April 13, 2017
Dear Ranking Members of the Iowa House and Senate Education Appropriation Subcommittee; Senator Kraayenbrink, Senator Johnson, Senator Schultz, Representative Dolecheck, Representative Moore, Representative Fischer, Representative Mohr, and Representative Rogers:
We write to you today as Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumni and on behalf of over 475 other concerned citizens, including Iowa farmers and many other Iowa State alumni, regarding the proposed budget cuts in the education appropriations bill. The proposed bill would eliminate the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. In this letter, we have included the many the hundreds of comments we received overnight to demonstrate the broad public support for the Leopold Center’s role in fulfilling its legislative mandate to:
(1) identify the negative environmental and socioeconomic impacts of existing agricultural practices, (2) research and assist the development of alternative, more sustainable agricultural practices, and (3) inform the agricultural community and general public of the Center’s findings.
It is imperative that the Center be funded in full and that the state’s public funds dedicated to research on water quality continue to be managed through the Leopold Center’s transparent grant making process, as was initially mandated by our state legislature at the Center’s founding.
As Iowa State University graduate students, we personally benefited from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture’s research grant funding. The broader community of nonprofits, farmers and land managers also benefit from the applied research and outreach that the Leopold Center has supported. Further, their leadership in building a long-term vision of agriculture in Iowa state that is economically and environmentally viable has brought benefit to all Iowans and much of the U.S. Midwest. Simply put, the committee’s funding decisions demonstrate a short-sightedness for the greater good of the state, and simply kick the can down the road for future generations to deal with the economic, environmental, and human health costs and challenges of water pollution and climate change. These issues will not go away by eliminating the Leopold Center.
Further, we are extremely disappointed with the rushed and secretive nature of these budget decisions. This process has not been transparent and has limited the ability of Iowans and ISU alumni to thoroughly participate and express our perspectives. We call for a public hearing to provide Iowans the opportunity to share testimony before a vote on the budget.
We started a petition Tuesday, April 11 to aggregate public support which now has over 475 signatories. Please see the below comments from concerned citizens, which demonstrate the wide support for the Leopold Center’s work and mission. We will continue to share the updated petition and comments.
Thank you.
Saul Abarca, Ph.D. 2015
Andrea Basche, Ph.D. 2015
Anna Bruen, M.S. 2014
Angie Carter, Ph.D. 2015
John Cotton Dean, M.S. 2012
Laura Frescoln, M.S. 2015
Stefan Gailens, M.S. 2015
Annie Heuscher, M.S. 2012
Ahna Kruzic, M.S. 2016
Virginia Nichols, M.S. 2014
Ashley Noonan, M.S. 2014
Claudia Prado-Meza, Ph.D. 2013
Gabrielle Roesch-McNally, Ph.D. 2016
Jennifer Vazquez-Koster, M.S. 2011
Sally Worley, M.S. 2001
Click here for a PDF of the comments we’ve received as of 4/13/17, some of which are included below.
| My family has farmed in Iowa since the 1800’s. We consider ourselves scientific farmers and we use Leopold Center funded research to make our farms both more environmentally and financially sustainable. |
| In my community of Dubuque, nearly 1/3 of residents are obese. In some schools, nearly 1/2 of students are considered overweight. The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture has supported research on Food Hubs which has been instrumental in making healthy fresh food grown by local family farm businesses available and accessible to children who most need it. |
| The LCSA has consistently supported soil and water quality research with an Iowa-focus, enabling practical research that wouldn’t be funded by other entities, especially federal agencies. LCSA research underpins and enabled the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Assessment and Strategy, and is the reason we have a path forward to clean water and sustainable agricultural production in the state. There is much research and action left to do, and LCSA knows what it is and how to get it done. LCSA is more critical now than ever! |
| I’m a Co Soil Commissioner and research Helps us. Farmers need help saving soil. Our county has the most terraces of any county in Ia |
| I was a student and graduate assistant at Iowa State University between 2009-2012. I worked on a multidisciplinary project “STRIPS at Neal Smith” that was supported by the Leopold Center. Our research found that planting small strips of prairie into rowcrop fields has disproportionately large benefits, such as 90% decreases in soil loss, 85% decreases in nitrogen loss from surface runoff, and huge increases in biodiversity on the landscape (https://www.nrem.iastate.edu/research/STRIPs/). This practice is now being incorporated on farmer fields across Iowa. This is just one example of the MANY impactful projects that the Leopold Center has supported. |
| The Leopold Center is important to me in so many ways. The staff and board are a source of inspiration, provide critical feedback on my research, and help promote my research. The Leopold Center has provided critical funding to my lab which has been used to leverage other state, federal, and private dollars. Thus funding has supported research that has gained attention across the Iowa countryside, regionally, and nationally. It has supported the training of dozens of students. It has generally made Iowa a better place to live, work, and play in. |
