Category Archives: Farming

RAGBRAI and Iowa Politics

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Paul Deaton

Trish Nelson, regular editor of Blog for Iowa, posted this photo on the Internet, reminding us that there is a world outside the confines of what Al Gore described as “the worldwide digital communications, Internet, and computer revolutions (which) have … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014 Election Campaign, Branstad, Environment, Farming | Tagged al gore, Blog for Iowa, CAFOs, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, environment, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Iowa CAFOs, Iowa DNR, Iowa Farm Bureau, The Clean Water Act, The Global Mind, Trish Nelson | 1 Comment

Peterson, Loebsack to Host Farm Bill Forum July 27

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Paul Deaton

Representative Collin Peterson (D-MN), ranking member of the U.S. House agriculture committee will host a farm bill forum with Rep. Dave Loebsack on Saturday, July 27, at 11 a.m. at the Johnson County extension office at 2109 Old Highway 218 … Continue reading →

Posted in David Loebsack, Farming | Tagged Collin Peterson, farm bill, Iowa agriculture, Rep. Dave Loebsack | Comments Off

Toward an Iowa Local Food System

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Paul Deaton

Writing about gardening, farm work, fermentation, soup-making, canning and cooking is personally satisfying, but what is the connection to our broader society? Why does one person’s journey in life with friends and family matter in the broader scope of things? … Continue reading →

Posted in Farming, Local Food, Sustainability | Tagged 2014 Sustainable Food, farming, Leopold Center, Local food, sustainability, sustainable farming | Comments Off

Iowa's Culture of Climate Change

Posted on July 18, 2013 by Paul Deaton

David Biello of Slate wrote an opinion piece in Newsday titled, “Why Don’t Farmers Believe in Climate Change,” on July 16. Link to the article here or here, but here’s a spoiler alert: it’s the Farm Bureau. I commented on … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Environment, Farming | Tagged climate change, environment, Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa farmers, The Climate Reality Project | Comments Off

Help Is On The Way For Iowa CAFO Fighters

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Trish Nelson

JEFFERSON COUNTY FARMERS AND NEIGHBORS, INC. P.O. Box 811, Fairfield, IA 52556 • jfan@lisco.com • http://www.jfaniowa.org • 641-209-6600 Nationally Known Environmental Attorney Charlie Speer from Kansas City Creates Legal Team with Jefferson County Attorney David Sykes to Fight Problematic CAFO’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Factory Farms (CAFOs), Farming | Tagged Batavia hog confinements, Eldon CAFO, Factory farms in Iowa, Iowa CAFOs, Iowa hog farm, Jefferson County, Jefferson County Farmers and Neighbors | Comments Off

“Foodopoly” Author Wenonah Hauter Coming to Iowa

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Trish Nelson

FoodandWaterWatch.org Foodopoly Author Wenonah Hauter Comes to Iowa DES MOINES, IOWA – Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of the national consumer advocacy group Food & Water Watch, will be in Des Moines, Davenport, and Iowa City discussing her new book, … Continue reading →

Posted in Farming | Tagged corporate food, factory farms, foodopoly, GMOs, iowa farming, Local food | Comments Off

Local Food Advocacy Groups Expose Monsanto’s Undue Influence

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Trish Nelson

SF 194 /HF 463: “An Act requiring consumer labeling information for food, providing penalties, and including effective date provisions” Thank your Democratic representatives in the Iowa House and Senate who introduced the bills, Bolkcom, Thede, Anderson, Steckman, Berry, Abdul-Samad, Mascher, … Continue reading →

Posted in Farming, food, Iowa Legislature, Local Events | Tagged GMO labeling, HF 463, Iowa Legislature 2013, Monsanto, SF 194 | Comments Off

Is Iowa Any Better Than China When It Comes To Hog Scandals?

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Trish Nelson

We think probably not. Here is an excerpt of an article by Tom Philpott at MotherJones.com about China’s dead-hog scandal and how Iowa and the U.S. compare. Consider Iowa, which houses around 18 million hogs, making it our most hog-intensive … Continue reading →

Posted in Farming, Iowa in the News | Tagged CAFOs, China dead hog scandal, iowa factory farms | Comments Off

Iowans Plead With CAFO Farmer To Spare Them

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Trish Nelson

by Francis Thicke, reposted with permission. Follow Francis on FB. Last night I witnessed an incredible hearing on two proposed CAFOs to be built near Batavia — totaling 10,000 hogs – in Wapello County. About 50 neighbors of the farmer … Continue reading →

Posted in Farming | Tagged Batavia, Batavia hog confinements, CAFOs, Factory farms in Iowa, Francis Thicke, Iowa, Wapello County | Comments Off

Francis Thicke Appointed to National Organic Standards Board

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Trish Nelson

iowasource.com WASHINGTON, January 15, 2013—The U.S. Department of Agriculture appointed environmentalist and farmer Francis Thicke, Ph.D., to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) today, adding valuable perspective to this 15-member advisory Board. “Since the NOSB serves as a gatekeeper for … Continue reading →

Posted in Farming | Tagged Francis Thicke, National Organic Standards Board, NOSB, organic farming | Comments Off