the · Practical Farmer A Newsletter of Practical Farmers of Iowa I Vol. 19, #2 I Summer 2004

Buy Fresh, Buy Local Goes Statewide •.•••• I Pg. 4

Natural Dairy Coming to SE Iowa ...... •.•.•••. I Pg. 6

The Joys of Eating Local Meat ...... , Pg. 14 On-farm Research: Jeff Klinge & Deb Tidwell •.••••..••..•••• ..•• , Pg. 17 Reflections: Provincial Is Not a Bad Word ..••.•••....•••.•••.••••• I Pg. 25 --"'- Contents ·-~i :

Opinion ...... 3 On-Farm Research ...... 17-19

New Projects ...... 4 Calendar ...... 20-21

Policy Update ...... 5 Resources ...... 22-23

Profile: Naturally Iowa ...... 6 Member Perspectives: What Is Sustainable Ag? .... 24

Staff and Program Updates ...... 10-12 Reflections ...... 25

Member News ...... 13 PFI Merchandise ...... 26

Focus on Food: The Joys of Local Meat ...... 14-16 Join PFI ...... 27

Cover photo by Todd Kimm: Steve Williams with heifers he's preparing for his Naturally Iowa milk processing venture (see story pg. 6)

PFI Board of Directors Tom Wahl, 13882 I Ave., Wapello, lA S26S3-9449. Fred Iutzi, (S IS) 294-8512, [email protected] (319) 729-S90S. [email protected] Corresponde11ce to the PFI directors' addresses is Membership Services and Office Manager always welcome. Advisory Board Sandra Trca-Black (101), District 1 (Northwest): Ken Wise, 3S66 280th St., Dick Thompson, 2035 I 9oth St., Boone, lA [email protected] Lytton, lA SOS61-7S74. {712) 466-2473. S0036-7423. (51S) 432-1560. CommW'lications Specialist Leo Benjamin, 17636 Birch Ave., Whiting, lA Larry Kallem, 12303 N.W. 1S8th Ave., Madrid IA, Todd Kimm {108), [email protected] Sl063. (712) 4S8-2001. SOlS6. SlS-79S-2303. Youth Program Coordinator District 2 (North Central): Mark Tjelmeland, PFI Staff Brad Meyer ( 109), [email protected] PFI Vice President, 12461 6SOth Ave., For general information and staff connections, McCallsburg, lA 501S4-8026. (51S) 434-2440. call (SIS) 232-S66 1; individual extensions are Program Assistant [email protected] listed in parenthesis after each name. Bill Marti n ( 105), [email protected] Nina Biensen, 2454 Binford Ave., State Center, lA S0247. (641) 483-2292. Director The Practical Farmer is published three times a [email protected] Robert Karp ( 102), [email protected] year by Practical Farmers of Iowa at 300 Main St., Box 349,Ames, Iowa SOOlO; SlS-232-S661. A free District 3 (Northeast): Walt Ebert, 1273 12oth Associate Director subscription is provided with each PFI member­ .. St., Plainfield, !A S0666-9647. {319) 276-4444. Rich Pirog (114}, [email protected] ship (see page 27). Sample copies and back issues [email protected] are available. Food Systems Eric Franzenburg, 6925 19th Ave., Van Horne,lA S2346. (319) 228-87S8. Gary Huber (103), gary@p racticalfarmers.org Newsletter Editor: Todd Kimm Original Template: Michael Nash [email protected] Rick Hartmann {104), Additional Design: Mary Sailer District4 (Southwest): Angela Tedesco, 10743 [email protected] NW 142nd Sr., Granger, lA S0109. Andrea Wold ridge (I 07), (SIS) 278-4S22. [email protected] [email protected] Yerian VanWyk. 1S844 S. 88th Ave. E, Searsboro, lA 50242. {641) S27-2927. Farming Systems Rick Exner, (51S) 294-S486, DistrictS {Southeast): Susan Zacharakis-Jutz, [email protected], Room 2104, Agronomy PFI President, S02S 12oth St. NE, Solon, lA Hall, ISU, Ames, Iowa, SOO 11 52333-9ISS. (319) 624-30S2. [email protected]

2 r. :~:. · Opinion ;,

Restore the Balance of Crops and Livestock

By Dick and Sharon Thompson, with Robert Karp

This article was originally published in Iowa Farmer Today s it possible that a farm is not really a farm without In our push to get bigger and better, and make life easier a balance and integration of soil, crops, livestock physically, we have changed the physical anguish of the past I and family? into the mental anguish of the present day. This kind of stress Is it possible that we tamper with a wise and intelligent plays an important role in our modern day diseases, such as order of things when we separate out the crops from the live­ heart trouble, cancer, arthritis and so on. stock as we have in recent years? This over-aggressive competition does not build good Think about it. relationships with other people. The situation is typified in Since we lost the cow-since we lost animals and live­ bidding against your neighbor and paying $4,250 per acre stock as an integrated part of the farm-the fabric of rural for additional land, or trying to cash-rent land for $175 per life has been steadily unraveling. acre, or painting cattle in order to win a prize. What a farmer When we lost the cow, we stopped planting oats and hay, won't do to beat his neighbor by one bushel an acre! This we lost our crop rotations and we lost the best source of our kind of lifestyle is violent and exploits our inner being, our soil fertility-animal manures. We gained costly inputs, erod­ fellow man and last, but not least, our environment. ing soils and impaired waters. Balanced, integrated and sustainable farming practices When we lost our animals, we turned our grass, our pas­ are the only common sense solution to the problems facing tures and our meadows over to row crops. We gained lower agriculture. If we don't make this approach the foundation grain prices, greater weed and pest pressure and a Jess diverse of agriculture, no amount of value-added products or farm and resilient landscape. subsidies \"Vill save our farms, no amount of regulations or When we lost our livestock, we lost much of the hard buffer strips will save our environment and no amount of work of the farmer, we lost chores for the kids and we lost a positive thinking or economic development will save our ru­ cooperative spirit with our neighbors. We gained outside jobs, ral communities. aimless youth and the need to gobble up our neighbors' farms Today we have information and technology overload, to stay in business. which has brought on new problems we are trying to solve When we lost the balance of crops and livestock, we lost without considering the human dimension. Commodities a farm that needed a whole family to work together. We gained do not make communities; it takes people to make commu­ farms that could be run by one person and lots of equip­ nities. We are going to have to learn to say no and learn how ment. We gained boredom and fragmentation of the family. to sort the good technology from the bad. Instead of talking When we concentrated the livestock, farms began to struggle about a higher standard of living, we need to learn a new economically, we began to lose more and more farms and we term: appropriate living. lost the vitality of our small communities. We gained boarded This calls for a change in lifestyle, a change that starts in up main streets, empty churches and consolidated schools. the heart. A healthy heart-and mind-is necessary before When I was a boy I attended Jordan school, one of three we can have a healthy agriculture. Now is the time to change in the Boone area. After we lost the cows-and the chickens our priorities. Now is the time to listen to a different drum­ and the pigs, and the goats and the lambs-those three mer. Now is the time to give to the land rather than take schools consolidated into the United Community School from the land. District. Now we are told there are not enough kids for It's not about going backwards; it's about going forward United, so it may need to close too. Some people think we with greater wisdom- the wisdom of soil, crops, livestock need one school per county. and family integrated and in balance. So!! 3 ~ew Projects . -.:·-~- • .-i:li

Coming to a Town Near You Buy Fresh, Buy Local goes statewide

any of you have certainly •Access to the Buy Fresh, Buy heard about the Buy Fresh, Local marketing materials that include M Buy Local campaign that stickers, price cards, truck magnets, PFI is running in central and NE Iowa and more. An initial set is provided in partnership with Drake University free with membership to farmers. and the University of Northern Iowa •Access to electronic versions of respectively. You may also have seen Buy Fresh, Buy Local images for the the attractive artwork that is featured purpose of making customized mar­ in the campaign marketing materials keting materials and/or for use on and such. web sites. What you probably haven't heard •Expanded listing on the Buy is that, based on popular demand, we Fresh, Buy Local statewide website. have decided to expand the campaign • Farmers must sell the majority • Farmers and other businesses in statewide so that anyone across Iowa of their food within a 100-mile radius local campaign areas can also be listed can participate. It will take us a month of their farm or business. in Buy Fresh, Buy Local directories, and or two to get this organized, but stay • Farmers markets must not allow newspaper and radio advertisements, tuned for a mailing. In the meantime, resellers, or they must have/make a and in some cases receive direct sup­ the below should answer your ques­ commitment to limit them. port in market facilitation. tions. Don't hesitate to call for more ·Restaurants, hotels and institu­ •:• How much does it cost to details. tions must be buying from farmers join the campaign? within a 100-mile radius, must be lo­ •:• What is Buy Fresh, Buy Local? For farmers who are already PFI A statewide marketing program cally owned and operated, and must members, the cost to join the cam­ designed to increase sales among demonstrate a commitment to ex­ paign is $10. The cost for most other direct-marketing farmers and raise pand purchases from local farmers. entities is $50, which includes a PFI consumer awareness of where to find • Grocery stores must be Iowa membership. and how to buy locally grown food. based, can only label products from farmers who have joined the cam­ •:• What is a local campaign •:• Who can join the campaign? paign, must demonstrate a commit­ and what is involved in organiz­ Farmers, CSA's, farmers markets, ment to expand purchases from local ing one? restaurants, hotels, institutions, gro­ farmers, and must preserve the iden­ Local campaigns typically involve cery stores, and other businesses such tity of farmers. more intensive efforts to generate as meat lockers, distributors and pro­ • Other businesses (meat lockers, commerce between local farmers and cessors from across the state can all join distributors and processors) may only local consumers, for example, the campaign. Consumers can also join. advertise products from farmers, or through the use oflocal food directo­ •:• Are there guidelines that products made with ingredients ries, newspaper and radio advertising, need to be met in order to join from farmers, who have joined the and by facilitating sales between farm­ the campaign? campaign. ers and .institutions. Local campaigns Yes, there are guidelines and they can cover anywhere from one county •:• What do I get for joining the to 10 counties. We are actively seek­ differ for each of the above entities. campaign? ing people and organizations that Below are some of the guidelines; There are many benefits, some of we can provide more details upon them include: (continued on pg 21) request:

