protected] eras also requires discus- sions about how video would be stored and when n the lawn of a ranch house abutting rolling acres of emerald pasture, a the cameras would be ac- red-haired girl, almost 7, leads a calf in circles with the help of her family. tivated. “The issue with cam- It’s early July, and Jillian Dammann is getting ready to show her bottle eras isn’t whether or not calf, Olaf, at the Page County Fair. Her parents, Justin and Jennifer, are you support them, for any O chief of police or sheriff, teaching her how to lead him, and her little brother, Jayden, is helping. it’s really the budget and Named after a character in Disney’s “Frozen,” this calf from the Dammanns’ live- the cost,” Bradshaw told stock breeding operation lost its source of sustenance when its mother died. So Jillian See POLICE, Page 13A helps rear it, feeding Olaf milk from a bottle that’s bigger than the pink cowboy boots she wears, here in the southwest Iowa county where Jessie Field Shambaugh founded 4-H clubs more than a century ago. VIDEO ONLINE Jillian is currently one of two possible heirs to a business that’s been in her family See this story at DesMoinesRegister.com to for five previous generations. Her training with Olaf is more than an extracurricular hear Des Moines Police Chief activity; it’s an investment in the legacy of this family and the future of this farm, this Judy Bradshaw talk about county and this country. several subjects, including moving up the ranks of the For the family to continue its legacy, it will need to navigate the subtle but sweep- department. ing forces of change that are transforming America and its place in the world.

See DAMMANNS, Page 8A Many laid off FIVE-PART SERIES INSIDE still jobless The Register examines how the de- » The Dammanns: The roots of this mographic, technological and eco- family farm extend six generations. More than 20 percent nomic changes that are transforming » The other farms: One is owned by of Americans laid off in America are playing out in the lives of an immigrant just starting out. One is the past five years are four Iowa farm families. still unemployed, a sur- converting to organic. Another raises vey released today says, DIGITAL EXPERIENCE chemical-free produce and livestock. underscoring that despite » Oculus Rift: Learn about the virtual a recent sharp drop in This project includes an innovative reality headset that allows touring the long-term unemploy- 3-D experience and a 2-D option. ment, many people out of Dammann farm in an immersive, 3-D Learn more at DesMoinesRegis- work at least six months Justin Dammann cuts hay in a field on the family’s Page experience that’s a journalism first. are still struggling. ter.com/HarvestofChange. County farm in July. USA TODAY, Page 5B

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DM-9000443573 harvest of CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

Page 8A | Monday, September 22, 2014 Metro Edition | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION HUGE FORCES TRANSFORM U.S.

By Sharyn Jackson She attends private school because her One example of how far-flung events [email protected] parents don’t know whether the public affect Iowa farmers: Conversations about schoolh will a rstill v be e saround t o by f the CHANGE time she establishing a kosher beef trade between he Dammann family in south- graduates. Iowa and Israel stopped earlier this sum- west Iowa, like millionsIOWA of oth- FARM» TheFAMILIES country is CONFRONT en route to becoming A NATION IN TRANSITIONmer when turmoil between Israel and Ha- ers across the country, finds it- majority nonwhite. Whites made up 85 mas in Gaza flared up, said Bill Northey, Iowa’s agriculture secretary. self navigating a changing percent of Americans in 1960 but are pro- 100 America while remaining jected to drop to 42 percent in 2060. The PHOTOS » The specter of climate change rTooted in what came before. change is driven by immigration, higher threatens an altered environment. Re- Iowa farming fertility rates among new arrivals and cent droughts and floods offer vivid re- Consider some of the forces at work: since 1930 at their children, and more marriages be- minders that the environment appears in- » America is aging. By 2060, those 65 DesMoines tween people of different racial and eth- creasingly fragile. and over are projected for the first time to Register.com/ nic groups. In Iowa, flooding in 2008 submerged outnumber those under 18, raising deep Harvestof The increase in racial and ethnic diver- 1,300 blocks in Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s sec- questions about the size of the labor force Change1. and how families will care for their el- sity has come more slowly to Iowa, which ond-largest city, damaged 22 major build- ders. Meanwhile, school districts will was 89 percent white as of the 2010 cen- ings on the University of Iowa campus merge and be hard-pressed to maintain sus. But the foreign-born population has and caused up to $3 billion in losses to ag- services to younger generations that are a risen exponentially in counties with meat- riculture, including crops and equipment. smaller slice of the overall population. packing plants, which have increasingly Weather records have piled up almost Two members of the four farm families relied on immigrant labor. yearly since: Flooding returned to much highlighted in this project represent op- Crawford County, for instance, home of the state in 2010, and to the Missouri posite ends of the age shift, and show how to several meat-processing operations, is River basin, on the state’s western edge, it has changed childhood in rural Ameri- now more than a quarter Hispanic. In the in 2011. Nature seesawed the other way in ca. Denison school district last year, Craw- 2012, when drought parched Iowa and the Don Wimmer, who turned 88 this sum- ford County’s largest, more than half the Midwest. In 2013, Iowa saw its wettest mer, came of age in southwest Iowa at a students had limited English proficiency. spring, and this year, 24 of Iowa’s 99 coun- time when children attended the local » Local businesses are more connected ties became presidentially declared di- schoolhouse, multiple businesses catered to the global economy. Aided by the tech- saster areas after heavy rain, wind, hail to his town’s population, and a future on nological advances of the digital age, and tornadoes in June and July. the family farm seemed bright for him globalization of industry in a hypercon- Those extremes could signal climate and his peers. nected world reduces the clout of owners change or merely weather volatility. But Jillian Dammann turned 7 this summer and workers in charting their own desti- they combine with fundamental demo- in a county that, in terms of population, is nies, while influencing how even the most graphic and economic shifts to heighten in the top quarter of the oldest in America. isolated farmers run their operations. unease about the future.

CHRISTOPHER GANNON/THE REGISTER With help from her dad, Justin Dammann, and brother, Jayden, Jillian Dammann leads Olaf, her bottle calf, as Justin’s wife, Jennifer, looks on at the family’s farm near Essex in rural Page County. Iowa farm families like this one are grappling with immense societal changes that will put a new face on the nation over the next century.

is it going to look?” ments. Now sleek, computer-guided ma- DAMMANNS He fears Iowa will one day resemble chines work the land with pinpoint accu- parts of Nebraska and other rural states racy. Continued from Page 1A that have seen small family operations Pressure to keep up with competition swallowed up by corporate farming and led this farm to grow from a 160-acre plot Two massive demographic shifts head consolidation, leaving vast stretches of to 7,100 acres of cropland and pasture the list: Americans are rapidly graying, land with few towns in between. That fu- VIDEO that’s spread among nine counties in two and the nation is becoming more racially ture would see fewer families finding it Spend time states, Iowa and Missouri. and ethnically diverse. viable to stay in farming, fewer shoppers with the Four generations are rooted here, in- “Either one of these by itself would be in fewer stores on Main Street, fewer Dammanns as cluding Arnold Dammann, 79, whose the defining demographic drama of its schools and fewer opportunities in the they talk grandfather founded the farm and whose era,” said Paul Taylor, a Pew Research community for his kids. about their father imparted to him the frugality of Center fellow and author of “The Next As they circle the yard, little Jayden legacy. Depression-era life; Arnold’s son Danny, America: Boomers, Millennials and the hangs on to the end of Olaf’s rope, fol- who entered the business just as the 1980s Looming Generational Showdown.” lowed by Justin. Jillian tugs the rope farm crisis took hold, shaking his confi- “The fact that they’re happening to- where it’s closest to the calf’s face, and 14 dence that he could continue doing what gether could be a recipe for stresses in so- Mom, Jennifer, holds its tail. PHOTOS he loved; Arnold’s grandson and Danny’s cial cohesion.” The Dammanns have thrown all hands Historical son, Justin, 34, who as manager of the Then layer in other dramatic shifts, in- into a vast and uncertain future, as the photos of the farm is at the core of today’s operation; cluding the increasing impact of the glob- family has for generations. Dammann and, representing the fourth generation, al economy, rapid technological advances If ever a family was equipped to face farm. Justin’s son, Jayden. He’s just 4, but with and concerns about the climate’s health. uncertainty, it would be the Dammanns. his bins of toy tractors and drawers of They combine to leave many Americans Their farm has survived waves of tumult iconic green John Deere T-shirts, he’s with an unsettled sense of the future. since its 1901 founding by a German im- 15 viewed as the best prospect to take over In Iowa, these profound changes are migrant. one day. perhaps best seen through the eyes of the The operation outlasted the Great De- PHOTOS Jillian isn’t sure she wants to farm, but people who for centuries have fed Amer- pression of the 1930s, a destructive torna- Explore the by proximity alone, she’s learning the ba- ica and the world. do in 1964, the farm crisis of the 1980s, farm with the sics. The culture in which her family is The Iowa farm family, with its deep consolidations that squeezed the family family’s next raising her, on an Iowa farm rich with his- community roots, extended family ties out of the swine and poultry industries, generation. tory, teaches her how to care for animals and a large dose of savvy born from living drought in recent years, and the latest DesMoines and how to nurture the Earth and its crea- close to the soil, finds itself at the epicen- challenge, corn prices less than half of Register.com/ tures. ter of a new cultural and economic land- what they were a year ago. Harvestof Jillian struggles as she tries to lead scape. Outside the boundaries of the family’s Change1 Olaf, who pulls her away from her intend- In rural America, the aging of the pop- acres, one-room schoolhouses have shut- ed destination. ulation and ever-bigger farms enabled by tered, and districts merged. Towns disap- She begs her parents to turn back. But technological advances are already de- peared from the map. Young people Justin won’t let her give up. populating the countryside. moved away, as the old folks got older. “Tough times,” says her father, “make “It is almost inevitable that there are The passing years also brought times people stronger.” going to be less farm families farming in of promise, fostered in part by this fam- “No, they don’t!” Jillian protests. the state of Iowa, which in turn means less ily’s commitment to preserving the land Her father laughs. His family’s history schools, less churches, less communities. for subsequent generations, as well as its is rooted in struggle, though they now live And it just kind of snowballs,” said Justin adaptability to a changing industry. in plenty. Dammann, Jillian’s father. “I think as we Technology has transformed the barn “Yeah, they do,” he says knowingly. go forward, the big question mark is: How of yesteryear, once filled with hand imple- “Wanna do another round?” harvest of CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

The Des Moines Register | DesMoinesRegister.com | Metro Edition Monday, September 22, 2014 | Page 9A

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

CHRISTOPHER GANNON/REGISTER PHOTOS Fog blankets a valley at sunrise as seen from the Dammann family’s farm in Page County in July. In all, the Dammanns’ 7,100-acre operation is spread over nine counties in two states.

Jordan Dammann, the farm's master mechanic, sweeps out his shop. His work on Jayden Dammann entices calves with a handful of grass plucked nearby. His machinery saves the operation $100 an hour in service costs in town. parents are teaching him and his sister, Jillian, how to raise calves.

A JOURNALISM FIRST: VIRTUAL REALITY

By Anthony DeBarros | [email protected] In our project, viewers can take an im- everyone else, we’ve built two-dimension- mersive, self-guided tour of the farm, ren- al versions. You can download applica- n a first-of-its-kind explanatory dered in 3-D using the Unity video game tions for PC and Mac (requiring a speedy journalism project, The Des Moines engine. Along the way are a dozen 360-de- BEHIND computer and graphics card), or you can Register and Gannett Digital have gree video segments in which the family THE watch a “light” version in a Web browser partnered to tell the story of an Iowa and others in agriculture discuss their SCENES after downloading a Unity 3-D plug-in. farm family using emerging virtual work and issues they face with technol- To build the experience itself, the Gan- Ireality technology and 360-degree video. ogy, genetically modified crops, shifting Watch a video nett Digital team started with photos and The experience — part of the Regis- culture and the future of farming in a time of the Gannett video taken at the Dammann farm by the ter’s Harvest of Change series, about how of rapid change. digital and Register. Then, we used the Unity game sweeping demographic and economic Total Cinema 360, a New York City film Register crews engine to render the farm’s terrain, build- changes in America are affecting Iowa company, shot the videos using cameras at work with ings and flora. farm families — takes viewers on a virtu- that record images and sound in all direc- the 360-de- Aerial imagery was used to accurately al tour of the Dammann family farm in tions at once. When watched via the Ocu- gree video place and size objects. Everything in the southwest Iowa, to a central “shop” loca- lus Rift, the video appears to surround the equipment, a environment was built to scale, and sever- tion that includes the original 1888 farm- viewer. Turn your head (or move your helicopter al objects, such as buildings, incorporate house and the nerve center of the family’s mouse) in any direction to see what’s hap- flyover and actual textures from photographs. On a corn, soybean and calving operation. pening around you. more. Go to visit to the farm in July, the team and a It’s best viewed with an Oculus Rift, a So far, about 125,000 of the first two this story at two-man crew from Total Cinema 360 shot virtual reality headset that gives viewers Oculus Rift development kits have been DesMoines the video segments and recorded audio, what its manufacturer, Oculus VR of Cali- sold, according to a company spokesman. Register.com/ including natural sound from the farm fornia, calls a sense of “presence.” Face- The early buyers are largely developers Harvestof that’s heard in the experience. book recently acquired Oculus for more and hard-core game enthusiasts. If you Change. than $2 billion in cash and stock, placing it own one, you can download our Oculus Anthony DeBarros is director of interactive applications at the head of the nascent VR industry. version of the VR farm experience. For for Gannett Digital

