USDA's "New Farmers" website helps individuals and organizations find the resources they need to get started. A Discovery Tool allows people to personalize their search. Resources for Women in Ag, Youth, and Veterans are easily accessible. Find how SILT supports beginning farmers and how you can help here. https://newfarmers.usda.gov/
The number of women farmers, and women who own farms, has risen dramatically in the last four decades. This trend, and these numbers, has spurred the U.S. Department of Agriculture to look more closely at the whos, hows, and why of this possible demographic transition. Read more about how women are starting farm operations or inheriting them at https://www.dailyyonder.com/the-rising-tide-of-female-farmers/2015/12/14/10141/. And find out how SILT helps beginning farmers access land.
ISU recently published a set of online resources about climate and cropping systems that were developed out of a multi-state USDA funded project on climate and corn-based cropping systems. Find out about the impact of climate change on the corn belt, farmer perspectives on climate change, and a lot more information about resilient agriculture here: https://store.extension.iastate.edu/Topic/Environment/Climate-and-Agriculture And find more resources about sustainable practices that SILT supports here.
Mary Ellen Miller was the first person to ever say she would donate her land to the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust. That was in December 2014, before SILT even existed. Then she told scores of Iowa media at SILT's official launch in late January and on IPR that week. Then she was honored for her generous gesture at SILT's first birthday in Perry, when the board voted that day on a resolution to accept her donation. Mary Ellen Miller signs the deed to her 40 acres over to SILT in early December. Finally, on Dec. 3, 2015, Mary Ellen signed over her [...]
Mary Ellen Miller's land donation was featured in the Daily Iowegean! Check it out: https://www.dailyiowegian.com/news/local_news/a-sister-completes-her-brother-s-dream/article_945002a4-a9a4-5a2d-9481-eb6441a63398.html "I just can't tell you how blessed I feel," Miller said. "This was not a part of my life plan, but what I will tell you is that for 25 years my mission has been to find some way to do what Suzan Erem has finally managed to do." Read more about it here, and find out more about the land donation process here.
Well-established farmers, and those approaching retirement, are often looking for peace of mind when it comes to keeping the farm in the family, financial security in retirement, and being fair to their heirs. SILT offers alternatives that mean farmers don't have to sell their farm to retire: A land donation with reserve life estate allows farmers to stay on the land, enjoy benefits of a signigificant charitable tax deduction, reduce the change for strife among heirs, and protect farmland from getting re-zoned. A donation of a sustainable ag conservation easement allows farmers to keep ownership of the land to sell or pass on and [...]
"The discussion of the application of technologies in agriculture, particularly GE technologies, has been plagued by critiques of those who question these technologies as “anti-science.” Because this piece is a critical assessment of GE technologies, we would like to address this critique directly: we are not “anti-science.” To the contrary, we both identify as scientists, one as a biophysical scientist and the other as a social scientist. As scientists, we find scientific value in asking questions from the standpoint of multidisciplinary perspectives concerning the use and impacts of technology. Science is not a monolithic construct that is unchanging. Rather, science [...]
We can be proud of all we accomplished in 2015 - Two farms under SILT protection. One is already matched with a new farmer who is transitioning it from conventional corn to organic hay. National exposure and support from the impressive Slow Money National Gathering Scores of Iowans considering thousands of acres of land or easement donations in the next 1-10 years. (Contact us anytime to start that conversation!) Nearly 100 people coming together for our first celebration dinner. Now hiring a half time Executive Director, a grant writer and eventually, support staff. We don't have the luxury of time. Charter members will be remembered [...]
[Iowa State University agronomy professor Rick] Cruse said: “You have some people on one extreme — the group that will die for conservation and make sure that this is done right. And on the other extreme you have the people that could seemingly care less. They have an opportunity to make more money in the short run than those who are taking land out of production to preserve the longevity of the land.” This spectrum of practices is largely the result of an environment focused on production. Find out how SILT helps reconcile environmental practices and food production, and click [...]
An ultra-high-resolution NASA computer model has given scientists a stunning new look at how carbon dioxide in the atmosphere travels around the globe. On the video, you'll see the increase in CO2 emissions in the fall in the northern hemisphere: harvest and leaves falling mean less CO2 absorbed by plants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1SgmFa0r04