4 .. ~~ . Policy Update

Francis Thicke Testifies before Congress on CSP

By Teresa Opheim, regional coordinato~ MSAWG If you are one of the chosen few n May 11, Francis Thicke, a PFI For Fiscal Year 2004, Congress capped the Two Iowa watersheds have member who owns and operates an CSP at $41 million. However, beginning in been chosen for the first 0 organic, grass-based dairy farm near October, CSP returns to its 2002 Farm Bill round of CSP signups: the Fairfield, traveled to Washington, D.C. to status as a conservation entitlement program. East Nishnabotna and Blue testify before a Congressional committee on In disregard of the law, however, USDA in­ Earth watersheds. Sign-up the Conservation Security Program (CSP). tends to continue following its plan for re­ for the selected watersheds Thicke's testimony, on behalf of the Sus­ stricted farmer participation in 2005 and all will take place July 6-30, tainable Agriculture Coalition, came soon future years. with farmer selections made after USDA announced that it would indeed "Congress specifically mandated that CSP in August and conservation limit the number of farmers who can par­ is an uncapped, entitlement program, first in plans and contracts to be ticipate in the CSP to certain watersheds. The the 2002 Farm Bill and again in the 2004 om­ two watersheds chosen for enrollment this nibus appropriations bill;' Francis testified. "By developed and signed prior year were the East Nishnabotna in Southwest advocating fo r a budget cap on CSP, and then to the Sept. 30 end of the Iowa and the Blue Earth in Northwest Iowa presuming to write a rule premised on its own fiscal year. If you are farmer and Southern Minnesota. desire and advocacy for a cap, the administra­ in the East Nishnabotna or In his testimony before a subcommittee tion is violating the letter of the law and at­ Blue Earth watersheds and of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, tempting to rewrite the 2002 Farm Bill. I urge need more information, Nutrition and Forestry, Francis said, "From this committee to use its full weight and in­ contact Teresa Opheim what I have seen, there appears to be unani­ fluence to correct this situation, or I fear the at 319-354-2058 or mous support for CSP among farmers and extreme conflict between statute and rule will [email protected]. the many farm organizations that represent result in an appointment with the federal court farmers. CSP is clearly a farm program whose system and all the needless time and delay that time has come. With all the promise CSP would entail. In the meantime, U.S. farmers More info holds, it is confusing to me-and many farm­ and the public will be denied the substantial The CSP farmer self-assess­ ers I have spoken with-why USDA appears benefits that will be reaped from full-scale ment survey-the first to be unwilling to implement CSP as it was implementation of the CSP." step in the enrollment created by Congress. Why has USDA created The U.S. Department of Agriculture re­ process for the CSP- an elaborate watershed selection and appli­ ceived more comments on the CSP proposed can be found online at cation ranking process that will severely re­ rule than on any other conservation program. strict the number of farmers eligible to Of the 14,000-plus comments received, an www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/ participate in CSP when the 2002 Farm Bill overwhelming majority rejected USDA's plan index. html. clearly intends for CSP to be an open-enroll­ for restricting participation in the program. The Center for Rural Affairs ment, continuous sign-up program? The Francis is a member of the Iowa State is hosting a hotline to ass1st USDA plan to limit farmer participation runs Technical Committee, which provides input farmers w1th questions counter to the 2002 Farm Bill call for a na­ to the Natural Resources Conservation Ser­ regarding how to apply tionwide program with all farmers practic­ vice. He also chairs the committee's sub­ ing effective conservation and environmental committee on the Conservation Security and program eligibility. Call402-687-2100. protection eligible to participate." Program . ~

5 . ~·- Member Profile ~/- . ·,··:t

Steve Williams and his herd of dairy heifers near Villisca, Iowa. Naturally lovva By Todd Kimm rocessing, distribution, marketing ... So of­ ten, value-added gurus act like you have P to do it all to be successful, or even survive. Southwest Iowa PFI member Steve Williams Southwest Iowa farmer and longtime PFI is banding together with dairy farmers member Steve Williams realizes that farmers can't do it all. "80 percent of farmers might not be any in his area to create a company that will good at things like marketing;' Williams says. "I process and market milk, drinkable yogurt mean they're farmers, they want to be out there and ice cream. Steve hopes the venture will producing, they want to till the land, they want to milk cows. Not only may they not be good at give small and midsize farmers the chance it, but if they do it their production may suffer. to make a living at what they do best. I'm advocating the next step." The next step, according to Williams, is join­ ing forces with a company like his, Naturally Iowa. Ramping up for production this summer, Natu­ rally Iowa is a dairy processing company that will market milk, drinkable yogurt and ice cream. Naturally Iowa will buy milk from area dairy pro­ ducers. These producers will be paid a premium

6 ::...~ Member Profile ].•_;_

for their milk and share in potential profits. closer to the con­ The milk, yogurt and ice cream will be certi­ sumer. I was way fied "natural;' meaning basically the cows that down there." produce the milk will be growth-hormone Steve is grass­ free. A line of organic products will follow. feeding 65 heifers To get things started, Steve and his part­ on his place right ner, Bill Horner, got a $246,000 grant from now. When ready, the USDA's value-added product market de­ they'll be transferred velopment program. Farm Bureau also kicked to Bill's nearby dairy in some cash. farm. Naturally Iowa is a farmer's company, not only because Steve and Bill are farmers, but also because the drive to start the company grew out of their needs as farmers. One of the biggest was getting a better return on their A detour, a setback, One of Steve's partners grain and hay, in Steve's case all of it organic. then full-steam ahead at Naturally Iowa is Marty "One of my driving goals is that I use my Mincer. In June, he was own crops on my own farm so I'm not at the Like many Iowa farmers, Steve grew up hard at work bringing mercy of the market;' he explains. in a farmhouse a few miles up the road from the company's Clarinda The organic grain market is fickle. In where he lives now. After graduating from processing facility up to 1998, the first year Steve sold organic soy­ Villisca High School 20 years ago, though, snuff for an August launch. beans, he had his contract docked from $16 Steve went off to Iowa State University and He's pictured above to $6 a bushel because he was competing that earned a degree in Management and Infor­ in one of the facility's year in a market swamped with Conserva­ mation Systems. From there he moved to freezer rooms. tion Reserve Program (CRP) land coming Chicago where he worked as a systems ana­ back into production. lyst for two years. "That was kind of a bitter experience," "I never intended to make a career out of Steve recalls. More recently, Heartland Or­ it," he says. "I just wanted to go see what the ganic, one of his biggest customers, went working world was like." Turns out, it was broke. about what he thought. "Independence was ''Almost all organic grain farmers in Iowa the big thing. I wanted to be involved in my still just sell their crops off the farm," he ex­ own business and be on the farm. I wanted plains. "There isn't enough livestock in the to raise a family on the farm." state to consume our own grain. Here we are So Steve came home to farm with his dad, saying, 'Oh, we're going to do things differ­ Dave. "I'm the fifth generation that's farmed ently,' but we were just doing things like the in my area," Steve says. "The land you saw has commodity people. We were raising our been in my family for a couple generations. I crops, we were selling them. We were still at have roots there." the mercy of the markets:' Steve married Wendi Gove in 1992. A Putting his grain and hay back into the mechanical engineer from Michigan, Wendi operation by feeding dairy cows seemed like met Steve when she was working at the a good solution. And oats and alfalfa, regular Eveready battery plant in Red Oak. products of organic crop rotation, don't fetch "Wendi and I wanted to have our own an organic premium, so integrating them into farm so we bought 20 acres and put up a hog the system was smarter still. operation," Steve recalls. "I made a decision "I want to get closer to the consumer," to get into hogs intensively. I think I made an Steve says. "That's the goal ofthe whole thing, error in not being diversified. I bought all my control the products that come off my farm feed, I sold all my pigs as feeder pigs."