DESMOINESREGISTER.COM/HARVESTOFCHANGE ABOUT THE AUTHORS HARVEST Sharyn Jack- OF CHANGE EXPERIENCE THE OTHER FEATURES ONLINE son has been a DAMMANN FARM general assign- Today SPECIAL DIGITAL REPORT: This series includes a unique ment reporter Overview In addition to the virtual reality virtual rendering of the for the Register Tuesday experience with this project, the Dammann farm you can for two years Aging Register has produced a rich experience in several ways. If and is a USA multimedia story, including photos, Wednesday you own an Oculus Rift DK2 — TODAY corre- videos and interactive databases. Racial and ethnic a virtual reality headset — you spondent. She welcomes your story makeup can download an immersive ideas. Contact her at sjackson VIDEO OVERVIEW: See an Thursday three-dimensional @dmreg.com or 515-284-8451. introduction to changes sweeping Globalization walk-through of the farm that America and the four farm families Christopher includes a dozen 360-degree featured in this project. Friday videos of farm life. For Gannon, win- Climate change everyone, a 2-D version of the MEET THE FAMILIES: Learn more ner of a 2014 complete experience is THE FARM about the families and their farms, Upper Midwest available as a PC or Mac What will you find in the Register’s virtual farm including video documentaries on Emmy for the download, but you’ll need a experience? Explore a dozen 360-degree video each farm, to be released this documentary speedy computer. Finally, a segments about life on and off the farm. For week. “12 Years of “light” version can be viewed example, in this segment, take a ride with Justin Valor,” has been in Web browsers. Visit our Dammann as he checks the cattle herd at dawn, TALK ABOUT IT: Share your a photographer and videographer series page at DesMoines and hear from patriarch Arnold Dammann thoughts on this project and the for the Register for nine years. Register.com/Harvestof about how their family farm competes with virtual reality experience on Contact him at cgannon@dmreg. Change for all options. corporate farms. Twitter with #VirtualFarm. com or @GannonVisuals. PUMPKIN IS SERVED An ode to REAL pumpkin, plus recipes, in IOWA LIFE

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2014 | THE NEWS IOWA DEPENDS UPON | DESMOINESREGISTER.COM | METRO EDITION A GANNETT COMPANY Domestic abuser trackers pushed spotlight since the release of a Monitoring program would protect victims of violence, advocate says video that showed pro football player Ray Rice slugging his By Kathy A. Bolten accused of domestic abuseharvest is “One of the of big tragedies CHANGE that way to make sure you knew then-fianceé. The incident has [email protected] getting attention from state we’ve had occur is when some- where they were and that they prompted calls for the NFL to policymakers. one who has a no-contact order were not violating the no-con- take a firmer stance against do- An Iowa woman’s push for a Gov. TerryIOWA Branstad, FARM at a re-FAMILIESviolates CONFRONT it and murders Atheir NATION es- tact IN order TRANSITION.” mestic violence. It also has state law that would require cent candidate forum, said the tranged spouse or partner,” Domestic violence in the electronic monitoring of people idea makes sense. Branstad said. “This would be a United States has been in the See GPS, Page 13A

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IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

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IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

CHRISTOPHER GANNON/THE REGISTER These are some of the Union County friends who frequently assemble for morning coffee talk outside Frank's Service in Arispe. From left are Marvin Ringberg, Mike Fry, Don Wilson, Frank Eighme, Randy Needham and Jim Bradley. The weathered station is one of the few remaining businesses in the southwest Iowa town. TOWNS GRAY, SHRINK AS THE POPULATION AGES AND YOUNG PEOPLE GO TO WHERE THE JOBS ARE, MANY FARM COMMUNITIES WITHER

FIVE-PART SERIES By Sharyn Jackson | [email protected] INSIDE PAGES 8A-10A The Register examines how the n U.S. Highway 169 in Arispe, a southwest Iowa town of 100 people, a gas demographic, technological and » Solutions: How station is one of the last holdouts of convenience in a place where a grocery economic changes that are can shrinking towns store, bank, coal yard and tavern have all been shuttered. transforming America are O be revived? Experts playing out in the lives of four The auto shop is so remote and weathered that a passer-by might think it’s one of have some ideas. Iowa farm families. the vacant relics found across Iowa in towns whose boom years have long passed. » Families: Farm But Frank’s Service is still very much in use. DIGITAL EXPERIENCE families, like others Every morning, in hourly shifts starting at 6 a.m., a handful of old-timers gath- in the nation, now This project includes an ers at the shop for coffee, doughnuts and chatter. If Frank Eighme, the shop’s 78- include more innovative 3-D experience and a year-old namesake, isn’t doing oil changes or fixing flats, he joins the group, sitting nontraditional 2-D option. Learn more at households. outside the garage in low-to-the-ground, gray plastic chairs built for children. DesMoinesRegister.com/ » Technology: HarvestofChange. A Frank’s regular bought the chairs many years ago from Arispe’s schoolhouse, right before it was torn down. The school closed in 1994. High-tech gear has brought precision The scene reflects a rapidly aging America, one of the fundamental demograph- and savings to ic, technological and economic changes that are sweeping the nation — and brew- farming, but not without societal costs. See AGING, Page 11A

Christie to speak at Branstad bash Legal pot could net Iowa $24M

Chris Christie, the outspoken governor of New Jersey and one of the If Iowa legalized marijuana, the state would likely gain GOP’s most formidable potential presidential candidates for 2016, is sched- more than $24 million in new annual tax revenues, a na- uled to speak at Gov. Terry Branstad’s birthday bash next month. It will be tional report predicted Monday. The estimate is based on Christie’s second trip to the presidential testing grounds of Iowa in three Iowa’s sales-tax rate and on how many adults say in surveys Chris Christie months. Metro & Iowa, Page 3A that they regularly use pot. Metro & Iowa, Page 3A

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IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

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h a r v e s t o f CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

CHRISTOPHER GANNON/THE REGISTER Frank Eighme, 78, repairs a tire in his service station in Arispe. He has worked in service stations in town for 56 years. "You gotta have a reason to get out of bed in the morning," he says of his passion for the work. Other businesses in town, however, haven’t survived. A grocery store, bank, coal yard and tavern have all been shut down. AGING AGE DISTRIBUTION IS SHIFTING – AND SHRINKING Continued from Page 1A In 1960, U.S. population was spread out in a pyramid: lots of children on the bottom, fewer middle-age people at the center and a small number of elders at the tip. By 2060, population will be spread like a rectangle, with almost as many people over 85 as under 5. ing anxiety about the future. Like many rural towns across KEY: Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) Iowa and nationwide, Arispe has experienced a population shuffle 1960 2060 that has seen the number of 85 or older MALE FEMALE 85 or older MALE FEMALE young people decline as remain- 80 to 84 ing residents grow older. 80 to 84 In the 30 years ending in 2010, 75 to 79 75 to 79 the national median age rose by 70 to 74 70 to 74 more than seven years, to 37.2. 65 to 69 65 to 69 Iowa aged even more, rising to 38.1. By 2040, Woods & Poole Eco- 60 to 64 60 to 64 nomics projects that people age 55 to 59 55 to 59 65 and older will constitute at 50 to 54 50 to 54 least 20 percent of residents in 83 out of Iowa’s 99 counties. 45 to 49 45 to 49 Meanwhile, the proportion of 40 to 44 40 to 44 the population under 18 is shrink- 35 to 39 35 to 39 ing, declining from 28 percent of 30 to 34 30 to 34 Americans in 1980 to 24 percent in 2010. A dip to 23 percent is ex- 25 to 29 25 to 29 pected by the next census. 20 to 24 20 to 24 What once was a triangular 15 to 19 15 to 19 spread of population nationwide — lots of kids at the bottom, fewer 10 to 14 10 to 14 middle-age people, a narrow tip 5 to 9 5 to 9 of elders at the top — now looks 0 to 4 0 to 4 more like a rectangle. Each day 6% 5% 4% 3%2%1% 0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 6% 5% 4% 3%2%1% 0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% from now until 2030, 10,000 baby boomers will turn 65, according Source: Pew Research Center THE REGISTER to the Pew Research Center. “This kind of extensive aging is brought about by the very big baby boom cohort waiting at the “In rural areas that don’t have Croghan said the solution for bud- children would continue the fam- top of the age structure, and it’s real vibrant economies that at- get-strapped rural school dis- ily legacy in farming, but after very hard to fill in the bottom,” tract young people, when you lose tricts is to share teachers, video- 13 making it through many lean said William H. Frey, a demogra- those young children, you don’t conference with classrooms out- years, “I encouraged them to look pher and senior fellow at the get them back,” Frey said. side the building and use online PHOTOS, at other avenues.” Brookings Institution. The impact of an aging popula- courses. PLUS For the towns hit hardest by This new shape of the population with fewer kids can be felt in “We would love to be there VIDEO the graying of their population tion will challenge society in sup- increased need for medical care face to face, but is that always Gathering at and flight of their youth, simply porting its oldest and youngest and long trips to get it. For dec- feasible?” Croghan said. “No.” Frank’s Service. imagining a community’s future members. ades, the Dammann family in DesMoines can be hard, if not heartbreaking. The number of working-age southwest Iowa has had to make Farm crisis accelerated Register.com/ Nancy Jarred, 74, is the mayor people compared with the young 80-mile drives to Omaha for more urbanization trend Harvestof of Tingley, a town eight miles and elderly — known as the “de- advanced care than the local Change2 south of Arispe, in Ringgold pendency ratio” — will rise medical center in Clarinda can More than 60 percent of Iowa County. As of the 2010 census, sharply, according to the Pew Re- provide. municipalities have lost popula- nearly one in three of Tingley’s search Center. That means the And it can be seen in tiny grad- tion since 2010, and cities with INTER- 184 residents was 65 or older, up cost per worker to support those uating classes and eventual fewer than 500 residents lost 3 ACTIVE from 2000, when it was about one dependents is going up. school closures. percent of their populations com- Explore how in four. Communities that target more Though Iowa’s school enroll- bined, according to an Iowa State rural and Jarred worries that her town funds toward social programs for ment grew from 1991 to 2011, it University analysis of census da- urban won’t be around in 15 years. “The a growing number of seniors may ranked 37th in the nation for its ta. populations businesses that we have are hav- face cutting services and educa- increase. Roughly 10 to 15 school Meanwhile, 44 percent of have shifted in ing a rough go of it,” she said. “We tional opportunities for youth. districts in the state have closed statewide growth from 2010 to an interactive may lose our post office. Our each decade since 1970. Already 2013 occurred in Iowa’s 10 largest map. store is struggling. Our cafe is Nation’s rural areas since 2010, 21 districts have cities. The urbanization trend can DesMoines struggling.” see bigger age shift closed, leaving 338. be traced back to the Great De- Register.com/ The lack of young people has Influenced by a steady decline pression, and it accelerated when Harvestof her fearing the worst, she said. In rural areas, the shape shift in school-age children in the area, another depression hit agricul- Change2 “Our community is going to die is more pronounced, driven by a Justin and Jennifer Dammann ture in the 1980s. out if we don’t get more people.” cycle of shrinking opportunities. decided to send their 7-year-old Many family farms were Liesl Eathington, an economist Technological advances mean daughter, Jillian, to private wiped out during the 1980s farm SEARCH at Iowa State University’s Com- fewer workers are required to op- school rather than public school crisis. Those that endured got Explore a munity Indicators Program, sug- erate most farms, and the high in their hometown of Essex. bigger, while smaller farms database gests the trend of rural popula- cost of land and equipment makes Since the 2002-03 school year, found it harder to compete. And showing the tion decline in Iowa and national- it harder for young farmers to get the Essex district has seen a 21.5 lots of people who lived through makeup of ly is not necessarily a bad thing. started. With fewer jobs avail- percent drop in enrollment, to 219 those years became disenchant- Iowa counties “The natural tendency is for able, young people migrate to cit- students. Neighboring districts ed with the struggle. by race, family people to think of their communi- ies for work. also saw sharp declines. In 10 “I had to make a choice be- structure and ty the way it was when they were Then, with fewer young fam- years, South Page lost half its stu- tween keeping my family fed and other growing up, so a lot of times peo- ilies on the farms or in nearby dents, dwindling to 158. maintaining a tradition,” said Bill demographics. ple’s standard for what is correct small towns, longtime businesses “One of our decisions why to Schreck, who left his family’s DesMoines is in the past,” Eathington said. close, whittling remaining jobs. go that way was because we felt longtime Carroll County opera- Register.com/ “Urbanization is a very natu- Schools close or consolidate with that by the time our kids graduat- tion 12 years ago after decades of Harvestof ral tendency,” she said. “People those in other towns. Families ed, the Essex school may not be working a second job to make Change2 need assurance that just because have to drive farther just to buy there,” Justin said. ends meet. their community is changing, groceries. Essex Superintendent Paul Schreck had once hoped his doesn’t mean it’s disappearing.” harvest of CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

Page 10A | Tuesday, September 23, 2014 Metro Edition | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION AMERICA IS AGING In U.S. pie, youth piece shrinks, elderly piece grows The share of population made up by youth is shrinking, while the share of older people is rising in the U.S., Iowa and Page County — a continuation of a long-term demographic shift that is projected to become even more dramatic by 2040. CHANGE h a r v e s t 30 o f KEY: Nation Iowa Page Co. As percentages

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION 25

0 N/A N/A N/A CHRISTOPHER GANNON/THE REGISTER Farming has become easier for Danny Dammann as he’s gotten older. Above, he ‘80 ‘10 ‘40 ‘80 ‘10 ‘40 ‘80 ‘10 ‘40 ‘80 ‘10 ‘40 ‘80 ‘10 ‘40 ‘80 ‘10 ‘40 ‘80 ‘10 ‘40 ‘80 ‘10 ‘40 ‘80 ‘10 ‘40 runs a sprayer across a Montgomery County soybean field in July. UNDER 18 65 AND OVER 85 AND OVER Source: U.S. Census, 1980-2010, and future estimates from Woods and Poole Economics, 2011-2040.

