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Alternative Agriculture
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Homepage
Alternative Grain Crops
Alternative Crop Rotations
Alternative Crop Production
Cover Crops
Economics of Alternative Crops/Rotations
Forage Crops and Livestock
Organic Agriculture
Policies and Government Support for Alternative Systems
Processing Alternative Crops/Grain Quality
Horticultural Crops
Local Foods
Alternative Systems and Environmental Quality
Equipment
Small Farms Newsletter
Calendar of Events
The Alternative Agriculture in Iowa website is designed to assist producers, processors,
marketers, business owners, policy makers, researchers and the general public with information
on alternatives to Iowa's traditional crops (corn and soybeans). The website
provides useful resources for anyone interested in becoming more diversified, profitable, and
environmentally responsible, with peer-reviewed material from contributing departments
including Agronomy and Horticulture (alternative crops), Economics (farm management and
profitability), Animal Science (alternative livestock and forages), Organic Agriculture (crops and
livestock), Economic Development (value-added ag), and Natural Resource Management
(environmental considerations). Downloadable information includes publications, articles, and
videos, ranging from alternative crops, crop rotations and environmental quality to policies and
standards, management and marketing techniques.
In the News
Livestock Production and Conservation Policy
Mark Rasmussen, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
pptx presentation at the "Sustaining our Iowa Land (SOIL)" Conference, Drake University, Des
Moines, IA, November 19, 2015
Upcoming Events
Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day
Saturday, June 25, 2016 - 2:00pm to 5:30pm
Field Day at the ISU Northeast Iowa Research
Farm
Tuesday, June 28, 2016 - 1:00pm to 4:30pm
Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, June 28, 2016 - 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Iowa Organic Association Research Field Day
Tuesday, June 28, 2016 - 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day
Thursday, June 30, 2016 - 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day
Thursday, July 10, 2016 - 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Field Day at ISU Northwest Research Farm
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 - 10:00am to 1:00pm
Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 - 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day
Sunday, July 17, 2016 - 2:00pm to 5:00pm
View more events
Sites
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
A research and education center that studies environmental and social problems caused from
agriculture development. Subjects of research include, ecological systems, marketing and food
systems, policy making and alternative farming systems.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Value Added Agriculture Program
The ISUEO Value Added Agriculture program has several resources that focus on high value or
specialty agricultural practices. The site has several various categories of resources including
marketing, business development, local foods, high tunnel production and food entrepreneurial
resources. The site also includes resources for renewable energy.
AgMRC (Agricultural Marketing Resource Center)
The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center provides several livestock and crop profiles and
resources for producers looking to add value through Organic Agriculture to their organic
farming operations.
Organic Agriculture Program
Our mission is to educate producers, consumers and policy makers in the research and extension
activities in Organic Agriculture both on-farm and in the Universities. ISU operates an Organic
Agriculture Program to provide research information and extension presentations for Iowa
citizens. Field Days, workshops and an ICN series on organics are held throughout the year.
ATTRA-National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
Website contains information for first time farmers, energy alternatives, local foods, organic
farming, pest management and more.
Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
MISA is a University of Minnesota partner program that contains information related to farming
workshops, conferences, research and more.
Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (University of Wisconsin)
CIAS is a research center focusing on farming systems and their connection to economics,
natural resources and people.
Alternative Agriculture, Dr. Kathleen Delate, Depts. of Agronomy/Horticulture, 106 Horticulture
Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, kdelate@iastate.edu, Phone: 515-294-7069, Fax:
515-294-0730.
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