7 Member Profile ~~~-~· "':w-

Then came the 1998 downturn in hogs prices followed by an up­ "Is it too late, can we turn in corn prices. "I lost it all," he change? I don't think recalls. "I lost that farm, 20 acres, the buildings." it's too late, but the But Steve wasn't about to let one setback sour him on farming. clock is ticking." Some very big convictions had be­ gun to form in him. When he first moved home he says. "We've lost the social capital, from Chicago, Steve noticed how lost those people who volunteered to farms in the neighborhood were be 4-H leaders, baseball coaches ..." getting bigger and bigger. "I know it The infamous Villisca ax murders was happening when I was growing of 1912 are blamed for throwing the up, I just wasn't aware of it," he says. community into a population decline "I looked over here and looked over that continues to this day, but the there and I thought here are these more systematic and widespread guys going into debt buying trac­ assault of consolidation and special­ tors, spending all this money." ization has hurt rural Iowa across "The other driving force was Steve is readying 65 heifers on his organic farm the board. once I got married and started hav­ near Villisca. Steve places much of the blame ing kids;' he continues. "I started on the fact that small and mid-size taking my eyes off myself. I had to raise a family. I started reading the Bible and farms no longer produce enough in­ realizing there was more than just me. I was off in the big world and thought if I'm come for a family to survive on. "The going to come home and raise a family I don't want to put stuff on my land my kids mom had to get a job or the dad had can't be out playing around. Our philosophy is that we're only going to grow things to get a second job, work in a factory we would put on our own table. And I don't want to go into debt buying equipment at night and not be at home. It and I want to do it with livestock. Be diversified." changes the dynamics." With lots of land coming out ofCRP in 1998, Steve saw the perfect opportunity Out of this troublesome land­ to go organic on the 330 acres he owned. Another 350 he rented from his dad was scape grows another aspiration of next. "I had to convince him, which was a challenge," Steve says of getting the okay Steve's fledgling company: "To pay a from Dave. "My dad's very sustainable minded, but he just didn't like the weeds." good enough price so the farmer can The operation was fully converted by 2002. make a living to support a family with Steve's operation includes organic corn and beans, beef cows and Niman one farm." Ranch hogs. It's a tall order. "I wrestle with that question," Rebuilding community Steve says. "Is it too late, can we change? I don't think it's too late, but Although he's worked hard to get to a place where Wendi can stay at home and the clock is ticking." home school their children, Steve realizes their situation is the exception and not Steve agrees with ag analysts like the rule. Fred Kirschenmann who see the middle He laments the damage to rural families and community brought about partly way of doing things disappearing. by changes in agriculture. "You're either going to be very "It's not a community anymore," he says of Villisca. "People in our town aren't large in commodity or very small in involved locally like they used to be when I grew up. We have people commuting to niche," he says. "I don't mean you'll Omaha, which is 70 miles away." be selling apples out of your garage, Steve remembers each year, band mothers at Villisca High School would have a but the market you're growing for is big smorgasbord with homemade fried chicken and pie. "Now they just cater it in," going to be defined."

8 f: Member Profile

Just one dairy farm remains in Naturally Iowa's goal is that its company founded in Essex, Iowa, that nearby Page County. milk won't travel more than 100 miles sells to 600 Midwest grocery stores, "In the beginning, we might have from Clarinda, where the company is including Hy-Vee and Dahl's. had a grand dream of repopulating turning a former Pamida store into a The product Steve says is gener­ southern Iowa dairies," he says, "but processing facility. Ice cream will be a ating the most excitement in the mar­ just keeping the ones we have is not different story, though, and Steve ketplace is milk and liquid yogurt in all bad. Lots of people say you have to foresees himself struggling with the biodegradable corn plastic bottles. grow... " Still, Steve thinks their venture question of how far out to ship his He's negotiating contracts with natu­ will add some dairies to the area. product. ral food stores. The sticking point is "Let's say we're making a real whose label the product will carry. Fresh and local unique organic ice cream and some­ "We're making business decisions body in California wants it;' he says. now that will affect the future," Steve One of Naturally Iowa's biggest "We wouldn't say no, but does that says. "If we decide to use their label selling points will be the freshness of defeat our mission of being local?" there really won't be any going back. its milk and yogurt and the fact that Steve doesn't think so but neither does If we decide to stand our ground and they're produced locally. he want the company to risk diluting use our label, does that jeopardize Steve allows the term is relative: its local focus and the principles it was something else?" "How do you define local? Here's a de­ founded on. Naturally Iowa enjoys an ideal termination: In addition to an expi­ At the time of our interview, geographic location with three major ration date on a bottle of milk, we Naturally Iowa had no signed con­ urban areas within reach: Omaha, could put a freshness date on there tracts other than the standing deals of that says it's only been two days since its newly acquired ice cream division, it's been in the cow." Falk's ice cream. Falks is a 70-year-old (continued on pg 19)

A man for all seasons small family-run orchard, so Marty started Marty Mincer exploring other opt1ons, consulting with Iowa State County Extension. That's how Marty Mincer is the type of guy you he found Steve. want to bring on board if you're trying to The plan is for Marty to help out with get a company like Naturally Iowa off the the processing plant and then for Natu­ ground. He's versatile, smart, creative and rally Iowa to eventual ly start processing intimate with the conditions that drive a his apples into cider for marketing along farmer to become a part of a company with the company's other products. like this. Marty likes the fit. "This might turn Now overseeing the conversion of into one of the best things that ever hap­ Clarinda's old Pamida store into Naturally pened to me," he says. He's also enjoy­ Iowa's dairy processing facility, Marty is Marty Mincer is pictured in Naturally ing the connections and opportunity to by birth an apple farmer. He operates Iowa's Clarinda processing facility with integrate some of h1s other talents. Falk's Mincer Orchard 37 miles west of here in the old Falk's Ice Cream display. Ice Cream is a ragtime-era company (an the loess Hills near Hamburg, Iowa. By old company display, sitting alongside a necessity, he is also a truck driver and rag­ "''m doing less than 10 percent of waiting-to-be-installed separator and time piano player for hire. the cider production I was 10 years ago bottling mach1ne, features mannequins of "You do anything you can to survive because of the pasteurization scares," he the old Falk's s1sters, one of them tickling the changing times, " he says. Mincer Or­ explains. "I've been doing my best to a ragtime piano). And Marty performed chard is 100 years old, the only surviving hang on." live ragtime at Naturally Iowa's kick-off orchard in the state operated that long Purchasing an $18,000 pasteurizing celebration and will probably do the by one family. machine just wasn't in the cards for a same at future events. 5,!!

9 -- Program ~ews .. (~:1.>-- .r ~L

•Branding Your Beliefs' Workshops Held

ike Lorentz of Lorentz Meats, followed to be successful direct market­ maining animals as possible. Then, M an independent meat proces­ ers. One key message was to focus on and only then, should farmers sell ani­ sor in Cannon Falls, Minn., was the your story and connect your values and mals to commodity markets. featured presenter at three-day work­ beliefs to your products. "You have to Mike presented practical strate­ shops bringing farmers and proces­ believe your story and build it with gies for identifying customers. He sors together for training on direct heartfelt conviction," Lorentz said. He framed his advice by saying 2 percent meat marketing. These Branding Your feels farmers need to build a brand of households purchase meat from Beliefs workshops were based on a image of their farm and their values­ farmers, which means if you want to program Lorentz had developed to an image they convey to customers sell one beef animal by quarters to help small farmers using his family's with everything produced. He also sug­ four customers, you need to contact meat processing plant. gests that every interaction with a cus­ 200 people. "In other words," Mike Fifty-one people braved the tomer, whether in person or through joked, "you need to kiss a lot of frogs weather in February and early March promotional materials, should rein­ to find a prince." to attend workshops in Creston, force the values and beliefs. An alternative is to start with Newhall and Clarksville. Some were Mike advised using a tiered mar­ people you know-people who are just beginning to explore direct mar­ keting approach to optimize success. easy to reach and talk to. These would keting, while others had been at it for First, a farmer should sell as many most often be family and friends. a while. "We needed this program animals as possible directly to con­ From there, identify neighbors who when we first started," said an at­ sumers to achieve the highest returns. don't produce your product. Then tendee. "The basics are important and Second, because of difficulties selling expand your potential customers to this hits every angle." to institutions and grocery stores, people in local community groups (ie During each workshop partici­ farmers should partner with producer church, 4-H, PTA). Co-workers are pants followed a workbook that out­ groups like Organic Valley or Niman another set of potential customers, lined steps Lorentz feels must be Ranch to market as many of their re- and then add in area residents within a 20-minute drive in any direction. He also suggested "harvesting email ad­ The Farmer Funny Art by Dave Dugan dresses" from acquaintances and plac­ ing brochures in businesses with ttV~'f6E. fARf'l .. AAjsD) SHouJJ:>Ii PLAN1"el> customers likely to care, such as alter­ CA-rfiSH tvoCJt:J>A RjcJ:. ii'JS'tEA-D native health practitioners.~ SEEN A Go® lt:>E-IJ. OF ceRN f Newsletter survey a success! Thanks to everyone who re­ sponded to the PFI Newsletter Survey. We received a good response and are making note of your compliments and suggestions. Congratulations to PFI merchan­ dise drawing winners Mike DeCook, Richard Black and Jack Suiter!