| The Leopold Center makes a positive difference to the lives of Iowans as well as to the state’s agricultural landscapes. Not only does the state and its residents benefit from the work of the Leopold Center, but states and institutions across the United States look to the Leopold Center for its leadership in sustainable agriculture. When I tell people I was at Iowa State generally the first thing they say to me is, “Oh that’s where the Leopold Center is. They do such good work!” Why would we defund something that makes such a positive contribution to our own wellbeing and promotes the state and its opportunities beyond the borders of the state? |
| “The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University was created to identify and develop new ways to farm profitably while conserving natural resources as well as reducing negative environmental and social impacts. ” The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture is an Iowa treasure! |
| Agriculture and natural resources are an important part of Iowa and its economy. |
| Aldo Leopold was a visionary of his time and his views still ring very true today. The Leopold Center helps Iowans to conserve and respect the land we call home. Our land and resources have given us so much but will not continue to be able to do so if we fail to take action now. The Leopold Center helps to ensure a healthy future for all Iowans. |
| As a citizen of Iowa I value the research the Leopold Center has done to protect the waters of Iowa. Safe drinking water is extremely important to me. |
| As a local foods advocate, educator, and Iowa Food Hub director, I can not imagine living in Iowa without the continuing foundational support from the Leopold Center. It has been one of the leading forces for local food system development work; and critical to advancing sustainable and regenerative agriculture practices. Please continue to support this worthy organization to make Iowa great again! |
| As farmers, my husband and I value the research at the Leopold Center. We are always looking for ways to improve our farm operation. |
| As the agricultural landscape and economy of Iowa faces an uncertain and challenging future, the Leopold Center will be crucial in helping Iowans make progress. The work will ensure that we can maintain our strong agricultural heritage, and find success in future farming. |
| Because Leopold Center is very important for the whole sustainable agriculture community. It provides all kinds of resources to support research and learning activities related to sustainability. We graduate students have benefited from Leopold center for many professional development opportunities and funding our research projects. In addition, Leopold center is an icon organization for Iowa State in the field of organic agriculture, agro-ecology, and sustainable agriculture. In many conferences, I have heard out of state people talked about Leopold center. Leopold center definitely boost Iowa Sate University’s reputation! |
| Because the Leopold Center is one of very few in Iowa that focuses on sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture is |
| Clean water for Iowa! |
| Conservation research is essential to securing Iowa’s future in agriculture. |
| Do we really want to drag down Iowa’s legacy of agricultural improvements? We should be promoting the impact of its work rather than limiting its funding. Iowa as a state is a leader for the US in agricultural education. Why would we ever lose sight of the value in that great honor and responsibility? Please consider how this can negatively impact farmers in the great state of Iowa. Now consider the positive effects of deciding to defund a research facility that improves the lives of people across the country and around the world. The negatives out way the positives in every way – even in terms of finances because of what the research provides in financial returns down the line. This idea to lower funding for research is not in the best interests of Iowans or any Americans. |
| Farmers need to stop tilling in the fall and leaving dirt loose and unprotected from runoff and wind. We need cover crops to protect our water and soil. We need conscientious farming to reduce loss and taxpayer expense. We need less chemicals used on crops and soil to protect people, animals, water, bees. |
| Funding from the Leopold center is crucial for research at Iowa state to continue. |
| Help support the local foods movement in Iowa. |
| I am a local certified organic farmer, and I have benefited from the programing and research of the Leopold Center. |
| I believe that any organization, facility, or group that wishes to continue work on making our agriculture more sustainable is extremely important. |
| I came to Iowa State University, in part, because of the Leopold Center. The Center is one of the excellent and exemplary institutions at Iowa State, and its presence is one of the reasons ISU continues to attract excellent students and faculty. |
| I currently live in Montana and still utilize resources produced by the Leopold Center. Not only is the Center a leader in Iowa, it is a leader across the country and it is of great value to us all. Please maintain its funding! |
| I didn’t elect my officials for them to raise incentives to destroy public goods like soil and water quality. I love Iowa and Iowa land. The projects funded and the knowledge shared by the Leopold Center are important for Iowa’s sustainable agricultural development. (Permission to quote as “Story county resident” or other un-identifying terms, currently an employee of ISU) |
