AMES, Iowa – Iowa has a new statewide program that aims to boost production, processing, distribution, marketing and consumption of Iowa-grown food.

The Local Food and Farm Initiative’s purpose is to increase profitability for farmers and the number of jobs in local foods. The program brings together the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and ISU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

“This initiative is designed to get more of the food we produce here in Iowa on the table while keeping more of the food dollar on the farm,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said. “By utilizing the expertise of all three organizations it should help speed the development of this already growing part of Iowa agriculture.”

Craig Chase, ISU Extension farm management specialist and interim marketing program leader at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, will coordinate the new program.

John Lawrence, director of Extension to Agricultural and Natural Resources and associate dean in the college, said that Chase’s 27 years of experience in extension programs as well as co-leading ISU Extension’s new Regional /Local Food System Task Force makes him a good choice to be the Local Food and Farm Program Coordinator for Iowa.

“This initiative will help network the many activities already underway across Iowa and will leverage new investment in fruit and vegetable production expertise made by the college, ISU Extension and the Leopold Center,” Lawrence said.

The new program was created by the Iowa Legislature, which outlined broad goals and membership of a Local Food and Farm Program Council within IDALS that will advise the coordinator. First-year operating funds of $75,000 were included in the agriculture and natural resources budget bill signed by Governor Terry Branstad in July.

The initiative’s four goals are to:
• Promote the expansion of local food production, processing, distribution and marketing of Iowa food;
• Increase consumer and institutional spending on Iowa foods;
• Increase the profitability of farmers and businesses engaged in local food enterprises; and
• Increase the number of jobs associated with local foods.

The six-member Local Food and Farm program council will include representatives from IDALS, Iowa Farmers Union, Iowa Farmers Market Association and three people appointed by the governor to represent Iowa resource conservation and development; a food processor, wholesaler or retailer; and a regional food system working group participant or expert in local food.

The Local Food and Farm Initiative follows recommendations outlined in an Iowa Local Food and Farm Plan prepared by the Leopold Center at the request of the Iowa Legislature. The plan calls for more coordination of programs at the state level and assistance in the areas of business training, loans, food processing, food safety and programs for beginning, minority and transitioning farmers.

Since April, Chase has been leading the Marketing and Food Systems Initiative at the Leopold Center. One of Chase’s duties is to work with 16 groups throughout the state that participate in the Regional Food Systems Working Group.

“Craig has been effectively coordinating these regional food system efforts to increase Iowa’s local food supply and use and is a well-known leader,” said Mark Honeyman, interim director at the Leopold Center. “These groups will be an important part of achieving some of the goals set out for the new state initiative.”

New investment at Iowa State University to improve the economic viability of regional food systems in the state has included hiring an extension commercial horticulture specialist for central and western Iowa and a new faculty member in horticulture to conduct research and extension on vegetable production. Financial support for the new hires for the next three years was made possible by donor support to the Leopold Center. The two new hires join nine other ISU faculty and staff on campus and around the state who work in commercial fruit and vegetable production.

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AMES, Iowa -- The Iowa Learning Farms’ (ILF) August webinar, to be held Wednesday, Aug. 17 at noon, will feature Rick Cruse. He will discuss the report “Losing Ground.” The webinar is part of a series, hosted by ILF, held on the third Wednesday of each month. The webinars are held over the noon hour through Adobe Connect. All that is needed to participate is a computer with Internet access.

The “Losing Ground” report is based on research by Iowa State University (ISU) scientists and the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The report shows that Iowa farms are losing topsoil up to 12 times faster than government estimates. But, aerial surveys conducted by EWG indicate that soil erosion and runoff are worse than the research numbers suggest. Many fields are scarred by gullies that channel soil and chemicals into streams, which is not accounted for in ISU’s erosion estimates. Cruse is one of the ISU scientists who aided in the report, working with the Iowa Daily Erosion Project.

Rick Cruse is a professor of agronomy at Iowa State and director of the Iowa Water Center. His research focus is on soil management and soil erosion processes. He recently served on the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology, a bioenergy advisory council to the chief U.S. EPA administrator and has served on the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council. Cruse teaches two graduate level soil management classes at Iowa State.

To connect to the webinars, go to: https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/ilf/. Cruse will be able to answer questions from webinar “attendees” via the Adobe Connect chat box. The ILF website homepage contains links for archived webinars from previous months: www.extension.iastate.edu/ilf.

Upcoming Iowa Learning Farms webinars

Drake University’s Agricultural Law Center fellow Edward Cox will present information on the land tenure project with the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture in September. ISU agricultural and biosystems engineer Mark Hanna will discuss farm energy saving measures in October. Please contact ILF with other topic ideas for future webinar sessions.