10 ·i{i~~ Staff and Program Updates ~- . ~

PFI Camp honored PFI camp was recently honored by Gov. Tom Vilsack's "Above and Be­ yond" service recognition program. "PFI camp offers a positive and ener­ getic view of the ways Iowa agricul­ ture can help preserve the environment," Gov. Vilsack said. "The program offers campers and counse­ lors from both rural and urban areas a chance to interact and learn how PFI director Robert Karp and camp coun­ urban and rural interests can work to­ selor Frances Zacharakis-Jutz accepted gether to protect and enhance the the "Above and Beyond" award from state's natural resources." Gov. Tom VilsackApri/27 in Des Moines. Meet Life in Iowa intern Deena Derry VCPSA spawns three working groups We welcome Deena Derry as our The Value Chain Partnerships for Learn more about VCPSA at its new Life in Iowa intern. Deena hails a Sustainable Agriculture (VCPSA) new website (www.valuechains.org). from Woodward, Iowa, and is a psy­ project is now overseeing two work­ BWG recently launched its own chology major at Iowa State. Among ing groups in addition to the Pork website (www.valuechains.org/bewg/ other things, Deena is helping with Niche Market Working Group default.htm) as well, and the BWG the statewide expansion of the Buy (PNMWG). The Regional Food Sys­ Update can be downloaded at Fresh, Buy Local campaign. In addi­ tems Working Group (RFSWG) was www. value chains. o rg/b ewg/ tion to her work at PFI, Deena volun­ launched last September to help Issue2.2color.pdf. teers with Youth and Shelter Services document economic, environmental VCPSA is a project of the Leopold and is employed by ChildServe, a pro­ and community benefits of local and Center for Sustainable Agriculture, gram for children with disabilities. regional food enterprises. The Practical Farmers oflowa, Iowa State Bioeconomy Working Group (BWG), University Extension, the Henry A. launched last August, is addressing Wallace Endowed Chair for Sustain­ Central Iowa producer ownership and equity issues able Agriculture and the ISU College BFBL campaign in bio-based product supply chains. of Agriculture. underway New case study available PFI is expanding the Buy Fresh, "Revealing the Secrets of the All­ among chefs, local farmers and com­ Buy Local campaign to Central Iowa Iowa Meal: The Local Food Brokering munity members are continuing to in partnership with the Drake Uni­ Project of Practical Farmers of Iowa" grow as local food meals continue to versity Agricultural Law Center in is now available on the PFI website be served throughout the state as a Des Moines. The campaign has al­ ( www. practicalfarmers.org/resource/ special feature of meetings and con­ ready distributed a Central Iowa Buy PFIResource_8S.pdf). The case study, ferences. This case study was prepared Fresh, Buy Local directory and has by Gary Huber and Andrea for the North Central Initiative for established a booth at the Des Woldridge, reviews the history ofPFI's Small Farm Profitability and was Moines Farmers Market. For more efforts to connect local farmers and funded by the Initiative for Future Ag­ information about the campaign, institutions through All-Iowa Meals. riculture and Food Systems Program contact the Drake Agricultural Law The connections PFI helped forge of the USDA. Center at 515-271-4956 or email [email protected]. 11 Staff and Program Updates .. r!

What I Did on My Vacation Sustainable Agriculture in Mexico

By Rick Exner

n March, I was fortunate to assist with an effort to build a local food system from scratch in the Mexican state of Yucatan. My involvement I came through an organization called Iowa-Yucatan Partners, a group affili­ ated with the U.S. State Department-supported Partners of the Americas. Iowa and Yucatan have a "sister state" relationship, and through Iowa-Yucatan Partners, Iowans have been engaged in support projects and relationship building since the 1960s. This particular opportunity came about because Central College, in Pella, has a field branch in Merida, the capital ofYucatan, and Central's Dr. George Ann Huck had expressed interest in applying what Iowa is doing with local food systems and sustainable agriculture. The Central Col­ lege facility was to be the distribution point for the CSA. The food was to be supplied by graduates of a unique agricultural school near Merida. In connection with the project, I spent three days at the U Yit's Ka'an ("dew from the heavens") school in the town of Mani, helping with chores, attending classes and vespers, and getting to know people. The school, which appears to subscribe to the approach known as liberation theology, provides more than an agricultural education. It seeks to combine contemporary or­ Cecilia Uh, a grower for the new CSA, looks ganic and Maya styles of farming and to provide formal instruction in the after an ailing goat. Maya language and traditional Maya herbalism, skills that are being lost in the villages from which these students come. I have encountered Maya cul­ tural revival and interest in medicinal plants elsewhere on the Yucatan Penin­ Some of our most successful niche markets sula, but never in a more comprehensive package than at the Mani school, function at the community level, where the which lies perhaps two miles from the site where Bishop de Landa burned the consumer and farmer meet face to face. Maya codices in 1562, effectively removing the Maya from their written his­ Mexico has had face-to-face markets for tory, culture and science. thousands of years and even raises organic When my wife, Susan Jarnagin, arrived in Yucatan, we visited one such produce for export, but it does not have farm near the village of Yobain, run by a young woman named Cecilia Uh an infrastructure for supplying Mexican ("oo"). We were impressed with the industry and variety evident on the farm. New vegetable beds were being excavated out of the Yucatecan limestone, consumers with the products of sustainable and a windmill was supplying a cistern for irrigation. Cecilia grew up in this agriculture. Some claim that sustainable community, and we visited her mother, who also demonstrates a horticul­ agriculture is a luxury and therefore tural talent. If a new model for smallholder agriculture is to take root, I be­ inappropriate for developing countries lieve it will be through young agriculturalists like Cecilia, who have both strong like Mexico. This March, PFI farming systems community ties and new ideas. coordinator Rick Exner travelled to the The Merida CSAdistributed its first foodAprill, by which time I was back Mexican state of Yucatan to see for himself. in Iowa. I did, however, encounter a nice article on the effort in the online edi­ Residents there are building from scratch tion of the local newspaper. I also received a short description of the pleasure a local food system based on organically that members of the Agricultura Solidaria, or AGRISOL CSA, had upon find­ produced food. ing flowers, organic eggs and papaya jam with their first delivery of vegetables. ~

12 4!>- :f~:. Member News ...-:-:.:- .

New name reflects focus on local foods Insurance note PFI member Laura Dowd recently economic or social status prevent PFI members may be eligible for a changed the name of her Iowa City them from enjoying nutritious, tasty discount on personal insurance premi­ non-profit to Local Foods Connection. and fresh foods. The organization also ums through our insurance provider. The change better reflects the provides opportunities for the fami­ Auto-owners insurance provides life, organization's mission of connecting lies to visit farms and learn healthy home, auto and business (including people with sources of local foods. cooking methods. For more info: farm) coverage. Savings will vary based Established in 1999 as Adopt-A­ [email protected], on the individual, but will be around Family, Local Foods Connection www.localfoodsconnection.org, Local 5-10 percent of your total premium. If purchases produce, bread, eggs, meat Foods Connection, PO Box 2821, Iowa you are currently an auto-owners insur­ and other products from local farms City, Iowa 52244-2821. ance policyholder, just let your agent and donates them to families whose know of your membership in PFI. For more information about auto-owners insurance services, click W\-vw.auto­ 'Voices of Farm Women' exhibit owners.com. For questions about this membership benefit, contact Sandra The Women, Food and Agricul­ Many of the women featured in the Trca-Black, 515-232-5661 ext. 101, or ture Network and Iowa Farmer's display and video are from Iowa: [email protected]. Union will support media specialist Cindy Madsen, Audubon; Laura Cynthia Vagnetti's Iowa Humanities Krouse, Mt Vernon; Janette Ryan­ Project, Voices from Iowa Farm Busch, Iowa City; Jan Libbey, Lloyd appointed Women, Aug. 12-22 at the Iowa State Kenawha; Amy Miller, Protivin; Vir­ Fair. The 18-minute video and travel­ ginia Moser, Garrison; and Susan Gina Lloyd, Guthrie County Ex­ ing photo exhibit will be on view on Zacarachis-Jutz, Solon. tension Education Director and PFI the second floor of the Agriculture Volunteers will have the opportu­ member, has been appointed to the Building. nity to help collect stories from fair board of the Wallace Foundation for Volunteers are being sought to participants about their Iowa heritage. Rural Research and Development help with four-hour shifts. Admission Organizers wish to highlight the (WFRRD). WFRRD is a 19-county and parking for the day will be stories of all Iowans. Bring a story to grassroots organization in Southwest provided. Contact Leigh Adcock at share. Iowa dedicated to increasing standard 800-775-5227 or Denise O'Brien at Saturday, Aug. 14 from llam- of living and quality of life through 712-243-3264. 12pm and 2-3pm, a public presenta­ accelerated agricultural research, The display will feature 30 black tion is planned on the ground floor education, technology transfer and and white photographs of farm of the Agriculture Building. A panel rural development initiatives. women across America, along with six that includes participants in the de­ narrative text panels. The stories rep­ velopment of the project and sev­ resent small- and medium-sized eral of the farmers will address issues Miller for Johnson farming operations with value-added of women in agriculture as well as an­ Northeast Iowa PFI member Amy and innovative marketing practices. swer questions from the audience. Miller has joined the staff of the Paul Johnson for Congress campaign. The well-known farmer, conservationist and SW Iowa Family Farms Directory former Iowa Department of Natural A new online tool is available for Henry A. Wallace Chair for Sustainable Resources director is running against Southwest Iowa's small- and mid-size Agriculture at Iowa State University. Congressman Tom Latham. Volunteers farmers seeking ways to expand their For more info, visit the website can contact: Paul Johnson for Congress, markets and increase profitability. The (www.wallacechair.iastate.edu)or con­ P.O. Box 475, Decorah, Iowa 52101, Southwest Iowa Family Farms Direc­ tact Cassi Johnson, [email protected] 563-382-3185, [email protected], tory is a free service offered by the or 515-294-6061. www.votejohnson.org.