| I first learned about the Leopold Center while living in Florida. I was able to learn about the issues related to Iowa agriculture and to our food system through its website. When I was able to move back to Iowa, what I had learned from the Leopold Center helped me become a better farmer, a more aware consumer, and a person who was very happy to live in such an exciting state. It gave me hope. I believe the Center must be funded to continue giving hope to Iowans for a future that values its rural communities, its farmers and growers, and its environment. |
| I know couples graduate students are using this fund for their research. |
| I value and care about sustainable agriculture in Iowa, my home state. I plan to return to Iowa in future and want it to remain the beautiful place it was during my childhood. I am from a family of farmers, and I value the future of agriculture, therefore I strongly support the Leopold Center’s efforts to increase sustainable farming practices and the environment which supports it. |
| I want publicly funded ag/environment research to continue. I want publicly funded leadership in local food systems to continue. I want good publicly funded research to support the Nutrient Reduction Strategy. I want facts to contribute to policy about ag and the environment. If not Leopold, how does the Legislature intend to use our tax dollars to fund this kind of work? |
| I’m concerned about water quality, the environment in general |
| Iowa is in dire need of research for sustainable agriculture and water quality. |
| Iowa needs to be a leader in Agriculture…with all of us working together no matter what “side” of the equation you are on. We need the Leopold Center to keep us moving forward! |
| Iowa’s farmers need a place other than those that profit from them for important research and learning! |
| Iowa’s future depends on clean water and fertile soil. The Leopold Center is a key component in ensuring our future. |
| It funds sustainable agriculture research which is necessary for food security |
| It is doing cutting edge work on agriculture that will save the human race. |
| It is vital that sustainable ag research be funded for a greener future |
| Money invested in the Leopold Center produces monetary returns, so even those advocating fiscal responsibility should continue funding the Leopold Center. More important than that, it is an investment in our future. |
| More so now than ever, Iowans have expressed support for funding Water Quality Improvement efforts, such as through the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. Republicans have proposed legislation to finally fund the trust in response to Iowans wishes. However, the current proposed actions will cripple the Leopold Center, which has a long history of supporting practices that improve water quality and soil health, provides guidance in their implementation, and has created an infrastructure for all Iowans to access information about these practices. Removing funding for this nationally renowned Center will hurt Iowas efforts to promote water quality and soil health. |
| My strong passion for agriculture has led me to pursue higher education and work for a master’s degree from ISU. My future research work and assistantship is being funded by the Leopold Center. The Leopold Center has done tremendous things for the sustainability of agriculture and I want to leave agriculture in a better way than I found it. |
| Research and education on sustainable agriculture is so important for Iowa and the whole world right now. We need this. We need healthy soil, clean water and air to live. |
| Research funded and supported by the Leopold Center has directly impacted the communities in which I now work. I see it’s impact daily via the conservation practices on the land and the economic impact of local foods. The conversations spurred on a local level by research happening through the Leopold Center is keeping rural Iowa communities alive. |
| See above. Chemically-dependent agriculture creates erosion, depletes soil fertility, contributes to flooding, etc. The Leopold Center offers best sustainable practices now and its continuing research and experts will be increasingly needed as we lose more soil, the climate gets warmer, yields level off and decrease, etc. |
| Sustainability is critical especially as we face the problems of our future today. |
| Sustainability is important |
| Sustainable agriculture is critical to our state’s livelihood. We need systems with diversity for maintaining the productivity of our land and maintaining environment quality. |
| Sustainable agriculture is important to human well-being and the health of our planet. |
| Sustainable Agriculture is important to Iowa’s future as an agricultural state |
| Sustainable agriculture is soon going to be the only way to farm in not only Iowa, but the world. The Leopold center is taking the first steps in research and education to inform the public about practices that will affect future generations to come. We should not be using this world to sustain ourselves, but to sustain generations to come. Without the Leopold center we will not have the resources needed to continue advancing our sustainable agriculture practices, and will be further set back. |
| The center help to promote and harbor sustainable agriculture research projects which is necessary for our society. |
| The center is an Ag leader and a voice that must not be silenced in the name of democracy. |
| The center provides a critical and transparent research and outreach resource for the state of Iowa in order to build a more ecological and sustainable agricultural system in Iowa! |
| The center works towards the betterment of the state’s environmental quality. It provides invaluable educational and research opportunities that have a big impact on students and Iowans. The center must go on for moral reasons if anything else. |
