Below is a sample of organizations involved in some aspect of sustainable agriculture in Iowa. This list is not comprehensive but may serve as a starting point for further inquiries.

Iowa Organizations:

• Audubon County Family Farms.  A small group of farmers working together on direct marketing of sustainably raised products.
  Contact:  Cindy Madsen; (712) 563-3044
• Drake University Agricultural Law Center.   A program of study and research on the role law plays in shaping the food and agricultural system.  The Center produces books and other publications and sponsors conferences and courses on environmental and legal issues in agriculture.
  Contact:  Neil Hamilton (515) 271-2065.
• Field to Family.  Working to develop and coordinate local markets for producers utilizing sustainable agricultural practices.  (A project of Practical Farmers of Iowa)
  Contact:  Gary Huber; (515) 232-5649
• Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.  ICCI promotes sustainable and organic agriculture in Iowa through production and dissemination of educational materials.
  Contact:  Joe Fagen;  (515) 266-5213
• Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.  IDALS is responsible for regulating agricultural operations, including organic certification and enforcement of the Organic Food Act of 1990.  The department also provides educational programs on organic standards and marketing and information on agricultural diversification and direct marketing of farm products.
  Contact: Maury Wills; (515) 281-5783 or Mike Bevins (515) 281-5402
• Iowa Environmental Council.  A non-profit alliance of organizations and individuals working on a range of environmental and conservation issues, including agricultural policy.
  Contact:  Susan Heathcote; (515) 244-1194
• Iowa Farm Bureau.  The Iowa Farm Bureau has several pollution prevention programs available to interested producers.
  Contact: Rick Robinson; (515) 225-5432
• Iowa Institute for Cooperatives.  This group is the trade council for all cooperatives in Iowa.  They provide educational training for coop directors, managers, and members, and provide technical assistance for initiating  new value-added coops.  They publish a monthly newsletter and have many publications and videos available.
  Contact: Gary Alberts, Dir. of Cooperative Education; (515) 292-2667
• Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.  Provides information about permanent legal protection of natural or restored conservation areas such as prairies and wetlands.  Provides land management advice for such areas.
  Contact:  Joe McGovern; (515) 288-1846
• Iowa Network for Community Agriculture (INCA).   INCA provides networking and support for Community Supported Agriculture projects (CSAs) in the state.
  Contact: Jan Libbey; (641) 495-6367
• Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.  The Leopold Center administers a grants program for research and demonstration projects on sustainable agriculture.  These grants are funded by taxes on agricultural fertilizers and pesticides.  The Leopold Center also sponsors and conducts educational programs.
  Contact: Rich Pirog; (515) 294-3711
• Limestone Bluffs Resource Conservation and Development Area.  This RC&D has started a project to help producers investigate the possibility of converting CRP land to organic production.  Contact: Warren Johnson; (319) 652-5104
• Organic Crop Improvement Association.  The Iowa chapters of OCIA certify organic farms in the state. Contact:
  • Chapter 1-Larry & Wilma Miles;  712-367-2442;
  • Chapter 2-Matthew Maker; 319-387-0947;
  • Chapter 3-Rita Smith; 319-592-3260
  • Chapter 4-Dennis Harkrader;319-237-5937
• Practical Farmers of Iowa.  PFI supports informal and formal information exchange on profitable, environmentally sound farming through on-farm research, field days, workshops, meetings, and a newsletter.  Non-farmers are welcome to join the organization and attend events.
  Contact: Rick Exner or Nancy Dundatscheck; (515) 294-1923
• PrairieTalk.  PrairieTalk is a resource group of farmers and consumers whose goal is to educate themselves and others about organic farming practices.  Items from their extensive collection of organic and sustainable agriculture references can be borrowed through the Iowa public library system.
  Contact: Susan Zacharakis-Jutz; (319) 644-3052
• Resource Conservation and Development Areas (RC&Ds).  There are RC&Ds for each area of the state.  Many of these organizations are working on innovative projects in agriculture, often in partnership with grassroots groups or local government.
  Contact: Marty Adkins; (515) 284-4135
• USDA/Farm Service Agency.  Provides business and credit services for those producers interested in pursuing alternative crops.
  Contact:  Vickie Friedow; (515) 254-1540
• USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service.  Provides technical assistance for farm conservation planning and implementation, including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to all customers, including under-represented producers and communities.
  Contact:  Larry Beeler; (515) 284-4135;  or Tanya Meyer, State Outreach Coordinator; (319) 668-8110

top

Iowa State University Programs:

• Agribusiness Program.  A program run by ISU Extension which provides training for agri-business personnel and others on a variety of agronomic topics.
  Contact:  Richard Larson; (515) 294-6429
• Agronomy/Horticulture Organic Program.  Research and extension programs in many aspects of organic production.
  Contact: Kathleen Delate; (515) 294-7069
• Beginning Farmer Program.  This program provides information to assist beginning and retiring farmers.  It includes the Farm-on program, which connects beginning farmers with retiring farmers.
  Contact: Loren Book; (800) 447-1985.
• Integrated Pest Management Program.  ISU Extension's IPM and ICM programs provide information and assistance to farmers and others interested in fine tuning pest and crop management and in reducing use of purchased inputs.
  Contact:  Joyce Hornstein or Rich Pope;  (515) 294-1101
• Iowa Manure Management Action Group (IMMAG).  Provides a comprehensive clearinghouse on manure management resources, requirements, and educational programs.
  Contact:  Angie Rieck-Hinz; (515) 294-9590
• Nutrient Management Program.  Provides information regarding nutrient management.
  Contact:  John Creswell; (515) 727-0656
• Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program.  ISU Extension is responsible for implementing the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) provisions of the 1996 Farm Bill in Iowa.
  Contact: Jerry DeWitt or Margaret Smith;  (515) 294-1923
• Value Added Agriculture.  Provides training and support for community based value added agriculture efforts.
  Contact:  Mary Swalla Holmes; (515) 294-6946

Many other faculty and staff at ISU are involved in work related to sustainable agriculture.  See box below for some of those contacts. 

top

Other Iowa State University Contacts:

• Alternative Livestock Production.  Provides information regarding alternative swine production systems, alternative swine feeds and natural or organic livestock production.  Contact:  Mark Honeyman; (515/) 294-4621
• Alternative Livestock Production.  Provides information regarding forage-based livestock production systems in order to improve profit and enhance environmental quality.
  Contact:  Jim Russel; (515) 294-4631
• Community Food Systems.  Research and evaluation of community food systems in the context of globalization and critical examination of structural change and environmental conflict in livestock production.
  Contact:  Clare Hinrichs; (515) 294-5154
• Compost Research/Bioengineering.  Research and critical evaluation of composting systems.
  Contact:  Tom Richards; (515) 294-0465
• Crop Genetic Diversity.  Evaluation and conservation of crop genetic diversity and participatory plant breeding.
  Contact:  Laura C. Merrick; (515) 294-4951
• Forages.  Research and teaching of sustainable forage management.
  Contact:  Mary Wiedenhoeft; (515) 294-3274
• Insect and Disease Control.  Research and development of sustainable controls of pests and diseases of fruits and vegetables.
  Contact:  Mark Gleason; (515) 294-0579
• Weed Management.  Development of weed management systems utilizing knowledge of  weed biology in order to cause less environmental disruption.
  Contact:  Bob Hartzler; (515) 294-1923
• Youth Education.  Provides support for youth education on natural resource, curriculum development and school enrichment.
  Contact:  Judy Levings; (515) 294-4764

top

| Home Page | Calendar | Publications | Other Links | Contacts | Resources | Research and Education | Funding Sources |