Members in the News
Members in the News
PFI consists of a group of talented and passionate individuals. While the group is diverse in its beliefs and practices, it is unified in its passion for agriculture and the impact it has in Iowa and worldwide. Many PFI members appear in news articles and a wide range of publications. They are a voice for Iowa agriculture, food, politics, and sometimes, mere fun. Here are a sample of PFI members featured in recent news. If you are a member in the news not featured on this page, please contact Sally Worley.
June 2008
"Vietnam demand for yogurt enthralls Clarinda dairy," Des Moines Register, 6/3/08. Kevin Nothwehr of Naturally Iowa talks about the company's plans to market products to Vietnam.
May 2008
"Dairy specializes in local organic market," Midwest Ag Journal, 5/26/08. Francis Thicke talks about his organic dairy and his marketing tactics. He markets all of Radiance Dairy's products to the Fairfield community.
"To Hill, the job comes naturally," The Des Moines Register, 5/23/08. Elizabeth Hill talks about life as an ecologist for Whiterock Conservancy.
"Crop Watch," Iowa Farmer Today, 5/24/08 (and all season). Dan Wilson is providing information for Northwest Iowa's crop watch.
"This old house," Iowa Farmer Today, 5/24/08. Nina and Kelly Biensen rebuilt their farmhouse while preserving materials and character from the old house.
"Perhaps it's not too little food, but too many people in world," Des Moines Register, 5/11/08. Dennis Keeney provides his view on food prices, food shortage, and the environment.
"Rooftops crowd this anti-sprawl crusader," Des Moines Register, May 8, 2008. LaVon Griffieon speaks about urban sprawl encroaching on her farm near Ankeny.
"Market expected to boom," Des Moines Register, 5/7/08. Matt Russell and Patrick Standley of Coyote Run Farm talk about market renovations as well as the local food movement in Central Iowa.
"Grape growers form official association," Farm News, 5/2/08. Richard Black and other viticulturists recently formed the Northwest Iowa Grape Growers Association.
"New Zealand farmers visit Iowa," Agri News, 5/1/08. Dan Specht, Greg Koether, and Jeff and Deb Klinge arranged a visit from New Zealand farmers Ian and Heather Atkinson to northeast Iowa to tour livestock farms and talk to farmers.
"Greener pastures: how family farmers are planting for a sustainable future," U.S. Catholic, May 2008. Gary Guthrie talks about his farming outlook and his spiritual ties to the land.
"Good grass grows good cows," The Progressive Farmer, May 2008. Tom German discusses his grass-first farming practices that renovate the land and produce good food for his cows.
April 2008
"Efforts succeed to generate interest in locally-grown food: Distribution networks would create jobs and income" Des Moines Register 4/27/08Since the University of Northern Iowa's Local Food project's establishment in 1998, local food purchases have grown by almost 1800%. Kamyar Enshayan says that the next step is creating a local-foods infrastructure, including vegetable processing and distribution networks.
"Lawsuit filed by State over soil erosion in Sny Magill, three area businesses charged" Des Moines Register 4/18/08. On April 15, the State of Iowa filed a lawsuit in Clayton County District Court suing three local companies for soil erosion in Sny Magill, a clear water trout stream near McGregor.
"Northey's Choose Iowa program promotes state products: Iowa raised, grown, processed varieties featured" Farm News 4/18/08 Iowa's Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey, is trying to encourage more locally grown and produced products. A joint effort between Iowa's Department of Agriculture and Stewardship and the Iowa Grocery Industry Association brings a program called Choose Iowa. The goal of the program is to increase the visibility of Iowa products, and make consumers more aware of where the products are being produced.
"New farm bill lacks development money: Funding for rural projects will have to come later" Des Moines Register 4/17/08 Jeanne and Jay Hansen originally received funding through the 2002 farm bill to advertise and market their products. Many fear that this type of funding will not be available with the government's tighter budget situation.
"EPC mulls manure ban on frozen ground" Farm Bureau Spokesman 4/16/08 After hearing a presentation from the Des Moines Water Works and the Iowa DNR on high ammonia levels, the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) motioned to ban manure applications on frozen ground. The motion was introduced by Commissioner Henry Marquard and was seconded by Commissioner Susan Heathcote.
"Ranchers aim for optimum production" Farm News 4/11/08 Brad and Carla Banks knew they were in trouble when their cattle operation was purely production based. The became geared for big calves, which led to less efficient cows. After researching, they decided to switch their operation over to a managed intensive grazing system. This system has gotten rid of high input costs, as well as increased native grasses population. The Banks say that "The results were immediately noticeable.
"Organic farmer forum set in Howard County" Agri News 4/10/08 The Howard County Extension office is hosting an organic farmer information exchange meeting at 7pm April 24th at the extension office in Cresco. The meeting is open to anyone currently farming organically, and is meant to simply be a free flow of information.
"Vigilance needed with feedlot study issue" Agri News 4/10/08 Iowans need to make their voices heard as the Iowa Legislature hurries to wrap up it's session. The Iowa Farmers Union believes that the waning public attention is leading to problems, specifically with the hog confinement odor bill. The Farmers Union is proposing to impose a moratorium on new confinements until all sides can work out meaningful regulations.
"Experts tout opportunities for hog farmers" Spokesman 4/9/08 "Even with the high prices of grain for feed, Iowa is one of the most economical places to raise hogs" says ISU agricultural economist John Lawrence. Dave Stender and Gary Huber spoke about the opportunities and drawbacks of niche pork farming. Presenters and panelists alike encouraged young farmers to work towards their goals in the hog industry at a conference for aspiring hog farmers held the first week of April.
“Paradigm Shift” The Stockman Grass Farmer 4/08 Thanks are given to Allan Nation for his writings that caused a “paradigm shift away from conventional ruminant production thinking” for Ryan Herman. In his letter to the editor he talks about how he no longer has to worry about increasing input costs with his low-cost, grass based, organic ruminant production system.
“Develop your Grazing Skills… from the grass UP” The Stockman Grass Farmer 4/08 Thousand Hills Cattle Co. is able to brag about consistently hitting their winter Average Daily Gain (ADG) goals despite the rough winter. This is due to farmers such as Karl Dallefeld of Blue Mounds, Wisconsin spending the money to “get the soil working” Because of this additional expense, he is able to harvest winter forages of excellent quality and quantity.
“High annomia levels threaten D.M’s water: Fertilizer runoff trapped under ice is partly to blame for record amounts that forced the city to draw from other sources to keep tap water safe” Des Moines Register 4/6/08 Manure and commercial fertilizers spread on frozen ground contributed to record ammonia levels in water supplies across Iowa this spring. This winter heavy ice cover acted like a lid on a pot, trapping ammonia from the manure runoff that otherwise might have naturally worked its way into the atmosphere. The ammonia problem was so large in early March that Des Moines Water Works was forced to draw on alternative water sources to provide enough water for the metro area.