13 Focus on Food ..~'.;;

I Believe in Meat

By Jay Wagner

believe that the Cubs will never win a tiny carrots and shiny eggplant, broccoli and World Series in my lifetime. That no cauliflower. And so it went, all summer long, I matter how lovely it looks in April, my my nightly entrees becoming more and more garden will ultimately fail by the end of the interesting as the growing season progressed. Resources growing season. That gas prices will always My vegetarian lifestyle was in deference rise before a major holiday. That my young to my wife, who woke up one day 20 years The Iowa Department of children will always remember, and then re­ ago while studying law at George Washing­ Agriculture and Land peat, the rare profanity uttered at my house ton University in D.C. and decided she could Stewardship offers an online (usually while inspecting the above men­ no longer eat meat. When we were married directory of Iowa farmers tioned garden) when either my grandparents seven years ago, I decided that our lives would who sell meat directly: or our priest has gathered with us around the be simpler if I eliminated meat from my diet, www.agriculture.state. ia.us/ dinner table. too. And so I did, not just at home, but any­ meatdirectory1.htm. Lest you think my priori ties are whacked, where that we enjoyed a meal. I should tell you that I also believe deeply in Then, on a trip to Munich, I gave in to the The Eat Well Guide the things a person is expected to believe in: temptation of a shimmering white sausage, hot (www.eatwellguide.org/ a loving God, the enduring goodness of on the grill at an outdoor market not far from search.cfm) provides a well­ people, the value of a kind word. the city center. I was like an alcoholic who oiled search engine of But I also believe in meat. As much as I couldn't stop after one drink and I devoured sustainably raised meat, treasure the Iowa-grown vegetables that I bratwurst and weisswurst and Leberkaese and poultry, dairy and eggs from have learned to love in the last few years­ everything else the Germans could stuff into stores, farms and restaurants Gary Guthrie's carrots, Angela Tedesco's a casing. It didn't end there. When the over­ in your area. strawberries, Neil Hamilton's heirloom toma­ night train took us to Florence, I ate-in one toes, I could go on and on-l've come to re­ sitting-nearly two pounds of Steak The Institute for Agriculture alize that many of my favorite food memories Florentine, rare beef seasoned with a paste and Trade Policy offers a star a big hunk of meat. made from rosemary and anchovies. A few useful webpage on antibiotic­ days later, in Paris, I quickly snarfed down a free meat that includes by­ He has a confession to make carefully braised rabbit and followed it up with state listings of producers, a Coq Au Vin, the national dish of France. grocery stores, restaurants A confession: For seven years I was a veg­ By the time I returned home, my wife and more: www.iatp.org/ etarian. In the kitchen I learned to make knew that she'd have to learn to endure the foodsec/library/admin/ interesting stir fries and hearty soups. In the sight of steaks and chops in the refrigerator. uploadedfiles/ spring, I welcomed the first spears of aspara­ Then one night, four months before our Eat_Weii_Eat_Antibiotrc­ gus as if they were long-forgotten classmates daughter was born, the smell of fried chicken Free_2.htm. that I ran into, unexpectedly, in a crowded air­ lured her into the kitchen. "Give me a little port a thousand miles from home. Next carne taste of that," she ordered. lettuce and spinach and collards and other "It's chicken," I told her. greens, and I celebrated their arrival by sea­ "I KNOW what it is;' she said in a voice soning them with crunchy radishes and kohl­ that could only come from a ticked-off preg­ rabi or by stir-frying them in finely minced nant woman. "I want to taste it." We've been green garlic. By mid-June, I was welcoming a carnivorous couple ever since.

14 "' .,.. · Focus on Food

Local food experiment from the East Coast. Another confession: I The author have been known to slice off lean pieces of Jay Wagner is a PFI member Last April, we began a one-year experi­ roast or steak before cooking the beef, feel­ and free-lance writer living in ment designed to test the state's local food ing a little bit like a cave man as I savor the system. Someone had told me that only one­ rich, clean flavor. Des Moines. tenth of the food we buy at the grocery store So that's why I believe in meat-good, is produced locally. I thought about all the Iowa-raised pork, chicken, beef or lamb. I be­ farmers markets in the state and decided that lieve I'll go and fire up the grill. s.!'! surely enough food was being grown to sus­ tain my family for 12 months. When we be­ gan preparing for our year eating only locally grown food, we talked enthusiastically about Reasons to Buy Dired all the garden fresh vegetables we would en­ joy. But in a state where hogs outnumber Taste tops the list of reasons to buy meat direct from the pro­ people 10-to-1, we should have figured that ducer. It's why a growing number oflowa's best restaurants are put­ locally produced meat would play an impor­ ting locally produced beef, pork and chicken on their menus. But tant part in our all-Iowa diet. flavor isn't the only reason. I was reminded of this last December, We learned to love chicken all over again. during the Mad Cow scare that captivated the media and scared the During my days as a farm reporter at the bejesus out of consumers around the country. We gained a certain Des Moines Register, I read a USDA report de­ amount of comfort from knowing the people who raised the meat tailing the conditions of packing plants where we ate and the methods they used. poultry is processed. It made choking down In the next few days it became obvious that others were looking grocery store chicken a little difficult. But then for that same kind of familiarity with their food. I began receiving I started buying Vic and Cindy Madsen's chick­ emails from friends around the state asking for help in finding pro­ ens at the Des Moines farmers market, and I ducers who could provide meat. was hooked. On Independence Day, we wowed When I was 10 years old, I spent many Saturdays with my friends guests at a backyard barbecue with the Mike and David Welch, on their acreage southeast of Sibley. Their Madsen's chickens, seasoned with a special rub parents worked in town, but the Welch boys always raised cattle for that practically had guests licking the drip­ 4-H. One summer, I watched for hours as Mike and David led their pings off the hot grill (see recipe on next page). cattle around a makeshift show ring in preparation for the Osceola We fell in love with the Madsen's pork, County Fair. Mike's cow was named Blackie and sometimes I would too, and soon discovered that the pork loins help comb him after a practice session. they sell are as good slow-roasted as they are Then one August day, Mike's dad fired up the grill and we all sat cooked on a grill. But the nicest surprise was down to a picnic of hamburgers. "Mmmm," David said. "Blackie the bratwurst and Italian sausage they offer burgers." I was horrified at the time, but I have since decided that I up at their stall downtown each Saturday. would rather eat an animal who's been given a name than one who After a quick bath in a simmering mixture of can only be identified by a number on an ear tag. I don't know ifVic beer, onions, butter and spices, we toss the and Cindy name their pigs, but I do know that they know one from brats on the grill and wait for the neighbors another, and that's something that a large-scale producer can't say. to come over to see what we're cooking. My children have never met the chickens, hogs or cattle that we Sometimes I let the Italian sausage simmer eat for dinner, but they do know many of the farmers who raised in a pot of tomato sauce, an essential ingre­ the livestock. That's another reason why I like to buy directly from dient to my favorite spaghetti recipe farmers. And, of course, I like supporting local farmers with my food The Madsens, of course, are only two of dollars. It makes me feel good when I see the lights on at a locker several farmers who supply us with meat. We plant late at night and I oftentimes imagine that the growing di­ love Milton Sheeder's steaks and have proudly rect-to-consumer trend has played a major role in helping those served them to clients visiting Des Moines main street businesses stay afloat. s.!'!

15 ·~ ~ Focus on Food i:)" ..it.:

Summer BBQ

' . Quicky Chicken .. Here's my favorite rub recipe. This chicken develops a sweet, barbecue sauce­ like coating that improves in flavor after a night in the refrigerator. It is great off the grill and is a terrific way to show off free-range chicken Split-Second Rub Split-Second Mop Ingredients: Ingredients: 2 tablespoon paprika 1 stick butter 2 teaspoon salt 1 cup orange juice 2 teaspoon sugar 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon onion powder Y2 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste Whole chicken, cut into eight pieces Combine the rub ingredients in a small bowl. Rub the chicken pieces with the mixture and let them sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes. Combine the mop ingredients in a small saucepan, placing the pan over low heat to melt the butter. Keep the mop warm over low heat. Drizzle the pieces with about one third of the mop. Cook on direct heat to sear chicken. Move to upper rack above a pan of water and close lid of grill. Cook for about two hours, basting with mop every 15 minutes or so. -fay Wagner Farmhouse Roast Pork Ingredients: 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves 1 boneless pork loin ( 4 to 4 Y2 pounds) (or 1 tablespoon dried) 3 large cloves garlic, slivered Y2 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 cup defatted chicken broth at room temperature % cup dry white wine 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon apricot jam or preserves Directions: 1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 2) Cut deep slits in the pork loin with the tip of a steak or paring knife and insert the garlic slivers. Place the pork in a shallow roasting pan and set aside. 3) Mix butter, mustard, thyme and pepper. Spread mixture evenly over the pork. 4) Heat the chicken broth, wine and jam together in a small pan until the jelly • dissolves and pour this over the pork. (Note: Be sure to pour carefully to I avoid "washing" butter mixture off roast.) Roast the pork on the center rack for about 1 Y2 hours or 20 minutes a pound. Baste frequently with pan juices, adding a bit more wine if necessary. Pork is done when its internal temperature reaches 150 to 160 degrees. Let the pork rest for 15 minutes before serving. -fay Wagner