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New Laws Promote Agriculture Tourism, Expand Homemade Food Sales and Ensure Consistent Regulation at Farmers’ Markets

CHICAGO – August 16, 2011. In honor of Agriculture Day at the Illinois State Fair, Governor Pat Quinn today signed three pieces of legislation to support Illinois’ agriculture industry and increase access to farmers’ markets for the growing cottage food industry. Senate Bill 840 allows certain homemade foods to be sold at Illinois farmers’ markets, and Senate Bill 1852 creates a task force to recommend statewide farmers’ market regulations. The Governor also signed House Bill 3244 requiring the state to develop a plan for increasing agriculture-related tourism opportunities in Illinois.

“The best way to celebrate Illinois’ agricultural strength is by making it easier for Illinois residents to buy fresh foods and support farmers and local economies,” Governor Quinn said. “Farmers’ markets allow us to buy fresh, healthy produce and other homemade goods directly from the people who make them, and this legislation will enable those business owners to sell directly to consumers while making sure safety standards are consistent for all markets throughout the state.”  

The popularity of farmers’ markets has surged in recent years, and a lack of consistent regulation at the increasing number of markets has created confusion about how products may be sold. Senate Bill 1852, sponsored by Sen. David Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) and Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro), creates a task force to review the rules and laws defining what products can be sold at farmers’ markets, as well as sanitation and food preparation requirements. The 24-member task force will then assist the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) in developing and implementing administrative rules ensuring consistent statewide farmers’ market regulations.

Senate Bill 840, sponsored by Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria) and Rep. Lisa M. Dugan (D-Kankakee), allows homemade foods like jams, cookies and cakes to be sold at farmers’ markets. Cottage food vendors must meet the following conditions for their products to be sold at Illinois’ farmers’ markets:

• ·         Foods, such as baked goods, preserves, dry herbs or teas, must be safe for consumption;
• ·         Food is sold only at a farmers’ market;
• ·         Seller does no more than $25,000 a year in sales;
• ·         Follows specific labeling requirements;
• ·         The cottage food operation is registered with the local health department;
• ·         The person preparing and selling the food has a valid Illinois Food Service Sanitation Manager Certificate; and
• ·         A placard that states, “This product was produced in a home kitchen not subject to public health inspection that may also process common food allergens” is located where the food is sold.

Under House Bill 3244, sponsored by Rep. Kay Hatcher (R-Yorkville) and Sen. Kirk W. Dillard (R-Westmont), the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will develop and implement a statewide strategic plan to increase agricultural tourism. This builds upon existing efforts by the Quinn administration to strengthen Illinois’ agri-tourism industry.

DCEO and the Illinois Department of Agriculture have a long-standing partnership with the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association (IGGVA) to promote the Illinois wine industry. Through the state’s tourism site, www.EnjoyIllinois.com, visitors can learn more about the dozens of wineries and other natural and agriculture-related attractions nestled throughout the state. DCEO also assists in marketing agri-tourism tours that have been created among its industry partners, both domestically and internationally, and promotes the use of locally grown foods in its marketing efforts.

Senate Bill 1852 and House Bill 3244 go into effect immediately and Senate Bill 840 takes effect Jan. 1.

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What: Ever wonder what it’s like to be a farmer today?  Curious about the men and women who care for the fields that you drive by?  Now people in Muscatine have the opportunity to take a look into the life of an American farmer and learn more about the vital role they play in the world of agriculture today through the America’s Farmers Mobile Experience.  Local farmer, Drew Yotter played a large role in bringing the traveling display to the Muscatine 50^th Anniversary and will serve as the host of the Mobile Experience while it is here.

The new Mobile Experience is a traveling 53-foot trailer that expands into 1,000-square feet of exhibit space that immerses visitors in the lives of America’s farm families.  The tour is designed to educate consumers on modern agriculture and the challenges farmers face to meet the growing demands of the rapidly increasing world population.

Visitors will take a journey through three different focus areas with interactive tools and displays to better understand the life of an American farmer.

• An interactive globe will allow visitors to see population growth and how many people one acre of farmland will need to feed to meet the demand of the growing population.
• A 180-degree theater immerses visitors in a video experience that spotlights an American farm family and what they are currently doing to meet the world demand.  Hear three generations of farm women speak about what farm life means to them.
• Ag educators serve as personal guides teaching guests about the tools and technologies, including breeding, biotechnology and agronomics, that help farmers meet current challenges.

When: Tours will run from:

8:00 am -4:00 pm on August 19

8:00am- 4:00pm on August 20  

Where: Muscatine 50^th Anniversary

2500 Wiggins Road
Muscatine, IA 52761               

Who: Media and the general public are invited to tour the America’s Farmers Mobile Experience and speak with local farmers and Monsanto Ag Educators.

Background:     The Mobile Experience will tour the U.S. stopping at a variety of urban and rural events to give people the opportunity to learn more about every aspect of the farmer’s life, from food production to the challenges they face. For more information on Monsanto’s America’s Farmers’ efforts or its Mobile Experience, please visit www.AmericasFarmers.com. 

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