The Local Food System Toolkit was developed by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to help communities reliably evaluate the economic impact of investing in local and regional food systems. The Local Food System Toolkit provides detailed guidance in seven modules to measure and assess the expected economic impacts of local food investments. Using real-world projects, experiences, and applied research, it provides grounded, credible, and useable assessment methods. The Local Food System Toolkit can be used by policy makers, community leaders, private businesses or foundations to offer specific estimates that will help them decide whether to invest in initiatives that [...]

Iowa farmland rent climbed 50% over the past five years. Grain prices have sunk 50 percent or more since 2012, but the cash rents have been slower to decline. A recent article in the DSM Register highlights how cash-strapped farmers are struggling to pay cropland rent. Diversified farms can help hedge against commodity price swings... Consider protecting 50 acres for a next generation fruit and vegetable grower and taking the rent to the bank! https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/agriculture/2016/03/14/cash-strapped-farmers-struggle-pay-cropland-rents/81170452/  

Women Who Farm! seeks to celebrate women who are leading the local food movement. This website is looking for women who farm to share their stories, for writers to share articles through their online platform connected with Over Grow The System. Find out more here: https://www.overgrowthesystem.com/women-who-farm#wome-who-farm and learn how SILT supports beginning farmers.

A report released this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) showed that total farmland in the United States has decreased by 1 million acres since 2014. Learn how SILT's plan protects farmland. https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/energy-environment/270771-we-cant-keep-losing-farmland-and-agriculture-students

A recent article in Agriculture.com highlights the changing habits in 'new' generations. "Solid research says the millennials’ pursuit of a healthier lifestyle is filtering up and down the generational ladder. The kids of millennials will eat the way their parents train them. Here’s the biggie: Millennials are teaching their parents – the boomers – how to eat healthier." SILT supports the movement towards a healthier food system by allowing farmers and the community to learn the latest, greatest techniques in sustainable food production from other farmers employing best practices from around the country and the world while developing new ones all the time. [...]

Congratulations Slow Money on your great coverage in the Green Money Journal and thanks for your early support of SILT! Look for SILT in an upcoming issue of Green Money Journal!