More and more farmers are diversifying their crop mix and growing vegetables. This allows them to avoid the price volatility of corn and soybeans. Last week, the Des Moines Register published an article showcasing crop farmers who had decided to diversify. "During the Agriculture Department’s census released in 2012, the federal government estimated that more than 47,000 Iowa farms had corn and 41,000 had soybeans. Together, the two commodities were grown on 23 million acres. By comparison, 962 farms raised vegetables spread across 7,700 acres, and even fewer produced fruits, according to the most recent data for the specialty crops." Read more  here: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/agriculture/2016/08/19/iowa-farmers-planting-fruits-vegetables-over-corn-soybeans/88569432/ [...]

An increasing number of studies highlight the positive economic impact of buying directly from farmers. To close off National Farmers Market week, we'd like to introduce a recent study that once again proves the benefits of keeping land in healthy agricultural production. *** As a past board member at the Davis farmers market, Shermain Hardesty knows that people who buy fruits and vegetables directly from producers show up week after week and voice support for local businesses. Now, the UC Davis agricultural economics professor Shermain Hardesty just released a study that shows a dollar of sales for a direct-market fruit or [...]

SILT helps farmers grow healthy food. A recent study shows that with a plant and dairy-based diet, "agricultural land in the contiguous U.S. could have the capacity to feed up to 800 million people — twice what can be supported based on current average diets" Read more about the study here: https://www.morningagclips.com/dietary-changes-and-land-use-study/

In this weeks “Map of the Week” by the state Legislative Service Agency, Certified Organic Operations were geo-mapped by County (by Crop, Livestock, and Handling/Processing).  Iowa is a real hotbed of organic crops, processing, and livestock. Check it out here: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/MOW/794228.pdf The number of organic operations has increased by 47% from 2011 to 2016 (71% increase nation-wide). This trend towards sustainable practices needs to keep growing! Iowa suffers some of the worst water quality in the country. We are among the top contributing states to the algae bloom in the Gulf of Mexico. Join SILT in building more resilient Iowa communities through diversity in [...]

According to a U.S. Geological Survey report published today in the Journal of Environmental Quality, drought periods followed by rainfall caused nitrate levels to increase to the highest ever measured in some Midwest streams during a 2013. “The highest nitrate concentrations in 2013 were in streams in Iowa, closely followed by southern Minnesota and central Illinois,” said Peter Van Metre, a USGS hydrologist and the lead author of the study. “Drought conditions in 2012 allowed excess nitrogen to build up in the soils until spring rains in 2013 flushed the nitrate into streams, leading to unusually high levels.” SILT is [...]

Please come support a great event celebrating a big milestone and learn how nature and farming can work in harmony. Registration is free! Join SILT for the 40th Annual Loess Hills Prairie Seminar: Presentation1_439C6C0DBCED2 "Fascinations of the Loess Hills: Celebrating Forty Years of Nature in Western Iowa" June 3 (evening) to June 5 (noon) West Monona High School – 1314 15th Street, Onawa These seminars were founded to foster recognition, appreciation and the educational use of those natural wonders found within eyesight in our communities. Suzan Erem, SILT founder and president will be giving a talk on what nature-friendly farming and [...]