Farm News Story

A couple of more news stories tonight for anyone who hasn’t seen them. First from the Farm News in Iowa.

Leopold leader asked to step down
By RANDY MUDGETT- Managing Editor

AMES — Fred Kirschenmann is no longer the director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Ames. Last week, Wendy Wintersteen, interim dean of Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture, asked Kirschenmann to either resign his post or accept a position as a distinguished fellow for the Leopold Center.

The above link will only work for a week. The entire story is coppied below the fold.

Date Published – 11/4/2005
Leopold leader asked to step down
By RANDY MUDGETT- Managing Editor

AMES — Fred Kirschenmann is no longer the director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Ames. Last week, Wendy Wintersteen, interim dean of Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture, asked Kirschenmann to either resign his post or accept a position as a distinguished fellow for the Leopold Center.

Last Friday, Kirschenmann decided to accept the distinguished fellow position in order to remain at a position with the Center.

‘‘It all came as a surprise when I was hand-delivered a letter from Wintersteen,’’ Kirschenmann told Farm News Tuesday. ‘‘I had 48 hours to come to a decision.’’

Wintersteen announced last Friday that Jerry DeWitt, coordinator of ISU Extension’s sustainable agriculture program and ISU’s Pest Management and Environment program, has been named as an interim director for the Leopold Center effective Nov. 1 and lasting two years.

Kirschenmann said there had been tension between himself and Wintersteen for about two years on Kirschenmann’s responsibilities and focus at the Center.

‘‘We had several discussions on how best to use my time on the many projects the Center is involved in,’’ Kirschenmann said. ‘‘I do plan to continue working on the projects that I have started here at the Leopold Center.’’

The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture was first founded in 1987 when the Iowa Legislature established it under the Groundwater Protection Act of 1987. The mission of the Center is to conduct research into the negative impacts of agricultural practices, to assist in developing alternative practices and to work with ISU Extension to inform the public of Leopold Center findings.

In short, a 17-member advisory board advises the director on funding of research proposals, policies, procedures, budget development and program review. The Leopold Center is largely funded by state fees on nitrogen fertilizer and pesticides, appropriations from the state and federal grants. The Center’s mission includes informing the public on its research findings.

Kirschenmann, who has been director since 2000, is also a professor in ISU’s Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies.

‘‘The Leopold Center’s mission is unique and not like any other group of work in the country,’’ Kirschenmann said. ‘‘It was put together in a way and with such a bold group of leaders that it sets itself apart from any other research.’’

Ag of the Middle

One of the pet projects that Kirschenmann has been devoting a lot of his energy to is a project called ‘‘Ag of the Middle.’’ Kirschenmann said he will continue to work on this and other projects in his Distinguished Fellow position.

‘‘About three years ago I began working on a project that we think can change the face of agriculture,’’ Kirschenmann said. ‘‘In the past decade we have noticed that small farms and large farms have been more successful than medium-sized farms. We decided that if we were to change the trends of the ‘collapsing middle’ we would have to attempt to develop markets for these individual family farmers to survive.’’

Kirschenmann said that small farms who target niche markets and have sales of $5,000 or less annually are increasing in America. This group of small farmers are also financially successful in tapping into the small, local markets. On the other hand, large farms, (farms with more than $500,000 in gross sales) which are increasing annually are also somewhat successful in maintaining profitable margins.

The problem is, according to Kirschenmann, is the family-sized farms who sell between $50,000 and $500,000 in gross sales are dwindling rapidly.

‘‘We have lost 18 percent of these sized farms since the 1980s,’’ Kirschenmann said. ‘‘By chance, these are the same type of farms that are also best positioned for the new age of agriculture. They are the people who have kids on the farm and are trying to sustain themselves and their family just by living and working on the farm. The consumers want to associate themselves with this image of hard working American family farmers.’’

The Ag of the Middle project is seeking to target this area of agriculture by finding value chains in the marketplace that can connect family farmers with food system partners. The idea is to establish a brand that connects the farm to the consumer and certain types of high-quality food products with it.

Ted Schettler, a food production systems specialist, said Kirschenmann is highly regarded as a leader in the field of sustainable agriculture.

‘‘I live on the East Coast,’’ Schettler said, ‘‘and I follow the research performed at the Leopold Center. Kirschenmann called the problems the way he saw them in Iowa and that may have made some upset.’’

Schettler said innovative approaches to new food systems should be a priority for the U.S. and facilities like the Leopold Center.

Kirschenmann said the Ag of the Middle project has already established an Association of Family Farms, and as the development phase of the project comes together, policies will be written to help affect market development while scientists will help provide research and educational support for the business and policy strategies needed at both the regional and national level.

Kirschenmann said, ‘‘Consumers are seeking high quality foods and they want to know the source of the foods they eat. With a national high-quality food system in place, family farmers will find their livelihoods sustained.’’

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