TECHNOLOGY: Wave of gray to spread across Iowa Residents 65 and over accounted for at least 20 percent of the population of 26 Iowa counties in 2010. In 2040, they will account for at least 20 percent of THE OMINOUS EDGE the population in 83 of Iowa’s 99 counties. KEY: Less than 20 percent 20 percent or more

By Sharyn Jackson 2010: Population age 65 and over 2040: Population age 65 and over [email protected]

t 57, Danny Dammann is becoming more conscious of his health. The lifelong farmer in southwest Iowa sticks mostly to operating the sprayer these days, avoiding more stren- uous jobs. But farming has also become easier as he’s gotten older, mAaking it more likely he can stay in the profession longer than his fore- bears did. A Global Positioning System device guides the sprayer through the field, making his work go faster. Pressurized combine cabs keep corn dirt out of the air that drivers breathe, so they’re less prone to respiratory illnesses like emphysema, from which Danny’s father, Ar- nold, suffers. Source: State Data Center of Iowa Technology has transformed farming as it has other industries around the globe. Machines can now work a farm with precision accu- Median age rises racy — and require fewer operators. Small farms often can’t afford new technology and struggle to com- From 1980 to 2010, median age rose at the nation, state and county levels. Page County is pete with the efficiency of larger farms and their arsenal of big equip- in the top 25 percent of oldest counties in the U.S. Its rank among oldest counties has slid ment. since 1980, showing how the rest of the nation is catching up to its high median age. While job loss from technology causes concern in many industries, in NATION Median age farming it contributes to the disappearance of family farms, to the emp- 1980 30 tying of whole towns, to a loss of generations. In Iowa, farms that are owned and managed by fam- 1990 33 ilies have declined 23 percent since 1982. 2000 35.3 At the same time, the average age of farmers in the 2010 37.2 SEARCH United States in 2012 ticked up to 58.3 from 55.3 ten Explore a years earlier, part of a steady 30-year increase, ac- IOWA Rank Median age database cording to the USDA’s agriculture census. 1980 20 30 showing the With farmers better equipped to work more effi- 1990 7 34.1 makeup of ciently, average U.S. farm size also is growing, up 3.8 Iowa counties percent to 434 acres from 2007 to 2012. 2000 11 36.6 by race, family “And there doesn’t appear to be anything on the ho- 2010 18 38.1 structure and rizon that would stop or turn around that trend toward other adoption of larger machines, larger technology,” said PAGE CO. Rank Median age demographics. Dave Miller, a farmer and director of research for the 1980 334 35.3 DesMoines Iowa Farm Bureau. 1990 338 38.5 Register.com/ Technology enables more efficient, cost-effective Harvestof production, but the impact of technology on rural com- 2000 662 40.2 Change2 munities “creates issues,” Miller said. 2010 703 43.7 “We see a number of Iowa counties continue to lose Source: U.S. Census, 1980-2010 population, which puts pressure on school districts, puts pressure on community resources, narrows the taxpayer burden,” Miller said. “That’s probably one of the big dramatic shifts that’s going Median age of farmers ticks up on and continues to go on.” From 2007 to 2012, median age of U.S. farmers rose more than a year to 58.3. Danny Dammann said the family was lucky to have his sons, Justin and Jordan, join the operation. 60 “I remember when I was getting Justin started,” he said. “There’s a AVERAGE AGE OF PRINCIPAL FARM OPERATORS 58.3 lot of kids his age that did not stick on the farm.” When those kids’ parents eventually retire, if their heirs don’t take over the land, Danny said, “there’s going to be a dead spot in there.” 55.3 57.1 Though technology facilitates longer careers, it also brings a new 53.3 health challenge for farmers. Justin, 34, said he has to watch his weight NATION 54.3 for the first time in his life. 51.3 51.7 50.5 “We physically work less,” he said. “It’s the challenge of all of us in 50 our culture to stay physically active. It used to be nature; we worked 49.6 50.3 manually all day. Now, we have technology working for us.” Although farm operation differs today, the essential character of 49.3 47 48.5 many farm families remains the same, said Bill Northey, Iowa’s secre- 47.6 tary of agriculture. IOWA Family farms are more technologically advanced, bigger, and staffed by fewer, older people, he said, but families “still have that at- tachment to their farm, to their landlords, to their neighbors.” But the Dammanns worry that with their children’s age group small- 40 er than the last, and with advances in farming requiring less labor going ‘54 ‘59 ‘64 ‘69 ‘74 ‘78 ‘82 ‘87 ‘92 ‘97 ‘02 ‘07 ‘12 forward, the effects on their area will be severe. Note: Beginning in 1997, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) administered the Census of Agriculture, “I think what is most intriguing with the power of technology and the which was previously conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. NASS altered the census methodology to adjust ﬁgures equipment that is available today,” Justin said, “is how are these Iowa to capture nonrespondents, so ﬁgures prior to 1997 may not be entirely representative. rural communities going to look 10, 15, 20 years from now?” Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Census of Agriculture THE REGISTER

DESMOINESREGISTER.COM/HARVESTOFCHANGE ABOUT THE AUTHORS HARVEST Sharyn Jack- OF CHANGE EXPERIENCE THE OTHER FEATURES ONLINE son has been a DAMMANN FARM Monday SPECIAL DIGITAL general assign- Overview This series includes a PRESENTATION: In addition to ment reporter unique virtual rendering of the virtual reality experience with for the Register Today the Dammann farm you this project, the Register has for two years. Aging can experience in several produced a rich multimedia story, She welcomes Wednesday ways. If you own an Oculus including photos, videos, your story ideas Racial and ethnic Rift DK2 — a virtual reality interactive databases and graphics. and sugges- makeup headset — you can tions. Contact her at sjackson download an immersive, VIDEO OVERVIEW: See an @dmreg.com or 515-284-8451. Thursday three-dimensional introduction to our examination of Globalization walk-through of the farm the broad changes transforming Christopher Friday that includes a dozen America and to the four farm Gannon, win- Climate change 360-degree videos of farm families featured in this project. ner of a 2014 life. For everyone, a 2-D MEET THE FAMILIES: Learn more Upper Midwest version of the complete about the four families and their Emmy for the experience is available as a documentary ENJOY THE RIDE farms, including video PC or Mac download, but documentaries on each farm to be “12 Years of you’ll need a speedy Go for a ride with Justin Dammann and his son, released this week. Valor,” has been computer. Finally, a “light” Jayden, on a self-driving, GPS-guided Case tractor. a photographer and videographer version can be viewed in The Dammanns use the high-tech tractor to plant, TALK ABOUT IT: Share your for the Register for nine years. Web browsers. Visit our fertilize and harvest crops with precision, saving thoughts on Twitter at Contact him at cgannon@dmreg. series page for all options. countless hours and cutting waste. #VirtualFarm. com or @GannonVisuals. MOMENTUM MAN Growing buzz around UI’s C.J. Beathard becoming hard to ignore. SPORTS

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IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | THE NEWS IOWA DEPENDS UPON | DESMOINESREGISTER.COM | METRO EDITION A GANNETT COMPANY

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE INFRASTRUCTURE IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION Aging gas pipes pose h a r v e s t o f CHANGE IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION explosion danger But Iowa has relatively few miles of bare metal pipes, which are prone to corrosion and rupture as they age.

By Daniel P. Finney and Jeffrey C. Kummer [email protected]

Natural gas pipeline incidents have been relatively sparse in Iowa over the past decade despite dozens of deaths, hundreds injured and $2 billion in property damage nationwide. Iowa has seen 25 reportable gas pipeline incidents causing more than $6.3 million in property damage since 2004. There were seven injuries and no fatalities in that span. Only one Iowa incident involved a corroded pipeline. Nearly all the incidents were caused by lines being severed in construction or traffic in- CHRISTOPHER GANNON/THE REGISTER cidents or weather. Phrakhounmany “Air” Philavanh leads cattle on his farm near Milo. Philavanh, who played on his grandparents’ rice farm in Laos, Of the 17,814 miles of natural gas pipeline in made a longtime dream of his come true in 2010 when he bought a few acres to farm. Iowa, just 179.4 miles are made of bare metals, which are prone to corrosion and failure as they age. By Sharyn Jackson | [email protected] Natural gas pipeline breaks and leaks can be disastrous, and despite years of warnings from atching John Wayne movies as a child, federal and state regulators, some utilities Phrakhounmany Philavanh dreamed across the nation have hundreds or even thou- AG’S sands of miles of old, vulnerable pipes, according W that one day he could be like the charac- to a USA TODAY Network investigation. ters the Westerns legend portrayed. The most destructive blasts have killed at least 135 people, injured 600 and caused $2 billion “The fact is: John Wayne? Cowboy,” said Phila- in damages since 2004, despite recommenda- NEW vanh, who came to Iowa — Wayne’s home state — as tions from federal safety regulators and acci- a refugee from Laos in 1984. He goes by the single See PIPE, Page 22A name Air, his childhood nickname. FACES “Over there, I didn’t have time to be a cowboy,” said Air, 50, whose family was broken up by a com- About every other day over the past decade, a gas leak munist takeover and lived for years in refugee in the United States has destroyed property, hurt MANY IMMIGRANTS SEE someone or killed someone, a USA TODAY Network camps in Southeast Asia before being invited to re- investigation finds. A review of federal data shows FARMING AS A SPECIAL settle in Des Moines. there are tens of thousands of miles of cast-iron and bare-steel gas mains lurking beneath American cities WAY TO SOLIDIFY TIES WITH and towns. The industry has replaced thousands of In 2010, after decades of work- INSIDE miles of pipe, but a daunting amount remains. It can ing a mix of jobs, Air bought an 11- THEIR NEW HOME PAGES 12A-13A cost $1 million per mile, or more, to replace aging pipe, acre plot of his own south of Des costs typically passed to customers. Story, Page 1B Moines, where he’s raising 10 » ‘Most happy’: His calves. small farming “Over here,” he said, “it’s the right time.” operation is a dream Philavanh is part of an extended come true for wave of immigration that, along Phrakhounmany METRO & IOWA, PAGE 3A with more intermarriage and high- Philavanh. er fertility rates among immigrants and their descendants, is » Familiar foods: New ash borer plan dramatically changing the racial “Incubator farms” and ethnic makeup of America. around the country might spare trees Non-Hispanic whites, which made are helping refugee up 76 percent of the population as families earn money recently as 1990, are estimated to FIVE-PART SERIES lose their majority in 2043, accord- and enjoy their native crops. The Register examines how the ing to U.S. Census projections. This shift coincides with an ag- demographic, technological and ing population and rapid techno- DIGITAL economic changes that are transforming logical and economic changes, giv- America are playing out in the lives of EXPERIENCE ing many Americans an unsettled BUGWOOD.ORG sense of the future. four Iowa farm families. This project includes America’s changing complex- West Des Moines’ initial plan to combat the emerald ion — and the anxieties it stirs — an innovative 3-D ash borer called for removing all 1,100 of the city’s ash has come more slowly to rural experience and a 2-D trees over several years, regardless of their location or Iowa, but can be seen today on option. Learn more at condition. But now, city officials say new data about an farms run by immigrants and in DesMoines alternative treatment method will allow them to keep meatpacking towns where compa- Register.com/ some trees. A product called TREE-age, an insecticide HarvestofChange. that’s injected into the trunks of trees, has been used See IMMIGRATION, Page 14A effectively in many other cities, West Des Moines’ urban forestry supervisor says.

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Page 14A | Wednesday, September 24, 2014 Metro Edition | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register

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IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION AMERICA IS BECOMING MAJORITY NONWHITE America’s complexion is changing Along with a major shift in the country’s age comes a massive h a r v e s t o f CHANGEshift in its complexion. The white population in the U.S. and Iowa is projected to decline over the next several decades, while the population of Hispanics is rising at a faster rate than IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATIONthat IN of TRANSITION any other minority group. By 2050, America will be majority nonwhite.

100% IOWA Projected

KEY: Non-Hispanic whites 60 Non-Hispanic blacks Native Americans Asian-Americans 40 Hispanics