16 )'', --,t~; On-farm Research

~--

Putting Together a Cropping System

Jeff Klinge and Deb Tidwell Background By Rick Exner PFI members have long been interested in the financial sustainability of farming eff Klinge and Deb Tidwell farm yields and costs reported from 2003, systems that support farm families and about 300 hilly acres near a producer using the non-organic, benefit the environment. The PFI research Farmersburg, in Northeast Iowa. corn-soybean rotation would need to network has been working to document Ib also teaches at the University of run an operation several times larger the profitability of alternative cropping Northern Iowa. They have been PFI than the Klinge/Tidwell farm to real­ systems, usually in comparison with members since 1995 and research co­ ize the same net return. typical cropping practices in the area. operators since 1996. For several years, Jeff has generated production budgets Objective for his organic soybeans compared Notes on the To document the economics of the with conventional soybeans as grown in the neighborhood. But since or­ 2003 Crop Year five-year crop rotation in an organic ganic soybeans may be the most prof­ By Jeff Klinge cropping system in Northeast Iowa. itable crop in the rotation, is it realistic Here are some ofjeff's notes to provide Cooperators to look just at the soybeans? In 2003, additional information and observa­ Jeff Klinge and Deb Tidwell, Farmersburg. Jeff and Deb filled in the rest of the tions from the 2003 cropping year. picture, providing operational costs Results and revenue for each crop in their five­ Corn year rotation. In 2003, the organic system compared Table 1 shows production costs, I disced up a fairly good oats cover very favorably to a conventional corn­ yields and net per-acre revenue for crop that was about 8 inches tall on soybean rotation. Labor costs were each crop. Some of the calculations 5/14/03. Started planting 5/22/03 us­ higher in organic corn and soybeans than involve an organic premium price for ing Kussmaul K403 at 30,000 plants in conventional cropping, but over the part of the yield, a feed -grade price for per acre. The alarm on the planter five-year rotation, total input costs were the cleanout bushels, and still another monitor was going off every once and somewhat less in the organic system than price for the field borders, which are awhile. I would get off and look, but sold as conventional production. Like­ could find nothing wrong. Nothing in the two-year, conventional system. wise, the organic crops carry addi­ seemed to be broken, and all the units Gross income was much greater in the tional certification and, often, storage seemed to be planting. This went on organic system due to organic pricing on fees. The detailed budgets are available for quite some time, until I finally fig­ the grain crops and a good alfalfa harvest. from PFI. ured out that the drive shaft sheer pin The table shows returns before was broken but was still in the shaft Conclusions federal crop support payments, and and was still driving most of the time, Before factoring in federal price support those would be greater in the corn­ except for occasional skips. Yes, I did for grain crops, the organic rotation on soybean rotation. However, the per­ end up with skips in my corn field. the Klingeffidwell farm was nearly $130 acre return in the five-year, organic I planted my organic corn later per acre more profitable than a two-year, rotation averages $110 even before than most conventional growers to aid conventional rotation in 2003. farm program payments. Based on the in weed control. This hurt my yield, 17 $ '=· On-farm Research ,...

plants/acre. I planted a total of 118 acres. Half of it was following corn and half was following alfalfa. The soybeans on the alfalfa ground were less weedy, and took the dry weather better. The 20 acres where I had lower population were very weedy and also was on the ground following corn. The soybeans following alfalfa probably averaged 15 bushels/acre more than the soybeans following corn. Most of my land slopes to the north, which seems to help on a dry year. Usually, in Northeast Iowa, southern sloping fields seem to do best because they get more sunlight. But this year, because of the dry weather, I think the northern sloping Jeff Klinge discusses harvesting issues for organic grains at a PFI field day. fields did better because they did not dry out as much. because my corn was not as far along when the dry weather set in. Weed pres­ Aphids were a problem for most sure was heavier than usual, and I had to look at the planter skips all summer. everyone this year. But my organic Corn was harvested 10/28-29/03 at 20% moisture. The corn has not been beans did not seem to suffer as much sold as of 12/30/03. The price on the chart reflects what I have been offered for as conventional beans. I think it may it so far. be because I didn't spray, which may affect the Chinese beetle population. Soybeans I seemed to have had more Chinese (lady) beetles in my fields eating the I disced up a pretty good rye cover crop on 5/15/03 and started planting aphids than conventional growers, soybeans on 5/24/03. The IA 2017 beans were very large ( 1,800 seeds/#) and especially after they all sprayed (it would not always fit in the cells of the seed plate on our White planter. I called seemed like more beetles came our my White dealer and he said there was nothing I could do about it. 20 acres way). later, seed population was running at only 3/4 of what I wanted, even though I My organic beans have not been had the planter set at the highest possible population setting. I finally got hold shipped yet, so the yield is based on of a company representative and he told me to put shims behind the planter an in-bin estimate. This estimate plate. This worked, and I got the population up to between 175,000-180,000 comes from knowing how much the

Table 1. 2003 Klingemdwell Organic Cropping System and Conventional Cash-Grain Rotation production budget for Organic Conventional Klingemdwell five-crop Soybean 1 Corn Soybean 2 Barley Alfalfa System Avg. Corn Soybean SystemAvg. organic system and Operations $54.38 $87.'13 $52.00 $37.75 $172.50 $80.75 $73.75 $43.00 $53.38 two-crop conventional Land $170.00 $170.00 $170.00 $170.00 $170.00 $170.00 $170.00 $170.00 $170.00 system Inputs & Labor $94.56 $97.90 $91.56 $36.31 $107.17 $85.50 $184.46 $92.34 $138.40 Total Costs $318.94 $355.03 $313.56 $244.06 $449.67 $336.25 $428.21 $305.34 $366.78 Yield 32 125 32 83 13 185 42 Gross Income $410.00 $496.78 $410.00 $264.75 $650.00 $446.31 $442.15 $252.00 $347.08 Net Profit $91.06 $141.75 $96.44 $20.69 $200.33 $110.05 $13.94 ($53.34) ($19.70)

18 ,...- ·.;... On-farm Research

bin holds at a certain level divided by with a grain drill. the number of acres harvested. I I think organic barley can Previous crop was soybeans. The barley looked good all spring and figured a 12% cleanout, which is an gross more money than average from past years. summer. Some horse weeds showed most people think. up in late June (mainly along the fence rows). I harvested the barley on July Alfalfa 21 and 22 and got 84 bushels/acre It was wet when I cut first crop This is the first time I've ever fig­ with a 51.25 test weight. on 6/2/03. It was hard to get the hay ured the cost production for alfalfa. I sent a sample to a malter, and to go through the haybine. Yield was (I hope I didn't leave anything out.) for the first time I made malt quality. very good, although it took two extra The yield is an estimate based on the But the wind was quickly knocked out days to get it dry. number ofloads ofhaylage produced of my sails when I found out that the I always leave an uncut strip (ap­ (I think it is a conservative figure). The buyer needed IFOAM accreditation proximately 20' X 75') to help control price per ton is a figure I got from ISU for shipment to Europe. Not having leaf hoppers. The leaf hoppers go to Extension for 2003 alfalfa production, this accreditation cost me 75¢/bushel. this uncut strip instead of feeding on which gives a value of$100.00/ton for I ended up selling it for food grade the regrowth of the rest of the field. I alfalfa hay and $50.00/ton for 50% for $3.75/bushel, -$.50 for cleaning got this idea from an ISU/PFI study I moisture haylage. and -$.05 for foreign matter, netting was involved in. This seemed to help Although my hay ground is or­ $3.20/bushel. this year. ganic, I figure no extra value on the I compared organic barley to con­ Second crop was also very good, price for organic. Not enough organic ventional soybeans because I could even though the weather was getting hay is sold to know what to figure for not find anyone in my area that grew drier. Third crop was a little short due a premium. Most organic farmers conventional barley. The conventional to the dry weather. grow their own forage. soybean information came from a I usually only make three cut­ neighboring farm. I think organic tings, but decided to make a fourth Barley barley can gross more money than crop this year because I had fewer most people think. The university acres than usual. We finally received In 2003, I seeded 75 acres of needs to get on the stick and develop some rain in September, which helped Excel barley on April1 and 2. Seeding new varieties better suited for our soils the fourth crop, which was cut 10/25/ rate was 125 pounds/acre. 15 pounds and climate. So!'! 03. The fourth crop made about 1.5 of alfalfa and 2 pounds of a grass mix tons per acre. were also planted at the same time

Williams (continued from pg 9) Kansas City and Des Moines. The Summing up, Steve says, "It's nice where if somebody tries to do farming company will also partner with a to be able to go to a marketplace that differently, and then they listen to the home delivery service called wants your product." radio or read the conventional agricul­ Milk2You. An Internet-based com­ tural magazines, they'd just throw their pany serving 2,000 homes in Omaha PFI member since 1992 hands up in the air and quit. PFI is kind and Council Bluffs, the company will ofgiving us a hope. Just to show there's Milk2You. An Internet-based com­ Steve is a PFI member since 1992 other people doing what we're doing." pany serving 2,000 homes in Omaha and served on the board from 1996 to In the future, Steve thinks PFI can and Council Bluffs, the company will 1999. move beyond establishing that sus­ offer all of Naturally Iowa's products. "I think PFI has been a good tainable, small to midsize farms can Getting into restaurants and champion for small, midsized farmers be economically viable and establish­ eventually opening an on-site retail that are trying to do things differently;' ing more linkages between farmers space in Clarinda are other goals. he says. "We're out here in a world and industry. ~

