News


NE Iowa Benefits from Leopold Center competitive grants

Posted: April 28, 2012
Title
NE Iowa Benefits from Leopold Center  competitive grants

Twenty-one new projects are beginning work this year, thanks to the Leopold Center's long-running competitive grants program. The Center awarded the competitive grants, which total $1,201,290, in January.  

Six projects will complete their work in one year, while eight projects will run two years and seven projects will run three years. Combined with multiyear projects already in progress, the new grants bring the Leopold Center's currently funded research to roughly $2.25 million.

The projects fit under all four of the Leopold Center's initiatives�Ecology, Marketing and Food Systems, Policy and Cross-Cutting�and range from research on cover crops and bacterial resistance, to developing tools for local foods, to helping Iowa farmers understand and reduce their energy use.

"This year's Leopold Center grants represent a broad array of science-based projects that will serve Iowa on many levels," said Mark Honeyman, Leopold Center interim director. "The projects involve many fundamental topics: soil, water, crops, livestock, energy, food, farmers and land.  Collectively, these projects will continue to build the sustainability of Iowa's agriculture and food systems."

Marketing and Food System Projects
Eight new projects in the Marketing and Food Systems Initiative were awarded a total of $258,104. The Regional Food Systems Working Group, formed in 2003, will use competitive grant funding to continue convening. Representatives from more than 25 groups meet quarterly to coordinate efforts to build vibrant regional food systems across Iowa.

Other marketing projects will create training programs, develop tools to procure local foods for farm-to-school chapters, and help small farmers and meat processors improve their management and profitability.

Three projects will directly impact the food system work in northeast Iowa.

Convening the Regional Food Systems Working Group (RFSWG)
This 2-year grant for $42,700 was awarded in 2012.  This competitive grant supports the continued convening of the RFSWG, including support for quarterly meetings and the development of new leadership to guide and facilitate the group. RFSWG will continue its work to engage food and agriculture producers, businesses and state and federal organizations to network, share information and tools and collectively address challenges. Co-PIs include Teresa Wiemerslage and Brenda Ranum.

Improving profitability for small and very small meat processors in Iowa
This 2-year grant for $22,788 was awarded in 2012.  This competitive grant supports the development of a productivity curriculum for small meat processors in Iowa, as well as quarterly one-day classes and one-on-one follow up services. The curriculum will focus on scheduling, product mix decisions, retail inventory management, and shop floor performance measurement. The project builds on previous work of the Leopold Center's Small Meat Processors Working Group.  PI is Nick McCann. 

Transitioning farmers to produce for wholesale markets
This 2-year grant for $36,850 was awarded in 2012.  This project will help GROWN Locally meet increased demands for products. The principal investigator will work with producers in northeast Iowa on Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) assessments and safety plans, coordinate the creation of marketing materials, seek out new producers and help existing producers expand, coordinate a peer mentor program, and set up a training workshop for good handling practices and post-harvest handling procedures.  PI is Johnice Cross.

Tag: foodsystems

Skipping
Skipping
Caveman
Caveman
Alien
Alien
Oelwein students talk about local apples
Oelwein students talk about local apples
Oelwein Garden Rap
Oelwein Garden Rap
The Luther Gardens
The Luther Gardens
G It's Fresh Organic Farm
G It's Fresh Organic Farm
Tir na n'Og Farm - Paul Young
Tir na n'Og Farm - Paul Young
Grass Run Farm - Ryan & Kristine Jepsen
Grass Run Farm - Ryan & Kristine Jepsen
Looking Back on Year 1
Looking Back on Year 1
Farm to School Best Practices
Farm to School Best Practices
Decorah Walking School Bus
Decorah Walking School Bus
Decorah Walking School Bus
Decorah Walking School Bus
Decorah FFI Team
Decorah FFI Team
Oats
Oats
Cucumbers
Cucumbers
Plantpeddler
Plantpeddler
FoodCorps -- Join Us!
FoodCorps -- Join Us!
Ridgetop Acres
Ridgetop Acres
Annie's Gardens and Greens
Annie's Gardens and Greens
Safe Routes in Rural Schools: Scot Michelson
Safe Routes in Rural Schools: Scot Michelson
Local Food Tours 2010
Local Food Tours 2010
Making the Connection, Part 1
Making the Connection, Part 1
4-H Cook This! Challenge
4-H Cook This! Challenge
Making the Connection, Part 2
Making the Connection, Part 2
Iowa Safe Routes to School
Iowa Safe Routes to School
Visit Kymar Acres
Visit Kymar Acres
Spain Family Meats
Spain Family Meats
Walking School Bus, Lawton Elementary School, Seattle
Walking School Bus, Lawton Elementary School, Seattle
Cresco Students plant garden at hospital
Cresco Students plant garden at hospital
Youth Leading Change: Brandon Friedlein
Youth Leading Change: Brandon Friedlein
NE IA Farm to School: Cross-Age Teaching
NE IA Farm to School: Cross-Age Teaching
Planning the Crestwood School Garden
Planning the Crestwood School Garden
Starmont students make food kabobs
Starmont students make food kabobs
Starmont students take a salad break
Starmont students take a salad break
The NE IA Food & Fitness Initiative
The NE IA Food & Fitness Initiative
Healthy Snacks for Central Athletes
Healthy Snacks for Central Athletes
Active Living in Postville
Active Living in Postville
Postville High School 2.0
Postville High School 2.0
Central 5K
Central 5K
Post-Harvest Handling:  Field Cooling
Post-Harvest Handling: Field Cooling
Two Minutes at the FFI Youth Conference 1.0
Two Minutes at the FFI Youth Conference 1.0
Install Bicyle Parking (Iowa Bicycle Coalition)
Install Bicyle Parking (Iowa Bicycle Coalition)
Bicycling on Paved Shoulders
Bicycling on Paved Shoulders
Bike Rodeos
Bike Rodeos
Postville High School 1.0
Postville High School 1.0
Post-Harvest Handling:  Salad Greens
Post-Harvest Handling: Salad Greens


View the Iowa Food and Fitness Calendar