0 1990 2000 2010 2013 2020 2030 2040

80% NATION

CHRISTOPHER GANNON/THE REGISTER 70 Bhutanese refugee Tika Bhandari, with her daughter, Sophiya, 4, and father, Narad Bastola, sells her Projected farm produce during the Global Greens Farmers Market at Lutheran Services in Iowa in late August. 60 The Des Moines market, launched in June, features fruits and vegetables grown by displaced farmers who have resettled in Iowa. 50 KEY: Non-Hispanic whites Non-Hispanic blacks 40 down roots after leaving behind Native Americans difficulty and strife to start a Asian-Americans IMMIGRATION 30 new, better life in the United Hispanics Continued from Page 1A States. “It has been the story of Iowa, 20 nies have sought labor from im- immigrants coming and farm- migrant communities. ing, and he’s in that tradition,” 10 Though Hispanics accounted said Matt Russell, a Lacona for just 5.5 percent of Iowa’s pop- farmer who mentors Air 0 ulation in 2010, Woods and Poole through Practical Farmers of Economics projects the percent- Iowa. “Getting into agriculture 1990 2000 2010 2013 2020 2030 2040 age will rise to 12 percent by 2040. and owning a farm, that has his- Source: Woods and Poole Economics, 1990-2040 Nationally, Hispanics are expect- torically been a great wealth- (not available before 1990). ed to make up 27 percent of the building opportunity for immi- population by 2040 and Asians 8 grants.” percent. Among 2.1 million principal Packing jobs, cities attract Latinos By 2050, the Pew Research farm operators in 2012, almost 8 Eight Iowa counties had a Latino population of 10 percent or Center projects, nearly one in percent were minorities, accord- more in 2012. Several of the counties with the largest Latino five Americans will be foreign- ing to the U.S. Department of Ag- populations are home to meatpacking plants, which have born. riculture’s Census of Agricul- increasingly relied on immigrant labor. Other high percentages Yet in a nation where 99 per- ture. of Latinos were in large metropolitan areas. cent of Americans trace their That’s an increase of 12 per- presence to immigration, 15 percent over the previous five KEY: Less than 5 percent cent of adults say immigration is years. Farms operated by His- 5 - 9.9 percent the country’s top problem, ac- panics, which made up the larg- 10 percent or more cording to an average of July est minority group, saw a 21 per- through September Gallup polls. cent increase. Latinos as a percentage of total population, 2012 That’s the highest level of con- SEARCH cern about immigration since Explore an Iowa governor says 2006. interactive no to kids at border And by a 2-to-1 margin, Amer- database icans think immigration should showing the Air came to Iowa under a now- be decreased, a July Gallup poll makeup of legendary initiative begun years found. Iowa counties earlier by former Gov. Robert Immigration has occupied a by race, family Ray to welcome war-displaced constant and contentious pres- structure and refugees from Laos and Viet- ence in national headlines since other nam. Between 1980 and 1990, spring, when tens of thousands of demographics. Iowa’s Laotian community mul- unaccompanied minors, mostly DesMoines tiplied, from 162 to 3,241. from Central America, attempt- Register.com/ “Iowans stood up and did ed to cross the southern border. Harvestof their part, town by town, church Air, who is an American citi- Change3 by church,” said David Oman, zen, says he has not encountered who served as Ray’s press secre- negativity from other Iowans, in- tary. “They felt as good about it Source: State Data Center of Iowa THE REGISTER cluding his farm neighbors. as did the refugees who received “I look different to them, but a second chance at life.” they’re happy,” he said. “They Today, Iowa’s officials aren’t pounds and they’ve got calves the police force in the meatpack- kind of want to help me out.” welcoming all new immigrants. the size of cantaloupes because ing town of Storm Lake and in A plan by the federal Office of they’re hauling 75 pounds of the suburban West Des Moines Immigrants head Refugee Resettlement to house marijuana across the desert.” school district to work better to where the jobs are 48 Central American juveniles at Mark Grey, a sociologist and with immigrants. a shelter in Clarinda fell apart the director of the New Iowans “This transition can be diffi- Many immigrants, like other earlier this summer, and Gov. Program at the University of cult, but it’s not insurmount- Americans, go to where the jobs Terry Branstad has been outspo- Northern Iowa, who works with able.” are, which is primarily in the na- ken in his opposition to bringing communities to integrate immi- tion’s metro areas. such children to the state. grants, said most of the concerns Immigration keeps Polk County, home to Des “We are deeply empathetic he hears from American-born Iowa from shrinking Moines and Iowa’s most populous for the unaccompanied alien Iowans have to do with the avail- county, has the state’s single larg- children who are coming to the ability of jobs, respect for the Immigration has kept Iowa’s est Hispanic population, at 34,887 United States for a better life,” law and fears about language population relatively steady, people in 2012. wrote Branstad, a Republican, in barriers. said Gary Krob, coordinator of In Iowa, one job magnet has a July letter to the White House. “An honest assessment says the Iowa State Data Center. been meatpacking plants. Eight “However, the lack of a secure there are costs” for a community “We have a small number of counties in 2012 were at least 10 border and sound immigration to welcome immigrants, Grey people who move out of the state, percent Hispanic, and the high- policy is sending a signal of false said, such as providing interpre- but such a large international est percentages of Latinos were hope to the unaccompanied alien tation services, training law en- migration that comes in, that’s in counties that are home to pack- children.” forcement and health providers one of the main components that ers: Crawford (26.6), Buena Vista Oman said the difference be- how to engage with them, and helps us,” Krob said. (24.5), Marshall (18.5), Muscatine tween Ray’s efforts to resettle teaching kids English in schools. For Air, buying his farm was a (16.5) and Louisa (16.4). southeast Asian refugees and to- But newcomers also contrib- chance to become the cowboy “We certainly have some day’s controversy has to do with ute to the local economy, take he’d admired in John Wayne tough jobs in agriculture, and transparency. jobs that have gone unfilled, pay while connecting with a love for some of the folks that run those “People weren’t coming into income and property taxes, and the land he developed while operations, whether it’s a dairy the state under the cloak of dark- buy gas and other goods, he said. helping out on his grandparents’ farm or detasseling corn or work- ness,” Oman said. The longer an immigrant farm when he was a child. ing in a meat plant, have strug- spends in a new country, espe- His enthusiasm resonates be- gled to find the help that they Concerns include jobs, cially a high-income country yond his own community. Bill need,” said Bill Northey, Iowa’s respect for law such as the United States, the and Sue Sudbrock have land in secretary of agriculture. “Some more he or she gives back to the nearby Lacona where Air some- of those jobs have transitioned to In Republican U.S. Rep. Steve community, whether by donat- times helps out to learn farm immigrants.” King, Iowa has one of Congress’ ing money to charity or volun- practices. They say Air has re- As Air’s story shows, the na- most outspoken critics of unau- teering time for an organization, vived their own love for farm- tion’s changing complexion has thorized immigration. Last year, a June Gallup poll found. ing. come even to farm ownership he gained national attention “Communities realize it’s dif- “It’s joy for him,” Sue Sud- and management, where whites when he said that for every child ficult, but at the end of the day, brock said. “He sees everything, have long predominated. of undocumented parents “who’s they are all happy they worked and he tells you about every- For many immigrants, farm- a valedictorian, there’s another through it,” said Grey, who cited thing. And his enthusiasm is con- ing is a special way of putting 100 out there who weigh 130 success in training employees in tagious.” harvest of CHANGE

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Phrakhounmany Philavanh eats dinner most evenings with his cattle and his dog, Milo, saying it is simply a way he likes to spend time between chores on his farm. ‘IT’S THE BEST TIME OF DAY’

By Sharyn Jackson of the microwave and joins the on his grandparents’ rice farm Fair, where he learned animal [email protected] cattle on a bench facing their pen. and watched the water buffalo husbandry from 4-H kids. Milo, his polar bear of a Great work as natural tractors. In his first year of raising cat- hrakhounmany “Air” Pyrenees, lounges at his feet, oc- He also learned how to care tle, he didn’t get a good return on Philavanh never eats casionally getting a bite. for animals from his father, an his investment, so this year, he dinner alone. “It’s the best time of day,” Air Army doctor who raised ducks, watches the cattle more closely Each night after he said. “Most happy. They enjoy the turkeys and chickens at their MEET AIR to make sure they are in good gets home from work, food. I enjoy my meal. That’s all home. See photos health and gaining weight. hPe prepares a meal for calves we need for farm. For farm like When Laos went under com- and video of Hence, the standing dinner date. while his own food warms up in me.” munist rule in 1975, Air’s father Air at work on He hopes soon to begin raising the kitchen on his 11-acre Milo Air had saved until he could af- was imprisoned in an army camp his farm and Muscovy ducks, a delicacy farm. It’s the start to a daily ritual ford his own slice of Iowa’s fertile as a POW, where he made pros- learn more among Laotians. Also a novice that this Laotian farmer, who land and found a foreclosed prop- thetics for wounded soldiers until about the drummer, he wants to erect a came as a refugee to Iowa in 1984, erty in 2010 about 30 miles south he died in 1984. The rest of the passion that stage on his land, where Laotian says makes him happiest and of Des Moines, paying off the family fled to Thailand in 1980, inspires his musicians can play and members helps him keep a closer eye on the mortgage in three months. Now, where they stayed for four years endeavor. of the community can gather for well-being of his livestock. he’s in his second season of run- until they were invited to settle in DesMoines duck and drinks. His bigger plans After dumping three buckets ning a feeder cattle operation, Des Moines. Register. are to start what he calls an “in- of grain and seed into three fattening calves before auction- Air was the last of eight sib- com/Harvest ternational farmers market” on troughs, Air rings his version of a ing them off in the fall. He hopes lings to make it to the U.S., his ofChange3 the farm, and provide other foods dinner bell to entice his 10 calves to expand soon to raise poultry. childhood nickname of “last requested by his friends, immi- from the field. Air got his nickname from his child” finally realized. grants from Asia and Africa. “Hey-oh!” he yells, while parents. In Laotian, it means “last A divorced father of one, Air “If I can make it happen, Lao- banging on the empty buckets. child.” They called him that even toiled for 16 years as a loan payoff tian people come out so they can “Come on, guys!” after having another son. clerk at Citigroup, using his vaca- enjoy and see new idea about Once the animals are munch- His love of farming took root tion days each year to make farm,” he said. “They can see and ing, Air gets his frozen pizza out in his childhood. He had played weeklong visits to the Iowa State taste why farm in America.”

CHRISTOPHER GANNON/REGISTER PHOTOS Phrakhounmany “Air" Philavanh saved up until he could afford his own farmland. He found a foreclosed property in 2010 about 30 miles south of Des Moines. Now, he’s in his second season of running a feeder cattle operation.

Philavanh hopes to expand his operation soon, adding poultry. The lumber he’s carrying will be used in the construction of duck houses. Laotians consider Muscovy duck a delicacy, so that’s the Philavanh is also a novice breed he’ll raise. drummer and wants to put up a stage on his land, where Laotian musicians can play and members of the community can gather. His plans don’t stop there: He wants to start an “international farmers market” on the farm and provide other foods requested by his friends. harvest of CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

The Des Moines Register | DesMoinesRegister.com | Metro Edition Wednesday, September 24, 2014 | Page 13A

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IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION NATIVE CROPS FEED THE SPIRIT

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CHRISTOPHER GANNON/REGISTER PHOTOS Burundian immigrant Beuline Bucumi assembles her produce as her granddaughter, Sadia, 1, rests in a sling on her back at the Global Greens Farmers Market at Lutheran Services in Iowa in late August. Some unusual offerings can be spotted among classic American vegetables at the Des Moines market, like lavender-tinted radishes and African eggplant.

By Sharyn Jackson ginning farmers about finances [email protected] and matches their own reserves up to $100 a month. maranth is the Ten percent of students in scourge of many an Practical Farmers’ savings pro- urban gardener and gram are immigrants and refu- crop farmer: Varie- gees, said Sally Worley, opera- ties like pigweed and tions director. tAhe so-called “superweed,” Palm- “There is a huge learning er amaranth, are pulled or curve, there is a financial curve sprayed to prevent them from and there are quite a few barriers choking more desired produce for them,” Worley said. “The first and grain. time LSI had their market, they Pacifique Simon, 22, says peo- had no prices. The farmers want- ple who discard the weed are cra- ed to negotiate or barter, and we zy. In Burundi, where he was had to explain ‘Iowa nice’ to them, born, the greens make for a nutri- and that they had to have prices.” tious meal. In addition to providing the Simon, who came to Des plots, Global Greens teaches its Moines as a refugee six years ago Tanzanian immigrant Evelyne Barampanze awaits customers at the Global Greens Farmers Market. farmers about seed-saving, soil with his family, likes to saute the Lutheran Services in Iowa offers small farm plots for 150 of its clients. science, record-keeping and mar- amaranth greens — first boiled, keting. then chopped — with some oil and around the country that offer ref- bounties at Global Greens, a mar- Program participant Tika onion. ugee families “incubator farms” ket that runs Saturdays from Bhandari, 32, said one of the big- In a cooking demonstration at to get started growing plants in 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. through early gest adjustments to farming in the Global Greens Farmers Mar- the United States. In addition to October in the parking lot at Lu- Iowa is the short growing season ket, a Saturday produce sale for providing income through direct theran Services, 3125 Cottage compared with that in her native refugee farmers, Simon added sales, these plots also feed refu- Grove Ave. Bhutan, where her father had a ground peanuts and chopped to- 11 PHOTOS gees’ families with foods native Some unusual offerings can be ginger farm and export business. matoes to the now-wilted ama- Take a look at to their home countries. spotted among classic American Her family was forced to leave ranth, called lenga lenga in his Ki- the Global The idea for the program in vegetables, like lavender-tinted the farm and flee to a camp in Ne- rundi language. Greens Des Moines grew when a group of radishes the size of potatoes, pal because of an ethnic conflict “I feel so good” to prepare the Farmers refugees drove with agency pumpkin vines and African egg- that left them stateless for 18 Burundian recipe, he said. “It re- Market in Des staffers to Washington, D.C., for a plant — bitter little orbs with a years. Bhandari and her father, minds me of home.” Moines. conference and saw, for the first green pepper’s sheen. Narad Bastola, hope to start Lutheran Services in Iowa has DesMoines time, the vast agricultural oppor- “It’s diversifying what is avail- growing the root again next year. provided resettlement services Register.com/ tunities outside the city. able in Iowa,” said Zachary Cou- Bastola doesn’t speak English, to refugees for decades, and one Harvestof “It’s fun being able to respond ture, Lutheran Services’ farm as- but Bhandari says returning to of its newest initiatives is to offer Change3 to something that people are so sociate. “If chefs could catch on farming has given her father a small farm plots for 150 of its cli- passionate about and interested to this, a lot of these things could way to communicate with the oth- ents. Refugees from Myanmar in doing and know how to do so be gourmet specialty items.” er refugees in the program who (Burma), Bhutan, Rwanda and well,” said Nicholas Wuertz, Lu- Immigrant and refugee farm- share the experience of having to Burundi — mostly people who theran Services in Iowa’s direc- ers can also find resources flee the land that once provided were subsistence farmers in tor of refugee community ser- through the Beginning Farmer them sustenance. their native countries — get up to vices. “As people integrate into a Center at Iowa State University “He cannot talk with anyone a quarter-acre on which to learn community, it’s good to do some- and through Practical Farmers of else, but now when he goes to the ways of Iowa soil and climate. thing familiar that reminds them Iowa, both of which match partic- farm, he can talk with these peo- Plots are in community gardens of their homeland, and gets them ipants with established mentors. ple,” she said, gesturing to the around the city and on four acres out of their apartments, too.” Practical Farmers also offers its other sellers at the market. in West Des Moines. For the first time this summer, Savings Incentive Program, a “There is no language, but they The program is one of dozens eight farmers are offering their two-year course that teaches be- can understand.”

DESMOINESREGISTER.COM/HARVESTOFCHANGE ABOUT THE AUTHORS @GannonVisuals.

