Great news from Iowa!

[Condem]

From Verlyn Klinkenborg. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/opinion/10tue4.html?_r=1
It's, indeed, a start. We need them. As an Iowan, I'm extremely proud.

[Critters2]

1. These are the people to thank...

http://www.growinca.org/AboutUs.htm


A friend of mine, who has an organic farm outside Kanahwa, was one of the founders of INCA. They've worked hard to restore Iowa's farm heritage.

[Condem]

3. Then let me be the first. Thanks, INCA

[eddy51]

20. good thngs happening here too.

www.iowafoodandfitness.org read all about it. Changing our food system.

[Tashca]

21. That looks very interesting!!

Is ISU extension helped coordinate this?

This look like a good resource.....I'm going to bookmark it and check form time to time.

[eddy51]

22. yes, isu

Kellogg foundation initiative. leopold center also involved. Finishing 2 year planning and in the process of writing our local action plan. 8 other initiatives throughout the country. Watch the webcasts if you get a chance.

[Condem]

23. From a Hawkeye to a Cyclone.

Thank you. Good news, indeed.

[Critters2]

25. Indeed. And also the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

at ISU. Please, Iowans, ask Des Moines to keep funding it!!

[MiniMe]

2. Damn, I was hoping to hear that Chuck Grassly is retiring

He has been on a roll for the last few days

[Condem]

4. Even if he does, MiniMe...

...the GOP is grooming his grandson to continue his legacy. I believe he's currently in the State Legislature.

[ThomWV]

5. Or that it had been discovered that corn-syrup is good for you.

[Condem]

7. It's not, Thom???

I'm devastated.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. And I was hoping that idiot Steve King was resigning

LOL

[Condem]

9. Because of our shrinking population, proud...

...I think we're going to lose a seat in the House. Which probably means a larger district for that asshole.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Please let me know who runs against him

Cause I want to donate to that campaign.

[Condem]

14. I'd be happy to, proud.

[tcfrogs]

12. King may run for Governor

Thought I caught that on the DM Register site. Something about an exploratory committee.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Brownback is running here in 2010

Makes me want to puke.

[Itchinjim]

8. This Iowan sez:

F**k Chuck!

[Condem]

10. he's not too popular here in Iowa City, Itchinjim.

[Skidmore]

15. Yup, and we know more than a few of those young farmers who are

returning the land to organic farming. There's a whole network of them with a cooperative effort centered in the Kalona area and extending north and west.

Hi, Condem! Good to see you post. I hadn't seen you since the summer floods.

:fistbump:

[Condem]

16. Hey Skidmore! How are ya?

Things are moving along. I work up in CR and that's still a mess. But the attitudes of those people are amazing. Salt of the earth. Good to hear from you.

[Tashca]

17. I find this interesting...

Is this cooperative effort in marketing products??....buying inputs??....information exchange??

I have a reason for asking this. I have been recently thinking about getting involved with the organic movement.....if I could find a place within.

[Skidmore]

18. We know farmers in various stages of getting this thing going.

Some are still working the chemicals out of their land and can produce crops soon. Others sell to local markets, organic and/or farmers' markets. Some are producing grains, others dairy. We have a good friend who should be able to put his first crop in this spring.

[Tashca]

19. The three year transition period

This is what has slowed the change away from conventional Ag to more of an Organic type production.

That period has no help and it is extremely costly. I am in great hope that USDA can help bridge this impediment. I know Joe Biden had a heck of a good plan for this.....If USDA could help farmers get past this it would grow tremendously.

In the past I worked with buying organic soybeans and then process them for animal feed ifor egg production and a small amount for milk production.. I tried hard to get farmers to consider changing some acres to Organic certified. We ended up buying most from the plains states following organic wheat. Other than the Amish......the transition is way to costly for any significant acres to switch in that area.

I've got some ideas......but I need to know where USDA is going to go on this.

I am convinced the movement is going to grow.....and this is the center as you mentioned.

Thanks for the info!!

[Skidmore]

24. We are excited about what is happening, and the fact that

within the past two years we have had an organic grocer open a store in our village. It is the only grocery anywhere withing a 15-20 mile radius. They are expanding their business and whenever I run across a farmer who is in this process, particularly those who will be growing produce, I collect names and phone numbers and give them to the grocer. I'm not a formal part of this process but am doing everything I can as a consumer to facilitate its growth. I do plant a grocery garden of my own each year but do not produce in a quantity that would allow me to sell produce. As a cancer survivor, I'm anxious to see a market in which we do not have to contend with chemically contaminated food.

[annabanana]

26. That IS a nice tidbit. . . I hope

it's "catching"