According to results of the 2008 Organic Production Survey released February 3, 2010 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Iowa ranks ninth in the U.S. in number of organic farms.
“This was USDA’s first wide-scale survey of organic producers, and it was undertaken in direct response to the growing interest in organics among consumers, farmers, businesses, policymakers and others,” said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. “The information being released will be an important building block for future program and policy development.” [Read more →]

Week of February 1, 2010, by Advocacy Strategies

This week in the Iowa Legislature

Next Friday is the first funnel for the 83^rd General Assembly. All bills must pass out of full committees in order to continue to be considered by the legislature (with the exception of Ways & Means and Appropriations bills). This shortened session has certainly been a whirlwind of full committees, subcommittees, and other meetings and events. After funnel week, we will see drastically fewer bills as legislators focus in on their priority issues and assembling budgets. [Read more →]

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 2010—Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced today that USDA will develop a new, flexible framework for animal disease traceability in the United States, and undertake several other actions to further strengthen its disease prevention and response capabilities.

  [Read more →]

The National Farmers Union Convention is coming up fast. This year, it will be held in Rapid City, South Dakota from March 14-16. Register today!

Visit the convention website to register

2010 Convention Agenda

Contact our office (800-775-5227) if you would like to carpool.

Farmer’s Share of Retail Food Dollar
January 2010
                                 Retail    Farmer’s
Product (unit)                                        Price       Share    Change
Multi-purpose Flour (5 pounds)……………… 1.99…….. 0.50……… =
Bread (Wonder, 1 pound loaf)……………….. 2.99……..0.10………  =
Wheaties cereal (General Mills, 15 oz box)   3.99…….. 0.08……… +
Beer (can, 6-pack Miller Light)………………. 5.49…….. 0.10………. -
Soda (2 liter bottle)…………………..……….. 0.99………0.06………. =
Milk (1 gallon, fat free)…………………….…. 2.50…….. 1.30………. +
Potatoes (Russet, 5 lbs.)……………………... 3.00…….. 0.33………  -
Potato Chips (Lays Classic 11 oz)…………… 3.49…….. 0.09………  -
Cheddar Cheese (1 pound)…………………… 3.99…….. 1.61……… +
Boneless Ham (per pound)…………………… 4.99…….. 0.44………. +
Bacon (1 pound)………………………………..  2.79…….. 0.40……….+
Top Sirloin Steak (1 pound)………………….. 6.99…….. 0.80……… +
Eggs (1 dozen AA-L)…………………….…….. 1.99…….. 1.05……… +
Carrots (fresh. 2 pounds)…………………..… 2.99…….. 0.83……… +
Lettuce (head, 2 pounds)…………………..…. 1.29……..1.02……….+

*Retail prices are based on store brand except where noted from Safeway, Washington, D.C., August 31, 2009. Change is in relation to the farmer’s share from the previous month.
View a printable version of Farmer’s Share. Taken from “Agricultural Prices,” USDA/NASS.

Des Moines – Advocates for clean water and air, clean renewable energy and energy efficiency filled the Statehouse first-floor rotunda today to ask lawmakers to boost Iowa’s economy and job growth by improving environmental conditions in the state.

At a morning press conference Marian Riggs Gelb, executive director for the Iowa Environmental Council, a non-profit, member-driven environmental policy organization, told lawmakers that “livable cities, green industries, energy efficient buildings, fishable lakes, attractive parks, and good air quality attract new residents and businesses to Iowa and stimulate our economy. Adversely, air pollution that causes counties in Iowa to violate air quality standards, as continues to occur in Eastern Iowa, impedes business and population growth alike.” [Read more →]