EXPERIENCE THE OTHER FEATURES ONLINE Sharyn HARVEST DAMMANN FARM Jackson has OF CHANGE This series includes a unique SPECIAL DIGITAL REPORT: been a general Monday virtual rendering of the Dam- In addition to the virtual reality assignment Overview mann farm you can experi- experience with this project, the reporter for the ence in several ways. If you Register has produced a rich multi- Register for two Tuesday own an Oculus Rift DK2 — a media story, including photos, years and is a Aging virtual reality headset — you videos and interactive databases. USA TODAY correspondent. She Today can download an immersive, welcomes your story ideas. Con- Racial and ethnic VIDEO OVERVIEW: See an in- three-dimensional walk- tact her at [email protected] makeup through of the farm that troduction to changes sweeping America and the four farm families Thursday includes a dozen 360-degree or 515-284-8451. Globalization videos of farm life. For every- featured in this project. Christopher Friday one, a 2-D version of the MEET THE FAMILIES: Learn more complete experience is avail- Gannon, winner Climate change about the families and their farms, of a 2014 Upper able as a PC or Mac down- including video documentaries on load, but you’ll need a speedy Midwest Emmy each farm, to be released this for the docu- computer. Finally, a “light” week. version can be viewed in Web FUTURE FARMERS mentary “12 Years of Valor,” has browsers. Visit our series page Meet the youngest Dammann generation in an TALK ABOUT IT: Share your been a photographer and videog- at DesMoinesRegister.com/ immersive, 360-degree 3-D video and see how Justin thoughts on this project and the rapher for the Register for nine HarvestofChange for all and Jennifer Dammann already celebrate the pas- virtual reality experience on Twit- years. Contact him at options. sion for farming their children clearly possess. ter with #VirtualFarm. [email protected] or MAXIMUM AMES MUSIC FESTIVAL TO BRING RAP, BLUES, ROCK, RAP AND MORE. DATEBOOK

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 | THE NEWS IOWA DEPENDS UPON | DESMOINESREGISTER.COM | METRO EDITION A GANNETT COMPANY

REGISTER EXCLUSIVE Iowa curbs Tesla test drives DOT cuts short W.D.M. demonstrations, asserting they’re illegal since electric car company fails to meet state laws By Joel Aschbrenner drive in Iowa anytime soon. CHANGEThe Iowa Department of Founded by billionaire in- through traditional franchise [email protected] Iowaharvest joined a growing of list of Transportation said the test ventor Elon Musk, Tesla Motors dealerships. Customers can buy states tussling with Tesla Mo- drives were illegal for two rea- produces what is widely consid- the Model S online or at one of a Tesla Motors is the IOWAhottest FARMtors’ FAMILIESbusiness model CONFRONT when it Asons: NATION Tesla isn’ INt licensedTRANSITION as an ered the premier electric car handful of Tesla stores around name in the growing electric told the company to cut short auto dealer in Iowa and state because of its battery life and the country. car market. But don’t plan on three days of test drives earlier law prohibits carmakers from horsepower. taking the Model S for a test this month in West Des Moines. selling directly to the public. But Tesla doesn’t sell See TESLA, Page 13A

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE Early IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION voting starts

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE today IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION in Iowa

One benefit: Campaigns will start leaving you alone if you vote early.

By Jennifer Jacobs [email protected]

For Iowans weary of being hassled about voting by well- meaning but overeager political campaigns, there’s a remedy. Early voting starts today. “I always tell my friends who complain to me about all the phone calls and mail and door knocks that there’s a sure-fire way to get no mail and no phone calls, and that’s to vote as soon as possible,” said longtime Democratic operative Grant Woodard, the campaign manager for Jack Hatch’s guberna- CHRISTOPHER GANNON/THE REGISTER torial bid. “You will be taken off Danny Dammann unloads a trailer of food-grade white corn at Minsa Corp. in Red Oak in July. After it’s milled, the corn is shipped to restaurants every list.” and wholesalers across the country and around the world. The political operatives’ strategy is this: Use the 40 days before the election to lasso as INSIDE many votes as possible, instead PAGES 9A-10A of waiting to whip up voting dur- » Bigger farms: Not ing the 14 hours polls are open on Election Day. SELLING TO sustainable, or key to It’s a strategy that can shift feeding the world? outcomes of Iowa races — and » Smaller options: affect the passage or failure of legislation concerning same- Direct-to-consumer sales sex marriage, abortion, tax cuts THE WORLD of organic produce, or tax increases. grown locally, are rising. Iowa Republicans have ac- INCREASED EXPORTS COULD BOOST PROFITS BUT PUT FARMERS celerated their early voting ef- FIVE-PART AT MERCY OF WORLD EVENTS, SHIFTING GLOBAL TASTES SERIES See VOTING, Page 7A

By Sharyn Jackson | [email protected] The Register examines how the demographic, wenty-six tons of toothlike white corn kernels rush out of an open doorway technological and economic changes that Templeton Rye on the bottom of a metal bin that’s planted on a slice of rolling farmland in are transforming faces lawsuit TPage County, southwest Iowa. America are playing out The flying grains get sucked into a cylindrical red auger, which pulls them in the lives of four Iowa A lawsuit filed in against gravity into a semitrailer’s open cargo hold, depositing them onto a grow- farm families. Illinois alleges Iowa ing mound that will be driven to a Mexican-owned plant 20 miles away. It is only whiskey company DIGITAL the beginning of their journey. Templeton Rye broke EXPERIENCE consumer protection This grain, grown on the Dammann family’s farm, will be weighed and tested, laws and misled cleaned and milled, packaged and shipped to restaurants and wholesalers across This project includes an drinkers with tales of innovative 3-D its origins. The class- the United States and internationally. Cooks or assembly lines will hydrate the experience and a 2-D action suit comes now-powdered kernels with water and bake them to become tortilla chips and option. Learn more at after revelations in wraps enjoyed by millions. August that the DesMoines whiskey is made What starts on a farm in Iowa ends up on plates around the world. Like many Register.com/ using the stock recipe other industries today, farming links the local and the global. HarvestofChange. of an Indiana distill- ery instead of a Pro- Increased globalization joins broad demographic and technological changes in hibition-era recipe. reshaping — and unsettling — America. Easier movement of goods, services and Metro & Iowa, Page 3A See GLOBAL, Page 11A

D A I L Y High 79° Low 60° Index Your 2 Cents ...... 2A Obituaries 14A-15A Opinion.... 20A-21A $1.00 Good Morning.... 2A Mostly sunny. Metro & Iowa.... 3A Business.... 16A-17A Sports ...... 1C See Page 2 Page 5A Birthdays ...... 2A Around Iowa ..... 6A Classifieds 18A-19A Comics ... Datebook for pricing details A B C harvest of CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

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workers across borders has improved the quality of life for people around the globe, experts say, h a r v e s t o f CHANGE but also has put the jobs of Amer- ican workers in competition with IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION lower-paid, increasingly well- educated workers overseas. “All this is making us, to some degree, hypercompetitive,” said Ernie Goss, an economist at Creighton University. “Unless you’re cloistered, businesses are going to be facing this.” Global connectivity, with the help of technology, has transformed how and when companies do business, said Elliott Smith, executive director of the Iowa Business Council. “Having a presence electroni- cally seems to be the ticket to competition in many instances,” SIGNATURE REQUIRED Smith said.FILE “Whereas NAME: m0924IowaGlobal it was ARTIST: Katie Kunert REPORTER: EDITOR: downtime when the sun was down, now the sun is up some- where.” COPY DESK: COLOR: YES NO SIZE: 5C 6C SECTION: In farming, many experts view increased exports as a gold- en opportunity to increase income for American producers DESIGN COPY – NOT FOR PROOF CHRISTOPHER GANNON/THE REGISTER and a critical piece in feeding the A forklift operator works inside the warehouse at Minsa Corp. in Red Oak. The company, which also has mills in Texas, aims to reach more world’s growing population. European markets and the growing U.S. market for food not derived from genetically modified organisms. Net U.S. farm income stood at $92 billion in 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Agricul- Global attitudes affect Iowa corn exports and the growing U.S. market for ture’s Census of Agriculture. In- food not derived from genetically come per farm varies widely, Iowa sends corn, its second-largest export, to 52 nations. Asian and South American countries modified organisms. largely based on size. The aver- with a growing middle class are rising in the ranks of corn importers. But European restrictions “The demand seems to be age was $43,750 in 2012, up 29 per- on genetically modiﬁed foods are keeping Iowa corn out of most countries on that continent. there,” Roberts said. “The non- cent from 2007. Rank Rank Percentage change GMO, I think, is going to meet the “Exports truly are the future 2013 Country 2013 value 2003 from 2003 sort of market out there that can’t of profitability for farmers,” said 1 Mexico 372,275,491 1 119% afford organic, but yet they still Julius Schaaf, past president of want to be able to see it on a label the U.S. Grains Council and a 2 Japan 61,992,813 5 2,307% or know that it’s non-GMO. We’re farmer in Fremont County, Ia. 3 Canada 51,739,172 2 94% just trying to get ahead of the “We’re just about filled for do- 4 China 32,164,748 market.” mestic demand, so the real oppor- Minsa’s directive for the com- tunities are outside our borders.” 5 Venezuela 29,093,495 ing crop this fall led the Dam- But increased reliance on ex- 6 Honduras 17,109,404 manns to plant 2,400 of their 4,200 ports adds another layer of uncer- 7 Colombia 12,347,283 tillable acres in non-GM food- tainty and vulnerability to farm- grade corn. (They still grow GM ing. Larger forces of policy, 8 Spain 8,878,076 corn for ethanol, and their soy- world events and weather syn- 9 Chile 7,849,555 4 153% beans are also genetically modi- chronize before one little white fied.) 10 Cuba 7,074,021 tooth of a corn kernel becomes Growing non-GM corn after someone’s dinner. It may be a Rank Rank Rank years of planting genetically drought in Brazil, turmoil in Uk- 2013 Country 2013 Country 2013 Country modified strains is a challenge, raine or European bans on geneti- 11 Panama 25 Portugal 39 Brazil especially the more finicky white cally engineered crops. corn, the Dammanns say. The 12 Jamaica 26 Romania 40 Costa Rica Decisions shaping farmers’ yield is slightly lower, and they destinies often take place far 13 Peru 27 Sweden 41 Trinidad and Tobago have to use a different cocktail of from the farm or dining room, in 14 France 28 El Salvador 42 Greece herbicide than usual, since non- houses of parliament and compa- 15 Argentina 29 Ecuador 43 Hong Kong GM corn isn’t resistant to Round- ny boardrooms, sometimes af- 16 Austria 30 Taiwan 44 Israel up, the chemical used by conven- fected by attitudes farmers and 17 South Africa 31 Hungary 45 Lithuania tional farmers to eradicate researchers view as not based on 18 Nicaragua 32 Thailand 46 Turkey weeds. science. 19 Saudi Arabia 33 Netherlands 47 Dominican Republic Justin Dammann said it is not “The world is bigger than 20 Belize 34 Germany 48 Philippines up to him to decide what people where we’re at,” said Bill North- 21 Russia 35 New Zealand 49 Curacao should eat, but the other way ey, Iowa’s secretary of agricul- around. 22 Italy 36 Sudan 50 Barbados ture. “Political reasons or scien- “Food is very similar to fash- tific reasons might not have to do 23 Guatemala 37 Belgium 51 United Arab Emirates ion,” he said. “It goes in cycles.” with me, but might have to do 24 Korea, South 38 Ukraine 52 United Kingdom He doesn’t care whether de- with my prices.” mand for non-GM food is founded Farmers learned that lesson in science or politics, or is just a during the farm crisis of the fad. 1980s, caused in part by a U.S. em- “What was in yesterday is out, bargo on grain exports to the So- 3 but we’ve got to keep up with all viet Union, ordered in retaliation that, because we’re raising what for that country’s invasion of Af- people want to buy and eat,” he 8 ghanistan. 4 2 said. The sudden decrease in demand for grain, combined with 1 10 Consumers forecast 6 skyrocketing interest rates and 5 to hold more sway plummeting land values, sent 7 American agriculture into a de- Matt Russell, a chemical-free pression whose recovery re- farmer in Lacona who sells di- quired two decades. Sources: U.S. Census rectly to shoppers at the Down- Bureau: Foreign Trade 9 town Farmers’ Market in Des Consumer attitudes Divisions USA Trade Online, Moines, believes consumers will alter farm decisions State Export HS6 Codes THE REGISTER play larger parts in determining what farms grow. These days, add a new compli- its cotton, according to the Inter- more than 2,000 percent increase. Russell is coordinator of Buy cation: More consumers at home national Service for the Acquisi- Mexico remained at No. 1 and Fresh, Buy Local, a project of and abroad are basing their food- tion of Agri-biotech Applications, China, with its growing middle Drake University’s Agricultural buying decisions in part on how a group that promotes the use of class, moved up the list from No. Law Center that encourages Iowa their food is grown. such crops. 33 to No. 4. consumers to choose farm-fresh Farmers markets, where Seed giants like DuPont Pio- Schaaf, the past president of foods at farmers markets or at consumers can interact directly neer and Monsanto promote the the U.S. Grains Council, is the the farms themselves. with the growers of their food, PHOTOS higher yields from their GM president of MAIZALL, an alli- Consumers’ desire to know have risen steadily in the United The crops as linchpins in efforts to ance between Argentina, Brazil where their food comes from and States from 1994 to 2014, almost Dammanns feed a hungry world. and U.S. corn growers that works a growing distrust of industrial quintupling to 8,268, according to deliver their After swine, corn is Iowa’s sec- to influence global trade issues. agriculture will affect how large- the Agriculture Department. grain to a ond-largest agricultural export, The group recently visited poli- scale farms will operate going Some consumers want meat to processing and 95 percent of the corn grow- cymakers in the European Union forward, said Russell, who grows come from livestock raised in a plant. ing in Iowa this year comes from in hopes of putting a face on the produce, free-range chicken and way they view as humane, are DesMoines genetically modified seeds. growers of GM corn. grass-fed beef on 110 acres. skeptical that crops grown with Register.com/ Ruth MacDonald, a food sci- “What we’re trying to do is The impact is already seen in genetically engineered seed are Harvestof ence expert and professor at keep those markets open, and the movement within the U.S. to safe to eat, and believe the planet Change4 Iowa State University, stands by make sure we get our fair share label GM food, he said. would be better off if everyone the safety of GM foods. of the growing pie,” Schaaf said. In January, for example, Gen- could buy food produced close to “There has never been a docu- eral Mills announced it would not home rather than shipped from mented incident of any health Some farmers adapt use genetically modified ingredi- ever-bigger farms anywhere in consequence associated with to shifting attitudes ents in its original Cheerios the world. INTER- consuming foods or food ingredi- brand. An example of how attitudes ACTIVE: ents that are derived from geneti- But rather than try to change “We now have an engaged pub- abroad may over time affect how Browse the cally modified technologies, and European policy, some American lic that is reconnecting and think- farms operate in Iowa: European countries to there’s a wide body of research farmers are adapting to it. ing about food, and so that opens resistance to American farmers’ which Iowa that shows that they are not dif- The Mexican-based process- up a whole political process and a embrace of genetically engi- sends most of ferent nutritionally or functional- ing company where the Dam- market process that makes in- neered crops. its agricultural ly different from conventionally manns sent their corn will accept dustrial agriculture more respon- Genetically modified seeds products. developed foods,” she said. only non-GM corn this fall from sive,” Russell said. contain DNA that’s been modi- DesMoines But European countries have the southwest Iowa growers it “It’s not replacing industrial fied to express a trait such as re- Register.com/ largely rejected GM products. works with, said Scott Roberts, agriculture with our farm. It’s sistance to a pest, an environmen- Harvestof In 2013, only Spain among Eu- national procurement manager making big agriculture think dif- tal condition or a chemical. Such Change4 ropean countries made the list of for Minsa Corp. ferently, making them more ac- seeds are planted in 27 countries the top 10 importers of Iowa corn, The company, with mills in countable, making them more re- and on 79 percent of the world’s at No. 8. In the past decade, Ja- Texas and Red Oak, Ia., aims to sponsive to the environmental soybean acres and 70 percent of pan, now at No. 2, experienced a reach more European markets questions.” harvest of CHANGE