19 Calendar , ~ . .r'"''-··~~

ONGOING •!• Women, Food and Agriculture AUGUST Network Summer Gathering, July •!• Garden Market, every Friday 23-24, Inn the Hunt, 1160 Nash •!• PFI Field Day: Sustainable Row through October, 10am-6pm, Ave., Kanawha, Iowa. Presentations Crops, Livestock and Gardening, Henry A. Wallace Country Life and discussion on local food sys­ Aug. 5, 4-8pm, Neely-Kinyon Center, 2773 290th St., northeast of tems in north central Iowa, nature Research Farm, 2557 Norfolk Ave., Orient. Organic garden produce, hike/activity, participate in One Greenfield. Wagon tours and dem­ .. baked goods, jams and jellies. Step at a Time Gardens' Summer onstrations. Contact: Adair County Farm Gathering. Contact: Extension office, 515-743-8412. Denise O'Brien, 712-243-3264 JULY ' [email protected]. •!• SAG/MSAWG Summer Meeting, •!• Wtld Edible and Medicinal Plants, Aug. 5-7, Eagle Bluff Conference July 13, 6-9pm, Marshalltown •!• One Step at a Time Gardens' Center, Lanesboro, Minn. Summer Community College, 3700 S. Cen­ Summer Farm Gathering, July 24, conference for Sustainable Ag Coa­ ter St., Marshalltown. Dr. Dean 3:30pm, 1465 120th St., Kanawha. lition and Midwest Sustainable Ag Reynolds, plant pathologist, shares Hands-on workshop on worm Working Group. Workshops include: his knowledge of wild and medici­ composting, potluck supper and ''Agriculture of the Middle;' "Using nal plants; learn about locally avail­ evening activities. Contact: Mass Media to Move Decision Mak­ able plants and fungi that can be Jan Libbey, 641-495-6367. ers." Contact: 319-354-0258. used as food and for their medici­ nal properties. Contact: Linda J. •!• PFI Field Day: Introducing the •!• PFI Field Day: Digging Deeper Barnes, 641-752-7106, ext. 252. Sustainable Agriculture Program Project Tour, Aug. 7, 9am-12:30pm, of MCC, July 24, 1-7pm, House of Mercy, 1409 Clark St., •!• Trees Forever Conservation Buffer Marshalltown Community Col­ Des Moines. Contact: Rick Field Day, July 14, 7-8:30pm, lege, Grimes Farm, 2359 253rd St., Hartmann, 515-232-5661, ext. 104. Koehler farm southeast of Mason Marshalltown. Including address City near Rockford. Learn more by Fred Kirschenmann, director, •!• PFI Field Day: Swine Workshop: about riparian buffer enrollment in Leopold Center for Sustainable Ag­ Am I Really Making Money?, the Conservation Reserve Pro­ riculture. Contact: Linda Barnes, Aug. 9, 9am-2pm, Wayne and Ruth gram, as well as the how-to's of tree 641-752-7106 or PFI office. Fredericks farm, 1700 350th St., selection, planting and maintain­ Osage. Contact: 515-732-5724 or ing this type of project. Contact: •!• PFI Field Day: OP Corn, CSA PFI office. Trees Forever, 800-369-1269. Garden and More, July 28, 6:30-9:30pm, Laura Krouse farm, •!• Voices from Iowa Farm Women •!• PFI Field Day: Integrating Poultry, 825 Abbe Hills Road, Mt. Vernon. panel discussion, Aug. 14, llam- Grapes and Sweet Corn, July 14, Garden walk and demonstrations. 12pm, 2-3pm, Iowa State Fair, Agri­ 1pm, Oakwood Sporting Resort, Contact: 319-895-6924 or PFI culture Building. Display and video 21765 196th St., Sigourney. Tour and office. will also be shown Aug. 12-22 at the demonstrations. Contact: Jeff Kuntz, fair. See story on page 13 for more 641-932-3031 or PFI office. •!• PFI Field Day: Farrowing in details. Alternative Systems: Herd Health, •!• PFI Field Day: Soybean Aphid: July 30, 10:30am-5pm, Iowa State •!• PFI Field Day: Field School for The Biological Mgt. Potential, University Allee Experimental Weed Ecology & Management July 21, 9am, John Rodecap farm, Farm, 2030 640th St., Newell. Con­ through Crop Rotation, Aug. 16, Decorah. Contact: 563-382-5447 tact: Lyle Rossiter, farm manager, 3-Spm, Southwest of ISU or PFI office. 712-272-3512 or PFI office. Agronomy Farm. Contact: Matt

20 ,.~!~::. Calendar - r

Liebman, ISU Agronomy, •!• PFI Field Day: CSA Garden Tour, 515- 291-7186 or PFI office. Potluck and Dance, Sept. 18, 3:30- PFI field days 2004 ?pm, ZJ Farm, 5025 120th St. NE, out of the gates •!• Herbfest, August 20-22, Frontier Solon. CSA farm tours, potluck Natural Products Co-op, Norway, dinner, square dancing with live The 2004 season of PFI field days Iowa. Keynote speaker Holly band. Contact: Susan Zacharakis­ opened Saturday, June 12 with the Near, over 40 seminars from J utz, 319-624-3052 or PFI office. Northeast Iowa Buy Fresh, Buy Local beginner to expert levels. Tour of Farms. Around 80 people www.frontiercoop.com/about/ •!• PFI Field Day: Vegetable Produc­ turned out for a look at Hansen's herb fes t/hfinfo.html. tion and Marketing, Sept. 19, Fresh Dairy near Hudson and Don 1-4 pm, Chris Blanchard farm, 3 765 and Ruth Beck's Parkland Farm near •!• «creating a Sustainable Future," Highlandville Rd., Spring Grove, Buckingham. Seventeen more field 2004 Iowa Farmers Union Annual Minn. Farm tour, presentation by days follow, from July 2 to Sept. 21. Convention, Aug. 21, Living His­ Kathleen Delate (ISU Organics See calendar for details. More detailed tory Farms, Urbandale. Speaker: Program). Contact: 563-735-5613 listings are available in the PFI Field Leopold Center director Fred or PFI office. Day Guide, recently mailed to mem­ Kirschenmann. Contact: Iowa bers, or on the PFI website Farmers Union, (800) 775-5227. •!• PFI Field Day: Getting to Know (www. practicalfarmers.org). A copy of Henry A. Wallace Day, Sept. 19, the Field Day Guide can also be down­ •!• PFI Field Day: Buy Fresh, Buy 1-5pm, Henry A. Wallace Country loaded there. Local - Des Moines, Aug. 21, 9am, Life Center, 2773 290th St., north­ Turtle Farm, 10743 NW 142nd St. east of Orient. Field day, garden (Hwy 17), Granger; 11am, Pickett workshops, guest speaker Jerry Fence Dairy, 1447 SAve., Wood­ DeWitt, garden tours and refresh­ ward. Tour of 20-acre CSA farm ments. Contact: Diane Weiland, and on-farm dairy. Contact: Jeff 641-337-5019, or PFI office. and Jill Burkhart, (515) 438- (2697); Angela Tedesco, Turtle •!• PFI Field Day: Breeding and Se­ Farm, (515) 278-4522; or PFI lecting Corn for Quality, Sept. 21, office. 9am, Mike Natvig and Amy Miller Buy Fresh, SEPTEMBER farm, 20074 Timber Ave., Cresco. Buy Local Includes open-house tours of (continued from pg 4) •!• PFI Field Day: Tree Crops and Norman Borlaug farmstead. Con­ Poultry, Sept. 11, 9am-4pm, Red tact: 563-569-8358 or PFI office. want to organize local campaigns with Fern Farm, 13882 I Ave., Wapello, technical support from PFI. Please Contact: Tom Wahl and Kathy OCTOBER contact us if you are interested. Dice, 319-729-5905, or PFI office. •!• Land Institute Prairie Festival, How do I find more information •!• Advanced Bedded Livestock Sys­ Oct. 1-3, Land Institute, Salina, about the Buy Fresh, Buy Local tems Conference, Sept. 14, Hotel at Kan. Speakers: authors Michael campaign? Gateway Hills, Ames. Contact: Tom Pollan and William MacLeish; Judy Don't hesitate to call, email Richard,515-294-0465. Wicks, founder, Philadelphia's or write to: Robert Karp, White Dog Cafe; Percy Schmeiser, [email protected], PO Box •!• PFI Field Day: Corn Past and Fu­ Canadian farmer sued by 349, Ames, IA 50010, 515-232-5661 ture, Rotational Grazing, Sept. 16, Monsanto. Contact: 785-823-5376, ext. 102, or visit our website at 2:30-8pm, Linda and Ron Grice www.landinstitute.org. www. practicalfarmers.org. farm, South English. Contact: 319- 667-2350 or PFI office.

21 Resources / "'

In each issue we focus on a selection of resource or­ ganizations and highlight some of the reports, books, newsletters, etc. each offers. This issue, we look at Iowa organizations related to sustainable agriculture.

Leopold Center ______INCA ____ www.leopold.iastate.edu www.growinca.org Research and education center • "Who Benefits from Biotech­ Iowa Network for Community with statewide programs to develop nology?", presentation by Agriculture (INCA) is a statewide sustainable agricultural practices that Michael Duffy membership organization dedicated are both profitable and conserve natu­ • ''A Pig's Tale: Marketing Stories to the support of local food systems ral resources. Resources include: for New Value Chains;' keynote in Iowa. address by Fred Kirschenmann Newsletter Members Center Staff Papers This quarterly update on center The organization's biggest re­ activities is a great source of informa­ • "Ecolabel Value Assessment source is its knowledgeable network tion and ideas on sustainable agricul­ Phase II: Consumer Perceptions of farmers, eaters, marketers and ad­ ture and local foods. Subscriptions are of Local Foods;' by Rich Pirog vocates. A handsome member direc­ available at no cost and issues can be • "Consumer Perceptions of tory is distributed to members downloaded from the website in both Pasture-raised Beef and Dairy annually, and a lively listserv offers ac­ PDF and HTML formats. Products;' by Rich Pirog cess to member expertise. • "Grape Expectations: A Food Center Progress Reports System Perspective on Redevel­ Website oping the Iowa Grape Industry," These annual reports include de­ by Rich Pirog INCA's new website also offers a tailed summaries of the center's re­ well-organized listing of resources, search projects. Recent summaries Other Publications arranged in these categories: include: Local Food Info for Consumers • Effects of transgenic Bacillus • "Impacts of Genetically Engi­ • Home Canning Guide thuringiensis corn pollen on the neered Crops on Pesticide Use" • Robyn Van En Center for CSA monarch butterfly • "How Far Do Your Fruit and Resources • Establishment of a local food Vegetables Travel?" system in Eastern Iowa • Aldo Leopold's views on Marketing/Business Planning • Grass-based dairies and dairy agriculture, by Robert Sayre • Building a Sustainable Business: network/promotions A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Fact sheets Rural Businesses Speeches and • Local Food Connections: From • Community Kitchen Incubator Presentations Farms to Restaurants Orientation Guide • "Why Worry About the • Composting Dead Livestock: A Alternative Crops Agriculture of the Middle?", New Solution to an Old Problem • Alternative Farming Systems working paper by Fred • Stewards of our Streams: Buffer Information Center Kirschenmann, Mike Duffy Strip Design, Establishment and • Alternative Field Crops Manual Maintenance