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SIGNATURE REQUIRED FILE NAME: m0924farmsBigger ARTIST: Katie Kunert REPORTER: EDITOR:

COPY DESK: COLOR: YES NO SIZE: 5C 6C SECTION:

DESIGN COPY – NOT FOR PROOF CHRISTOPHER GANNON/THE REGISTER Joined by his dog, Blaze, Justin Dammann scans the landscape on a July morning while checking on one of his cattle herds on some of the family’s Page County farmland. UNDER PRESSURE, FARMS EXPAND By Sharyn Jackson Farms are getting bigger day if we aren’t efficient and sustainable, [email protected] we may not be raising corn for ourselves Farm size in Iowa and the U.S. has grown since the 1950s. but for Cargill” — the world’s largest and in glove with the global- IOWA FARM SIZE (IN ACRES) grain exporter. ization of farming comes pres- 500 491 Farm size in the U.S. ticked up 3.8 per- sure to operate ever-bigger cent from 2007 to 2012, to 434 acres. Small- farms. 440 441 er farms far outnumber the biggest opera- Family farms, even those 434 tions, but produce much less. Has large as the 7,100-acre Dammann oper- 400 440 In 2012, 75 percent of farms in the U.S. ation in southwest Iowa, struggle to com- had sales of less than $50,000. But compete against the efficiency of even larger 350 bined, they produced only 3 percent of the farms. 352 345 value of all agricultural products sold. Critics see large-scale farms — with The 4 percent of all farms with gross sales their use of expensive machinery, chem- 300 325 over $1 million, including the Dammann ical fertilizers, genetically engineered U.S. farm, produced 66 percent of agricultural seed, dependence on fossil fuels and ship- 283 products sold. 262 ment of products worldwide — as an un- 215 Even as the Dammanns expand their sustainable system that at times enriches 200 219 acreage (they own 1,690 acres and lease distant corporate directors at the ex- the balance), they worry that consolida- pense of families and local communities. 168.7 tion will continue on a larger scale, with Many agricultural experts see the giant corporations taking over smaller op- high output per acre of big farms as criti- IOWA erations that can no longer compete. The cal to meeting the world’s food needs. 100 Dammanns saw it years before with poul- An estimated 9.6 billion people are ex- ‘50‘54 ‘59 ‘64 ‘69 ‘74 ‘78 ‘82 ‘87 ‘92 ‘97 ‘02 ‘07 ‘12 try and swine, which became no longer fi- pected to inhabit the planet by 2050. Ken nancially viable for them to continue, and Note: Beginning in 1997, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Quinn, World Food Prize president and administered the Census of Agriculture, which was previously conducted they worry the same thing will happen one former U.S. ambassador to Cambodia, by the U.S. Census Bureau. NASS altered the census methodology to adjust day with grain. calls feeding this growing population “the ﬁgures to capture nonrespondents, so ﬁgures prior to 1997 may not be The fear that corporate agriculture greatest challenge in human history.” entirely representative. will squeeze out family farms is real, said He believes farmers and scientists in Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Census of Agriculture. Matt Russell, who coordinates the State America’s heartland will answer this THE REGISTER Food Policy Project at Drake University’s challenge, just as when food prize foun- Agricultural Law Center. der Norman Borlaug developed a strain “Farms are getting bigger, (and there of wheat that ended starvation for mil- LARGEST FARMS RAKE IN SUBSIDIES are) lots more opportunities for employ- lions of people and won the Nobel Peace ees rather than farmers,” he said. “That’s Prize in 1970. A frequent criticism of the largest U.S. farms is that they receive the being driven by the corporatization of ag- Through the work of agricultural re- bulk of government subsidies. ribusiness that’s using their market pow- searchers at Iowa State University, de- Subsidy programs include a guarantee of a minimum price for a crop, er to limit the opportunities for those velopments in biotechnology and machin- which kicks in when market prices fall below a certain threshold, and farms.” ery, and the increasing efficiency of protection for farmers from weather disasters. Arnold Dammann, the eldest living farmers here, “Iowa,” Quinn said, “has Iowa, with its large concentration of corn and soybean operations, member of the seven-generation Dam- become the epicenter of the greatest pe- received more commodity subsidies from 1995 through 2012 than any mann farm, said seeing the farm raise riod of food production and hunger re- other state, according to the Environmental Working Group, which main- grain for a corporation is his biggest fear. duction in all human history.” tains a database of farm subsidies. In 2012, 9 percent of all commodity His pride in the farm comes from being The Dammanns, like many other farm- payments went to Iowa farms. self-sufficient and the sole profiteer. ers, view the notion of caring for the land Ten percent of subsidized farms, typically the largest and most profit- “The best we can produce (is) when we and passing on that legacy as their faith- able, received 75 percent of all farm payments between 1995 and 2012, are self-employed,” he said. “You benefit inspired calling. the Environmental Working Group has found. from what you do.” They have repeatedly increased their Principals in the Dammann farm have received $682,000 in the 10 Justin Dammann said that fear is what farm’s size, from 160 acres to today’s years from 2003 to 2012, including conservation and disaster payments. drives him to keep expanding the opera- equivalent of 11 square miles of owned The 10 percent of Iowa farms that received the most in subsidies from tion. He and his wife, Jennifer, just pur- and rented land. It’s a matter of increased 1995 to 2012 took in an average of $34,475 a year. chased another 131 acres, though he says efficiency — and survival, they believe. The Dammanns have a complicated relationship to subsidies. Justin that land isn’t necessary to provide for his “What size or scale does our family Dammann notes that subsidies bring in less than 3 percent of their gross family. farm have to be so that we don’t lose the income, and he’d prefer that it was even less. “I think we can’t get comfortable,” he grain part of our operation someday, like “We’d rather farm and stand alone,” Justin said. “But with the price said, “because it seems to me the trend is we did with the poultry and the hogs?” structure the way it is, with market volatilities and catastrophic events, that people that get comfortable are the Justin Dammann said. “My fear is some- there’s a need for a safety net.” ones that get consumed.”

DESMOINESREGISTER.COM/HARVESTOFCHANGE ABOUT THE AUTHORS HARVEST OF CHANGE EXPERIENCE THE OTHER FEATURES ONLINE Sharyn DAMMANN FARM Jackson has Monday been a general This series includes a unique SPECIAL DIGITAL REPORT: Overview assignment re- virtual rendering of the In addition to the virtual reality porter for the Tuesday Dammann farm you can experience with this project, the Register for two Aging experience in several ways. If Register has produced a rich multi- years and is a Wednesday you own an Oculus Rift DK2 media story, including photos, USA TODAY correspondent. She Racial and ethnic — a virtual reality headset — videos and interactive databases. welcomes your story ideas. Contact makeup you can download an im- VIDEO OVERVIEW: See an in- her at [email protected] or mersive, three-dimensional Today troduction to changes sweeping 515-284-8451. walk-through of the farm Globalization America and the four farm families that includes a dozen 360- Christopher featured in this project. Friday degree videos of farm life. Gannon, winner Climate change For everyone, a 2-D version of MEET THE FAMILIES: Learn more of a 2014 Upper the complete experience is about the families and their farms, Midwest Emmy available as a PC or Mac including video documentaries on for the docu- download, but you’ll need a each farm, to be released this mentary “12 speedy computer. Finally, a week. Years of Valor,” “light” version can be viewed GLOBAL MARKET has been a photographer and in Web browsers. Visit our The corn and soybeans produced by the Dammanns TALK ABOUT IT: Share your videographer for the Register for series page at DesMoines are part of growing agriculture exports from Iowa to thoughts on this project and the nine years. Contact him at Register. com/Harvestof the world, with China a fast-growing customer. virtual reality experience on Twit- [email protected] or Change for all options. Explore a data visualization in 3-D. ter with #VirtualFarm. @GannonVisuals. harvest of CHANGE

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IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION LOCAL FOODS: ‘THE REAL DEAL’ By Sharyn Jackson [email protected] h a r v e s t o f CHANGE tomato isn’t just a tomato to Denny Wim- IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION mer — or his customers. The organic farm- Aer regularly fields questions at the Valley Junction Farmers Market in West Des Moines about how his tomatoes were grown. In the ground or hydroponically? In a greenhouse or under a high tun- nel? “They’re the real deal,” he tells a customer. “Grown outside in southwest Iowa.” Wimmer might find the inter- rogation extreme, especially compared with what he hears from the customer base at markets in rural areas, who he says trust his farm more. But he agrees there’s a difference between “supermarket tomato” and his product. “They’re juicier and they’re more flavorful,” he said of his offerings. “They taste like tomato.” At the same time that U.S. farmers have increased exports in a global market, America’s local food movement is expanding the amount of produce grown and sold close to home. Fresh fruits Denny Wimmer sells a head of napa cabbage to Kathy Anderson of Martensdale at the Valley Junction Farmers Market in July. Wimmer sells and vegetables sold directly to at three markets each week. He also does business with restaurants and a grocery store near his operation. consumers were a $1.3 billion industry in 2012, up 8 percent since 2007, according to the U.S. De- “tea” that he brews from com- his mid-80s, he decided to make a he grows in the field. And be- partment of Agriculture’s Census post, but the only other enhance- change. cause of the labor, he has dropped of Agriculture. ments are sunlight and rain. “In Chicago, I used weed con- some 25 pounds since winter. But Wimmer, 58, sells his produce In 20 rows, a biodegradable trol all the time, and I just think I besides the weight-loss program, to restaurants; at three farmers plastic shield suppresses weeds, MEET THE had enough exposure to chemi- he says he treasures the experi- markets; through community- but on most of the land, invasive WIMMERS cals for my life,” he said. ence of providing fresh food that supported agriculture (CSA) ar- plants tower over the vegetables Spend time Going organic also made sense people want to eat. rangements, in which consumers Wimmer harvests with nothing with organic for Wimmer financially. While “It’s nice to be able to grow buy shares in the farm’s harvest; but physical labor and a steak farmer Denny expenses are higher on an orga- vegetables that go directly to the and to the nearest supermarket, a knife. He rinses the dirt off them Wimmer on nic farm than on the average U.S. consumer, instead of just a com- Hy-Vee 13 miles away in Creston. in an old car wash he bought and the land his farm, so are profits. For a small modity,” Wimmer said. “It’s nice “It’s like getting it out of your converted into a wash house and father once farm like Wimmer’s, the higher when people speak to you direct- backyard,” said Mark Hoffman, refrigerator. tilled. profit allows him to provide for ly that they’ve eaten your prod- the Creston Hy-Vee’s produce Wimmer studied agronomy at DesMoines him and his wife, Patty; his par- ucts and they love them, and they manager. Iowa State University and went Register.com/ ents, Don and Darlene; and his fa- can’t wait to get more of them.” Wimmer is in his second full on to own a lawn care business in Harvestof ther-in-law, Don, who all live on Just as he was being grilled by summer of converting his 76- Chicago, where he lived for near- Change4 the property. a customer about those tomatoes, acre ancestral farm from con- ly 30 years. When he returned to Farming this way also has im- another walked by his stand at ventional row crops to organic Iowa to take over the farm from proved his diet. Rather than stop the market and vouched for produce. He applies a fertilizing his father, who at the time was in to take lunch breaks, he eats what them. Wimmer made the sale.

CHRISTOPHER GANNON/REGISTER PHOTOS Denny Wimmer carries a bin of freshly harvested zucchini on his organic farm in Arispe in July. The farm has been in his family since 1919. Wimmer left his sales career in Chicago three years ago to return and launch an organic operation on the 76 acres.

Wimmer prints a newsletter from his office at the farm. He offers a 20-week Community Supported Agriculture program and publishes the newsletter with each week's CSA delivery.