22 :7.. ," ~:. Resources

AgMRC NCRLC ____ www.agmrc.org www.wfan.org Iowa State University, Kansas State Explore Market The National Catholic Rural Life Con­ University and the University of Cali­ and Industry Trends ference (NCRLC) is an Iowa-based na­ fornia joined forces to create this elec­ • Under Food, under Attribute tional membership organization grounded tronically based source of information Marketing: sections on Animal in a spiritual tradition that brings together about value-added agriculture. Re­ Rights Issues, Restaurants and the Church, care of community and care sources include: Retailers, Trans Fat and more. of creation. Resources include: • Under Energy: links to American AgMRC Action newsletter Wind Energy Association, Iowa Rural Support Group Energy Center, Renewable Fuels A monthly update covering de­ Association and more. Contact program staff at 515-270- velopments in business and research 2634, email Carol Richardson Smith as well as highlights from the website. Create and Operate a Business ([email protected]) or Cece Arnold Available on website in PDF or HTML. • Under Assessing Business ([email protected]). Opportunities, under Value­ Website Added Agriculture: "Capturing Agribusiness vs. Creating Value;' "Farmers Examples of value-added re­ Must Get in Position for Gaining Accountability Initiative sources in several categories: Value from Value-added." Electronic forum addressing the im­ • Under Operating a Business, Commodities & Products pact of vertically integrated agribusiness under Direct Marketing: Farmers Most sections under this category conglomerates on the livelihoods and food Market Price Reports, Direct include an industry profile and the op­ security of small and medium producers, Farm Marketing and Tourism portunity to "A.sk an Expert" by way of consumers and communities. Contact Handbook. an online form or phone number. Robert Gronski, [email protected], www.agribusinessaccountability.org. • Under Livestock, under Organic Directories and State Resources Pork, under Marketing: "There's • Contacts for individuals and a Market for Natural and programs in each of the 50 states Directions Program Organic Pork," "Pork: Alterna­ for value-added agriculture info. • Bringing Neighbors Together, a guide tive Marketing." • List of states' USDA Rural to creating neighborhood gatherings • Under Vegetables, under Development Cooperative • Guide to things urban people can Tomatoes: "Growing Hydropic Development specialists do to foster stronger rural-urban Tomatoes;' "Water Tomatoes • List of organizations with coop­ connections Drip by Drip." erative development programs. WFAN Magazine Quarterly magazine, Catholic Rural www.wfan.org Newsletter & Website Life. Explores topics from water quality Women, Food and Agriculture to nutrition. (WFAN) is an Iowa-based member­ A quarterly newsletter offers use­ ship organization with a mission to ful information and articles including Audio & Video Tapes link and amplify women's voices on member essays, an opportunities section, issues of food systems, sustainable news briefs and calendar. Some past is­ • Community, Church and Large Scale communities, and environmental in­ sues are available on the WFAN website. Hog Production tegrity. A listserv offers access to mem­ WFAN's website includes a sec­ • Rights for Life: Rebuilding Human ber expertise. Call 712-243-3264. tion with links to member websites. Relationships with Land

23 Member Perspectives :}

Sustainable agriculture .. . We throw those words around a lot, but are we really sure what they mean, or what we want them to mean? We wondered what the phase means to you, our readers and members. Send your 150-words-or-less definitions of sustainable agriculture to Practical Farmers of Iowa, Attn. Todd, PO Box 349, Ames, lA 50010, or email them to [email protected]. Feel free to be as poetic or technical as you'd like. A free PFI hat to anyone who sends in a thoughtful response.

Our fourth installment is from Sondra Krueger Feldstein, who operates SalAmander Farms near Bondurant, a CSA producing a wide variety of vegetables and fruit. The farm also produces lamb, broilers and eggs.

What Is Sustainable Agriculture?

ustainability is the presence of content­ only money can buy. Sustainable agriculture ment. The sustainable system is one in is not an occupation that will allow the Swhich the human player is content, practitioner to participate in the consumer because it is the human player that deter­ economy with unrestrained buying power. In mines what happens to the plant, animal, soil other words (stop me if you've heard this be­ and water components. In practical terms of fore): You're not going to get rich farming. the contemporary American economy, this But a sustainable farmer can be content.~ means the human player must be content with useful work resulting in a useful prod­ uct, rather than seeking the products that -Sondra Krueger Feldstein

24 'r. Reflections

•Provincial' Is Not a Bad Word

By Kamyar Enshayan

In memoryofPaul Gruchow, 1948-2004 dents pay attention to their home t was after I had come to the U.S. ground-the landscape and culture in that I realized I did not know which they are immersed. I some basic things about where I Some mistakenly refer to this lo­ spent my childhood. What's the cal thinking and local knowing as weather like in Iran, people asked me "provincial." The dictionary defines here. What's the rainfall in northern the word as "narrow; limited." The Iran? I had to research this topic here concept was most likely coined by to learn that my place of childhood people in large cities who thought of receives nearly 80 inches of rain a year people in rural areas and small towns as compared to 37 or so here in Iowa. as "provincial." Many of us have heard What about the vegetation and the word used that way so often that native forests? What kinds of birds we have begun to believe it. (Remem­ make a living in northern Iran? Key ber, there are no "provincial" people natural features? Demographics? Pat­ in large cities!) I think of provincial terns of well-being or poverty? Local to mean knowing your province! It is history ofBabol? Only later did I learn its leading banker- the man who plat­ a practical necessity to know your lo­ that these were not part of my formal ted the town and organized its school cality if you want to live there with­ education, or what I received from my system, its library, its parks, and its fire out ruining it-a local route to global family or the culture that surrounded department-was also the author of understanding. If we do not pay at­ me in Iran. the first comprehensive treatise on tention to our province, it will surely In Grass Roots, well-known Min­ Minnesota's prairie botany. I can only be diminished either by our own care­ nesota writer Paul Gruchow writes: imag1ne now what it might have meant less acts or by others who wish to ex­ to me-a studious boy w1th a love of ploit it for their own gains. The schools 1n wh1ch I was edu­ nature-to know that a great scholar I have seen the thrill of discover­ cated were by most standards first­ of natural history had a made a full and ing one's province in my students, rate. But they were, as our schools satisfying life in my town. I did not when they themselves learn firsthand generally are, largely indifferent to the know until long after I left the place something about where they grew up place and to the culture in which they that it afforded the possibility of an in Iowa: the pattern of rivers, the operated. intellectual life. drinking water quality in their county, Among my science courses I took Nothing in my education prepared a bit of local history, or knowing the two full years of biology, but never me to believe, or encouraged me to full story of their pork chop dinner. learned that the beautiful meadow at expect, that there was any reason to This is what some have called "place­ the bottom of my family's pasture was be interested in my own place. based education"-education that is remnant virgin prairie. We did not connected to a place; education that spend, so far as I can remember, a These words of Paul Gruchow will turn out citizens with deep ap­ single hour on prairie-the landscape resonate with me, and I see it all preciation of their region and a good in which we were Immersed-in two around me and in my students at the sense of how to care for it. S~ years of biological study. University of Northern Iowa. So, in I took history courses for years, but my work, inspired by Gruchow, Scott Kamyar E11shayan works at UNI and I never learned that one of the Sanders, Wendell Berry and many is a member of the Cedar Falls City founders of my town and for decades others, I have tried to help my stu- Council. 25 PFI Merchandise --~~ ...--~

Be a proud PFI member! Wear your love of local foods with PFI's Wear a PFI shirt, cook with a PFI apron, new Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign logo. shop with a PFI tote bag ... Beautiful design, dazzling colors!

Casual Cap-$12 Khaki, Velcro closure, "Healthy Food, Diverse Farms, Vibrant Communities" Posters-$5 each, $20 for five. tagline printed on back. $3 each for orders of 10 or more. Made in the USA. 11 W' X 13"

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T-shirt-$10 Heavyweight, 6.1 oz 100% cotton jersey in S-2XL. White with full-color Buy Fresh, Buy Local logo on front.

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GroceryTote-$1 0 Natural color 100% cotton canvas Sub-Total ___ tote with full color Buy Fresh, Buy Local logo. Perfect for grocery Shipping & Handling ___ shopping, or taking to the -$3 for the first item, $1 for each additional item. farmers market. Poster Shipping & Handling Made in the USA. -$2 for up to 5,$1 extra for each additional5 posters. ___QTY $

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27 Our Vision for Iowa

Food that is celebrated for its freshness and flavor and connection Farms that are prized to local farmers for their diversity to seasons to hard work and good stewardShip

Practical Farmers of Iowa P.O. Box 349 Ames, lA. 50010

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Healthy Food, Diverse Farms, Vibrant Communities