It’s time to give the onions a scrubbing. Wimmer washes his vegetables in what once was a car wash in Arispe. DISC GOLF TODAY IN IOWA LIFE: MATURE TREES, SCENIC VISTAS DRAW GOLFERS TO IOWA’S 150-PLUS COURSES

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IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014 | THE NEWS IOWA DEPENDS UPON | DESMOINESREGISTER.COM | METRO EDITION A GANNETT COMPANY

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE Audit: Pay IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION given, but

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE no proof IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION of work State officials now aim to see if any of $114,000 paid to workers after jobs cut can be reclaimed

By Jason Clayworth [email protected]

State officials are reviewing how and whether Iowa can reclaim any of the nearly $114,000 paid to six Iowa secretary of state employees after their jobs had been eliminated. The call Thursday for a so-called “claw- back” came with the release of an audit showing Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz allowed the workers to continue to collect state checks in 2012 after he had eliminated their positions. Schultz has previously said CHRISTOPHER GANNON/THE REGISTER that some of the workers pro- Justin Dammann walks a newly built terrace on his Page County farmland. The Dammanns continue to invest in terracing of vided consultation and had fields to stop runoff and reduce erosion. A cover crop planted after the terracing was completed was beginning to emerge. Matt Schultz called in daily. But his office has yet to show documentation that the employees provided a service. Thursday’s audit concluded there was no way to determine if the employees had per- NATURE REBELS formed any work because of a lack of documentation. It concluded that it was Schultz’s responsibility to ensure all payments made by SPECTER OF CLIMATE CHANGE POSES NEW THREATS TO FARMING, his office are in the interest of the public. The information has left some elected offi- ALREADY UNDER PRESSURE TO LESSEN ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT cials to launch reviews about whether they

By Donnelle Eller | [email protected] See AUDIT, Page 18A

ate July was a critical time in the growing season, when the lush, tasseled corn on Justin Dammann’s family farm filled with sweet, juicy kernels. The tall, dark-green stands were a stark contrast to those of two years ago, Exodus of city Lwhen drought gripped the hilly region and state. Inch by inch, the heat drained the Dammanns’ crops. In a few fields, cornstalks were so weak, they tumbled. “Two years ago, we had the worst crop of my life, and probably my dad’s. And this officials creates year will probably be our best ever,” said Justin Dammann, 34. plight in Pierson Even with recent extremes, Dam- INSIDE mann doesn’t put much stock in the con- PAGES 7A-8A IERSON, Ia. — The harsh truth about cept of climate change — that humans » Extremes: Adapting small-town politics is that it can be a are creating heat-trapping gases that are pain in the neck for the elected offi- to weather volatility. P pushing the Earth’s temperature higher. cials who can’t help but stare their constitu- For Dammann, it’s just the weather, » Weeds: Costly pests — ents — I mean, neighbors — in the eye as bringing cycles that farmers across but not to everyone. they travel up and down Iowa and the world have worked in, » Responses: New crops? the few streets available around and with for generations. It’s like » Solutions: Action plans to them. the “the grain markets or the stock mar- Just ask Max Dunning- ket. It’s unpredictable. And it’s out of our on climate change. ton, who resigned this hands,” Dammann said. month after 19 years as But scientists say climate change is FIVE-PART SERIES mayor of Pierson, a map causing more intense and frequent The Register examines how dot between Sioux City flooding, droughts, hurricanes and tor- KYLE and Cherokee in north- nadoes. They predict it will change the the demographic, west Iowa. way Iowa’s farmers grow corn and soy- technological and MUNSON’S Dunnington, 57, was beans and raise livestock — increasing economic changes that are IOWA “tired of being every- the pests, weeds and diseases that farm- transforming America are [email protected] body’s daddy.” ers battle to bring food to the table and playing out in the lives of He does remain a par- triggering decreased yields or even the tial parent since he also economic shock of crop failures. four Iowa farm families. Pierson has been the local fire The potential of wrenching climate chief for 24 years. change adds to broad demographic, tech- DIGITAL DES MOINES The town of 366 re- nological and economic changes that EXPERIENCE elected Dunnington just give many Americans an unsettled sense last year — although by a of the future. This project includes an mere six votes, 52 to 46. Scientists have predicted a wide innovative 3-D experience He just got tired of it, Dunnington said range of impacts from climate change, and a 2-D option. Learn when I caught him at home. Got burned out. including shrinking glaciers and rising more at DesMoines “If I dropped over dead it’d be the same sea levels. In the Midwest, forecasts in- effect,” he shrugged. Register.com/ See CLIMATE, Page 9A HarvestofChange. See MUNSON, Page 10A

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IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

The Des Moines Register | DesMoinesRegister.com | Metro Edition Friday, September 26, 2014 | Page 9A

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

CHRISTOPHER GANNON/THE REGISTER Justin Dammann walks alongside a terrace between soybean fields on his Page County farmland. The Dammann family continues to invest in terracing of fields to stop runoff and reduce soil erosion. The terraces, plus buffer strips and other conservation practices, have cost the family an estimated $1 million over four decades, Dammann says.

Conservation spending up, acres down “If we’re going to maintain Conservation spending CLIMATE Total Iowa’s ability to produce crops, Spending on conservation Iowa we’re going to have to get very se- Spending on conservation Total Iowa Total Iowa Total U.S. Total Total Iowa spending acres spending U.S. acres Continued from Page 1A in Iowa has climbed about acres rious about improving our soil ... in Iowa has climbed about spending 60 percent over a decade 2004 $227,316,176 2,245,498 and protecting it from the ex- 60 percent over a decade 2004 $227,316,176 2,245,498 $2,879,219,554 52,501,228 and about 50 percent and about 50 percent clude increased deaths from heat 2005 $265,273,122 2,804,624 treme variations in the climate,” 2005 $265,273,122 2,804,624 $3,386,412,834 60,197,242 waves and greater vulnerability across the U.S., state and said Jerry Hatfield, a collaborat- across the U.S., state and to diseases carried by insects and federal data show. The 2006 $269,572,214 2,147,499 ing professor at Iowa State Uni- federal data shows. The 2006 $269,572,214 2,147,499 $3,223,107,900 57,406,538 rodents. totals include building 2007 $289,121,987 2,093,012 versity and director of the Na- totals include building 2007 $289,121,987 2,093,012 $3,323,929,086 52,322,751 wetlands, grassed wetlands, grassed As for agriculture, experts 2008 $301,475,555 2,056,027 tional Laboratory for Agriculture 2008 $301,475,555 2,056,027 $3,507,216,652 52,630,872 foresee higher food prices for waterways, terraces and and the Environment. waterways, terraces and consumers in the U.S. and around manure management 2009 $319,527,241 1,811,352 The state estimates the cost to manure management 2009 $319,527,241 1,811,352 $3,737,804,966 46,627,196 the world. Even with improved systems, as well as keeping 2010 $353,348,186 2,505,168 implement the conservation in- systems as well as keeping 2010 $353,348,186 2,505,168 $4,378,604,541 69,366,695 grazing land out of crop grazing land out of crop farming technology and prac- 2011 $330,860,003 2,128,068 frastructure needed to fully ad- 2011 $330,860,003 2,128,068 $4,259,615,708 57,996,626 tices, climate change will in- production. At the same dress water quality concerns production. At the same crease tensions about food and time, the number of Iowa 2012 $337,169,144 2,097,087 could run up to $1.2 billion annu- time, the number of Iowa 2012 $337,169,144 2,097,087 $4,590,901,362 62,808,597 the potential for global price acres in conservation has 2013 $361,994,391 1,842,976 ally over 50 years. acres in conservation has 2013 $361,994,391 1,842,976 $4,189,128,736 51,672,837 shocks, scientists say. fallen about 18 percent, Conservation can sometimes fallen about 18 percent, Despite Dammann’s doubt outpacing the national SPENDING 59.2% ACRES –17.9% reduce production costs. For ex- outpacing the national 59.2% –17.9% 45.5% –1.6% about the concept of climate decline at 2 percent. ample, use of no-till — planting decline at 2 percent. change, he and other farmers ac- without breaking up the soil by knowledge that weather trends Protected acres down, rents up plowing or other cultivation — re- Conservation reserve acres are becoming more extreme, and Environmentally sensitive Acres/Iowa Rents/Iowa duces fuel and equipment use. Environmentally sensitive Acres/Iowa Rents/Iowa Acres/U.S. Rents/U.S. they’re trying to mitigate the im- But building terraces and grass acres that are protected 2004 1,894,501 $191,778,874 acres that are protected 2004 1,894,501 $191,778,874 34,707,287 $1,624,819,554 pact. through the Conservation waterways can be costly, and the through the Conservation “I don’t want to paint a picture Reserve Program have 2005 1,917,479 $195,971,139 payoff in reduced erosion, better Reserve Program have 2005 1,917,479 $195,971,139 34,902,300 $1,665,612,834 that Mother Nature is out of con- fallen about 20 percent 2006 1,958,883 $199,959,182 retention of expensive fertiliz- fallen about 20 percent 2006 1,958,883 $199,959,182 36,003,300 $1,690,207,900 trol and we’re not doing anything ers, improved soil health and in both Iowa and the 2007 1,970,486 $206,349,887 in both Iowa and the 2007 1,970,486 $206,349,887 36,770,984 $1,762,529,086 about it,” said Dammann, who es- U.S., while the rents paid higher yields can take years. U.S., while the rents paid timates his family has invested out have climbed about 2008 1,809,633 $209,194,241 Funding, whether from farm- out have climbed about 2008 1,809,633 $209,194,241 34,612,696 $1,819,216,652 $1 million over four decades in 12 percent in Iowa. 2009 1,703,941 $200,689,691 ers or public dollars, is one of the 12 percent in Iowa. 2009 1,703,941 $200,689,691 33,721,252 $1,756,904,966 terraces, buffer strips and other biggest factors limiting adoption They’re ﬂat nationally. 2010 1,637,130 $197,389,377 They’re ﬂat nationally. 2010 1,637,130 $197,389,377 31,298,245 $1,736,504,541 conservation practices. “We still Environmentalists blame of conservation practices, said Environmentalists blame feel very strongly, from a conser- high corn and soybean 2011 1,662,373 $196,571,581 Roger Wolfe, an environmental high corn and soybean 2011 1,662,373 $196,571,581 31,124,371 $1,666,815,708 vation standpoint, that we can do prices for putting fragile 2012 1,644,429 $212,942,767 program leader at the Iowa Soy- prices for putting fragile 2012 1,644,429 $212,942,767 29,525,599 $1,717,101,362 our part to help minimize the lands back into bean Association. lands back into 2013 1,525,012 $216,365,109 2013 1,525,012 $216,365,109 26,838,728 $1,693,828,736 damage.” production. Corn prices Conservation spending has in- production. Corn prices have tumbled about 60 2014 n/a $214,402,615 creased in Iowa, up nearly 60 per- have tumbled about 60 2014 $214,402,615 $1,632,892,901 Pressure heightens percent since peaking in ACRES –19.5% SPENDING 11.8% cent from 2004 to $362 million percent since peaking in –19.5% 11.8% –22.7% 0.5% over environment 2012. last year. And U.S. spending has 2012. climbed about 50 percent in the Sources: The National Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Source: The National Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Farmers are facing growing the Iowa Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency THE REGISTER same period, to $4.2 billion last the Iowa Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Services Agency THE REGISTER pressure — from government year. Those amounts don’t fully regulators, consumers and big- encompass farmer spending. box retailers — to reduce the in- Despite the increase, the Iowa dustry’s impact on the environ- gae that decompose, consuming produced per ton of phosphate in- Farm Bureau Federation says ment. oxygen in a process that chokes creasing by 168 percent between farmers involved in watershed The federal government is fish, shrimp and other aquatic 1968 and 2010.” improvements sought about pushing Iowa and 11 other Mid- life. The hypoxia area, or dead But the report from Ceres, a $100 million more in state and western states to reduce the fer- zone, is about the size of Connect- nonprofit group of investors, federal funding than was avail- tilizers flowing from farm fields icut. businesses and others pushing able last year. And future avail- and contributing to the dead zone Sprouting between the Dam- for more sustainable business ability of government funding is in the Gulf of Mexico. manns’ terraces is a cover crop practices, also estimates that expected to decline because of And global corporations like mix of sweet peas, oats and bras- “$420 million in inefficiently ap- federal budget cuts. Wal-Mart and McDonald’s are de- sicas, planted to help protect and plied fertilizer washed off corn The soybean association, manding that suppliers like Car- rebuild the soil. This fall, Dam- acres into the Mississippi River along with the Iowa Pork Pro- gill, PepsiCo, Kellogg and Tyson mann will graze some of his 1,500 and eventually the Gulf of Mexi- ducers and Iowa Corn Growers reduce their environmental im- cows and calves on the field, their co” in 2013. VIDEO associations, announced a new al- pact, by means such as cutting manure naturally feeding the or- Iowa farmers’ conservation liance last month whose goal is to greenhouse gas emissions or re- ganic matter in the soil. efforts are voluntary. Environ- Learn more accelerate the pace and scale of ducing water use. Improving the soil’s health is mental advocates decry the pace about the water-quality improvement. The The companies seek to protect important for yields, but a richer as too slow and seek regulation. terraces the group will look to farmers, agri- themselves from future price soil also helps better absorb wa- Dammann believes that some Dammanns culture and food corporations, shocks and ensure their long- ter during the deluges — or hold it environmental groups want “us have installed private foundations and govern- term viability, said John Law- during drought — that climate to manage Mother Nature at any on their farm ment programs for funding. rence, an associate dean in Iowa change is predicted to bring. expense.” to reduce soil Dammann said his family State University’s College of Ag- “If we get 3 inches of rain and “We invest and we reinvest in erosion at would invest about $50,000 alto- riculture. Such actions enable only 1 inch stays on the farm and the best tools possible,” he said, DesMoines gether in his most recent terrac- companies to tell consumers: the rest of it runs off, we lost an incorporating GPS systems, pre- Register.com/ ing project. An additional $10,000 “We’re not just after the bottom opportunity,” Dammann said. cision applicators and historical Harvestof will come from government cost- line here,” Lawrence said. “We’re “We feel that’s very important to data to place the least amount of Change5. sharing. Dammann said he wait- going to do business in a sustain- hold those 2 inches here, and al- fertilizer and chemicals for max- ed seven years for a chance at the able manner.” low our crop to use it throughout imum effect. federal assistance. A short ride from Justin and the season.” “I always ask those people who The cost isn’t easy for farmers Jennifer Dammann’s home near complain about what we’re doing: to handle, especially in years like Red Oak is a 160-acre farm the Iowa efforts grow, ‘Well, how much money are you this one, when the price of corn young couple bought. but pace is criticized spending to make this system and soybeans may drop below the Climbing up one side of the better?’ ” he said. cost of production. The Dam- field are terraces the Dammanns Across Iowa, farmers are in- “The soil is our livelihood, and manns’ investment in conserva- have just built. The terraces will creasing their efforts to build we’re passionate about it,” he tion measures is possible because slow rainwater — and better re- greater conservation into their said. “So we take it personally they own the farm and look at tain the precious soil and nutri- operations. when some special-interest payoff for the cost over genera- ents (nitrogen and phosphorus) A national report in June that group points a finger and says tions, he said. that can get carried away in run- criticized the amount of water we’re not doing it right.” “We’re not perfect. There are off. The water flows into a nearby and chemicals used to produce farms we farm that need im- creek and eventually into the U.S. corn acknowledges the Cost an obstacle provements. It’s an ongoing proc- Mississippi River basin, which gains: “The efficiency of fertiliz- in conservation push ess,” Dammann said. feeds into the Gulf of Mexico. er use has improved overall, with But “we do try to do it right. It’s In the Gulf, nutrients from the amount of corn produced per A lot is riding on Iowa farmers’ our moral obligation and our live- Midwest farms, golf courses, ton of nitrogen increasing by response to climate change, ex- lihood. ... We hope these farms are sewage plants and lawns feed al- more than 50 percent, and corn perts say. in our family forever.” harvest of CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

The Des Moines Register | DesMoinesRegister.com | Metro Edition Friday, September 26, 2014 | Page 7A

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION ADAPTING TO WEATHER’S TOLL By Donnelle Eller which Iowa State University profes- Farmers — and the industry — are graphically diverse” farmland, hop- [email protected] sors Jerry Hatfield and Eugene Takle adapting, Takle, Hatfield and others ing to avoid damage to all of their played leadingh roles. a r “High v e nighttime s t o f sCHANGEaid. acres from hail and other catastroph- limate change is already temperatures affected corn yields in Many farmers don’t embrace the ic storms. And they’re investing in taking a toll on U.S. agricul- IOWA2010 and FARM 2012 across FAMILIES the Corn CONFRONT Belt.” terms A NATIONglobal warming IN TRANSITION or climate grain bin drying systems and are buy- ture — an industry that pro- “With the number of nights with change. But “I do think that many are ing more crop insurance. duces $330 billion in com- hot temperatures projected to in- beginning to appreciate increased But those steps won’t be enough to modities annually, accord- crease as much as 30 percent, yield volatility in the weather, relative to fully blunt agricultural losses, the cli- iCng to this year’s National Climate As- reductions will become more preva- what they’re accustomed to,” said mate assessment report warned. sessment report. lent,” the report said. John Lawrence, an associate dean in Hatfield said Iowa and U.S. farm- In the Midwest, extreme rain Iowa’s climate is changing, too, the Iowa State’s College of Agriculture. ers will need to combine precision events increased 37 percent over five scientists said. Spring rainfall in the Farmers are adding tiles that can farming, more conservation prac- decades, the report said. state climbed 22 percent from 1970 to help soil drain better. They’re invest- tices and more diverse crop rotations And rising temperatures — espe- 2010, said Takle, director of Iowa ing in irrigation systems. They’re to help mitigate weed and insect pres- cially overnight during critical polli- State University’s climate science buying bigger, faster planters to com- sures while maintaining yield — and nation periods, when soybean pods program. “What used to be a 1-in-20- pensate for shorter planting seasons. profits. and corn kernels are filling out — can year event is now a 1-in-4 event.” Companies are designing seeds that “We’re on the cusp of an agricultur- “greatly reduce yields and increase That pattern has cut the number of are resistant to more severe droughts al revolution,” he said. “It’s about get- the risk of total crop failure,” the re- days farmers can be in the field dur- and developing chemicals that are ting farmers to ask different ques- port said. ing the critical spring planting season more effective against insects and tions ... to get them to think about “These effects have already begun by 3.5 days. Meanwhile, Iowa has had weeds. changes, maybe different metrics to occur,” according to the report, in 13 percent less winter rainfall. Farmers also looking for “geo- other than yield.”

WEEDS: TERMINATE OR TOLERATE?

By Sharyn Jackson [email protected]

ustin Dammann walks through a cornfield with his son, Jayden, for a lesson on weeds. The corn is higher than Justin’s head. To Jay- den, who recently turned 4, the stalks must look Jas tall as the decades-old pin oak tree that tow- ers above the Dammanns’ century farmhouse. Among the pristine rows of corn, Justin spots an invader. “There’s a weed,” he says. “We don’t like weeds, do we?” Jayden knows weeds “do something” to the corn, but he’s not sure what. His father explains that they “take the water” from the crop. Jayden has the solution. “Either spray them or pull them,” he says, repeating a mantra his father has often uttered. Justin may be simplifying things for Jayden, but “spray them or pull them” is what most farmers do to combat irksome weeds. A few, though, take a “live and let live” approach. Most farmers believe they’re good stewards of the land. But their varied approaches to the age-old dilemma of weed control show how different their paths can be in carrying out that belief. CHRISTOPHER GANNON/REGISTER PHOTOS Justin’s father, Danny, does most of the spraying Justin Dammann discards a massive weed after uprooting it along the side of one of his soybean fields in Page County. on the family’s 4,200 tillable acres. He uses a com- Dammann believes in pulling or spraying the weeds on his farm. puterized guide preset with GPS coordinates that steers the sprayer and highlights on an iPad-like screen the areas that have been covered. The technology prevents the chemicals from overlapping, reduces waste and protects the fields from over- spraying. “It just takes the guesswork out of it,” Danny says. The technology not only saves money on wasted chemicals but also has tripled the speed at which Danny can spray. During planting, his busiest time, he can cover 500 to 600 acres in a day. Not all farmers deploy such a large-scale assault. Denny Wimmer, who raises organic produce in Arispe, keeps some weeds suppressed with a biodegradable plastic shield that runs along the ground where his tomatoes grow. But that plastic covers only 20 rows on his 76 acres. Elsewhere, he and other workers pull weeds manually. Wimmer routinely used chemicals in his earlier career as owner of a lawn care business, but he embraced the idea of ending that exposure when he took over the farm from his father two years ago. It’s not that he doesn’t fantasize about an easier way to attack weeds. “When I see a weed sometimes, I go, ‘Gosh, I should just blast these once with Roundup and then Chemical-free farmer Matt Russell harvests onions at his Lacona operation in preparation for a trip to the Downtown start over,’ ” he says. “But I don’t.” Farmers’ Market in Des Moines in July. “We think of weeds as part of our farm,” he says. Weeds aren’t an enemy to all farmers. On Matt Russell and Patrick Standley’s 110-acre Lacona farm, weeds tower over onions, ring around up on corn and soybeans. He said his parents bought sects drawn to them that he says are “complemen- bunches of chard and basil, and make rolling hills of into a “culture of clean fields” propagated by busi- tary”— to thrive alongside more desirable produce. pasture look furry and alive when a breeze rustles nesses selling herbicide. One benefit of tall weeds, he explained, is that they through. “If your business model is to eradicate weeds, shade the ground, keeping in moisture. The weeds “We think of weeds as part of our farm,” Russell then it’s in your interest to make sure farmers have he does pull, he leaves on the ground, eventually to says. a very hostile attitude toward weeds,” he says. go back into the soil as nutrients. Russell grew up on a conventional farm 100 miles Russell described his farm as “a little oasis of “It’s a balance,” he says. “Part of the excitement west of his land, where his parents sprayed Round- chemical-free” land that allows weeds — and the in- of being a farmer is living in that tension.”

DESMOINESREGISTER.COM/HARVESTOFCHANGE ABOUT THE AUTHORS HARVEST OF CHANGE EXPERIENCE THE OTHER Donnelle Eller, a reporter DAMMANN FARM and editor at the Register for Monday FEATURES 15 years, covers agriculture This series includes a unique Overview SPECIAL DIGITAL and energy. She can be virtual rendering of the Tuesday REPORT: reached at [email protected] Dammann farm you can Aging In addition to the or 515-284-8457. experience in several ways. If Wednesday you own an Oculus Rift DK2 virtual reality experience with Sharyn Jackson has been a Racial and ethnic — a virtual reality headset — makeup you can download an im- this project, the general assignment reporter for mersive three-dimensional Register has the Register for two years and is Thursday walk-through of the farm produced a rich a USA TODAY correspondent. Globalization that includes a dozen 360- multimedia story, She welcomes your story ideas. Today degree videos of farm life. including photos, Contact her at sjackson@dmreg. Climate change For everyone, a 2-D version of videos and inter- com or 515-284-8451. the complete experience is active databases. available as a PC or Mac TALK ABOUT IT: Christopher Gannon, winner of download, but you’ll need a Share your a 2014 Upper Midwest Emmy for speedy computer. Finally, a thoughts on this the documentary “12 Years of “light” version can be viewed TOUR THE DAMMANN HOME project and the Valor,” has been a photographer in Web browsers. Visit our Go inside the Dammann home and learn more virtual reality and videographer for the Register series page at DesMoines about the homestead that has supported eight experience on for nine years. Contact him at Register. com/Harvestof generations. Plus, see history unveiled with histori- Twitter with [email protected] or Change for all options. cal pictures compared with the current setting. #VirtualFarm. @GannonVisuals. harvest of CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

Page 8A | Friday, September 26, 2014 Metro Edition | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

h a r v e s t o f CHANGE

IOWA FARM FAMILIES CONFRONT A NATION IN TRANSITION

CHRISTOPHER GANNON/REGISTER PHOTOS Wimmer Farms employees Annie Konkler, left, and Taylor Mayne harvest green beans in Arispe in July. Denny Wimmer believes farmers in Iowa need to think more about climate change and its impact on not only how they farm, but also what they grow. NEW CROPS, NEW STRATEGIES By Donnelle Eller in crop choices will accelerate. [email protected] Wimmer, 58, sees the extremes in Iowa as well. “The enny Wimmer, a fruit- weather is more severe — and-vegetable grower drought, rain, hail — than I re- in south-central Iowa, member growing up,” he said, an thinks a lot about observation his father, Don, 88, farming, conservation PHOTOS also makes. “The climate is aDnd the environment. See Denny changing.” Wimmer grows clover and al- Wimmer’s He’s doubtful, though, that the falfa as a cover crop between organic farm majority of Iowa farmers will rows of aronia berry bushes. And and embrace conservation practices he uses compost — and compost greenhouses. that can help mitigate the impact. tea — to reduce the amount of nu- DesMoines When he was a crop specialist trients needed to raise his cherry Register.com/ with an Iowa farmer-owned coop- tomatoes, green beans, squash, Harvestof erative, advising farmers on cov- zucchini, peppers and onions. Change5 er crops, “the main concern was He and his wife, Patty, also with increasing yields. The con- have built terraces, with some servation part of it was second- government assistance, to slow COMPOST ary,” Wimmer said. water that can flow from the TEA “They were making money. farm and take soil and nutrients Corn prices were high,” he said. with it. Denny Wimmer looks over fields with his dad, Don, who was born on the farm Learn about “It’s hard to change to a new con- The North Fork of the Grand in 1926 and worked conventional crops and livestock there until his retirement. Wimmer’s cept when they’re doing well with River starts on the farm, and they natural the old concept.” want to protect it. “You wouldn’t fertilizer. Wimmer sees growing inter- know it to look at it — it’s just a Iowa need to think more about cli- annually and require intense fer- DesMoines est from agriculture groups in tiny creek — but that’s what it mate change and its impact on tilizers and chemicals to grow. Register.com/ addressing conservation, but he says on the map,” said Wimmer, what they grow and how they Already, farmers in drought- Harvestof believes the government proba- who studied agronomy and ran a farm. For example, a perennial stricken California are shifting Change5 bly will need to push farmers for lawn care business before start- crop like aronia berries, a fruit from water-needy crops like cot- broad adoption. ing work three years ago to be- rich in antioxidants that’s grow- ton to less thirsty almond trees. “There are people out there come a certified organic vegeta- ing in popularity, might become Climate scientists forecast Cali- who want to make it happen,” he ble grower. more attractive than corn and fornia and other Western states said. “I wish it would, but it Wimmer believes farmers in soybeans, which must be planted will become even drier, and shifts doesn’t seem to be working yet.”

OPTIONS FOR ACTION STIR DEBATE

By Donnelle Eller other groups won a long-fought battle ents that enter waterways from farm to nutrient pollution, cities could [email protected] in the 2014 farm bill to tie compliance fields are complex, differing from avoid making larger investments in with conservation practices to farm- farm to farm, they say. And weather building infrastructure downstream hat are possible solutions ers’ eligibility to receive crop insur- significantly impacts nutrients in the in urban areas. to the environmental and ance payments. They also won region- water. A recent U.S. Environmental Con: Stowe called proposals for ur- climate change chal- al protections of native grasslands, a Protection Agency inspector gener- ban residents to help pay to curb farm Wlenges facing Iowa and program called Sodsaver. But conser- al’s report acknowledged quality runoff “paying the polluter” and U.S. farmers? vation spending will be trimmed back gains can lag several years behind im- doubts that Iowa city utilities have The answers, of course, depend on — $4 billion over 10 years, which will provements. “It’s not like flipping a enough customers to address the fi- whom you ask. climb to $6.1billion when broader fed- switch,” said Roger Wolfe, an envi- nancial challenges in the countryside. Here’s a look at some options being eral spending limits kick in. ronmental program leader at the Stowe and some environmental discussed, and thoughts on whether Pro: Bill Stowe, CEO of the Des Iowa Soybean Association. groups say farmers and agricultural they could work: Moines Water Works, said other corporations are passing their costs states push farmers to do more. “I see SHARING COSTS along to water consumers in cities GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS Wisconsin and Minnesota and Illinois like Des Moines. The capital’s water saying, ‘You take federal money, you Proposal: The Iowa League of Cit- utility spent $1 million last year treat- Proposal: Government should take state money, you’d better have ies is exploring the idea of cities chip- ing water to remove nitrates harmful force farmers to put in buffer strips, buffer zones, you’d better not be ping in to help farmers step up work to babies. use cover crops or take other steps to planting right up to the waterway, to curb nutrient pollution. Another idea: Groups like the Iowa reduce nutrient runoff, environmen- you’d better have a cover crop before Background: State officials say it Policy Project have proposed provid- talists say. you receive money from us.’ could cost up to $1.2 billion annually ing consistent funding for environ- Background: Congress exempted “That kind of tie-in is important,” over 50 years to add all the conserva- mental improvements through tap- farmers from regulations that other he said, adding that his drinking wa- tion practices needed to cut nutrient ping some of the $100 million that groups like city sewage systems, inter utility is likely at some point to pollution leaving farms — from build- could be raised by the Natural Re- dustry and water agencies must fol- challenge whether drainage districts ing wetlands to filter strips to grass sources and Outdoor Recreation low. Iowa’s environmental depart- could be forced to meet pollution reg- waterways to bioreactors (essentially Fund, an initiative that 63 percent of ment regulates large livestock opera- ulations. If that’s successful, regula- trenches with carbon sources like Iowa voters approved in 2010. Howev- tions, but environmentalists say en- tion could filter back to farmers. wood chips that help break down ni- er, the fund has no money. Stocking forcement is too weak to prevent Con: Regulations will not make trates). the fund requires legislative approval manure runoff and spills. Iowa’s water cleaner, farm leaders Pro: The League of Cities’ rationale of a penny sales tax, which has not Environmentalists, hunters and say. The solutions to reducing nutri- is that by investing in rural solutions won support.