| The founding of the Center was the result of a bipartisan effort because it was evident that the benefits resulting therefrom would inure to the citizens of Iowa and beyond regardless of political affiliation and occupation. During its existence, the Center’s leadership, excellent supporting staff and those funded have worked diligently to fulfill the letter and spirit of the law. The loss of the Center would not only be a loss to the citizens of Iowa but to all who seek to address the ever increasing range of environmental challenges that will impact everyone during and beyond our lifetime. Thank you for the opportunity. |
| The funding that the Leopold Center provides through grants, the information shared with the public, and all the work it does and supports creates ripple effects across Iowa and throughout the Midwest. It’s hard to imagine how Iowa would maintain and build momentum toward reaching our water quality goals (just one example, but a critically important one!) without the support of the Leopold Center. |
| The LCSA has been instrumental in helping to develop and document the effectiveness of the most important soil and water conservation practices for Iowa. The home-grown solutions to difficult agricultural and environmental challenges funded by the LCSA are also used across the country. The Leopold Center is internationally recognized as a trailblazing organization, and the State of Iowa, as its main supporter, has been seen globally as an innovative force in sustainable agriculture. |
| The Leopold Center addresses key issues of sustainability from the perspective of farmers and others who depend on a healthy environment. |
| The Leopold Center carries out important research on issues critical to Iowa: conservation, water quality, local food systems, and improving the long term sustainability and profitability of Iowa farms. This research deserves MORE funding; eliminating it would be devastating for our state and our farm economy. |
| The Leopold Center conducts and funds research that provides invaluable insight into how farmers can better protect water and air quality while maintaining a livable income. |
| The Leopold Center creates a nexus for agricultural improvements and understanding among Iowa farmers. It helps to make Iowa a leading agricultural center both in the US and globally. Iowa cannot turn its back on its American responsibilities. |
| The Leopold Center does amazing work that benefits Iowa communities, graduate students, and serves as a model for the rest of the state and the nation. Losing this well respected institution would be a serious loss for the state of Iowa. |
| The Leopold Center funds research regarding the proper management of nutrient application on Iowa farms. These projects affect crop yields, crop quality, wildlife and the environment at the local level, throughout Iowa, and nationally. Providing Iowa farmers with the resources to make informed decisions is a founding principle of Iowa State University. Stripping the Leopold Center of funding would be a disgrace to ISU and the state of Iowa. |
| The Leopold Center has been a progressive leader in agricultural sustainability. Striving to leverage sparse funding to fulfill its mission outlined by the Groundwater Protection Act of 1987 |
| The Leopold Center has done tremendous work supporting agriculture, and thus the future of human health and society. Their work and support is essential to smaller groups and those seeking to explore uncommon, unique methods of managing crops, livestock, land, and water. |
| The Leopold Center has funded and supported so much important work in Iowa that benefits the land, water, people, and future of this state. This work must continue!! |
| The Leopold Center has no agenda beyond the truth. The Center has provided politically neutral, unbiased, scientific research and education for decades and must continue this mission to enhance the quality of life for all Iowans. |
| The Leopold Center has offered support and funding to the sustainable agriculture program. Without the center many graduate students will struggle to find funding, which could lead two fewer graduate students enrolling in the program. |
| The Leopold Center has provided excellent research on critical areas of conservation, water quality, livestock grazing, soil health, local foods systems, and many other areas that are essential to the health and well being of Iowa’s natural environment, local economies, and the well being of all its citizens. |
| The Leopold Center helps empower farmers to improve Iowa into the future. |
| The Leopold Center is a beacon for groundbreaking research on agroecology, conservation, and community food systems. This research is practice-focused and disseminated widely in user-friendly fashion. Many students benefit from their roles in LCSA on-farm and local food systems projects. The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture is held in high esteem far beyond the state borders. It is an Iowa treasure that should attract investments, not budget cuts. |
| The Leopold Center is a nationally recognized model for a University-based center. It supports and generates research that helps maintain healthy soils, clean water, vibrant rural communities and productive profitable farmers. Losing it would be not just a shame because of all the good it does but an embarrassment for the state. |
| The Leopold Center is an amazing resource and Iowa should be proud to have created such a successful organization. We need to continue to support and fund the Center to help us meet current and future challenges in Iowa. |
| The Leopold Center is essential to promote sustainable agricultural practices in Iowa. Agriculture is an essential part of Iowa’s economy and if we want our agriculture to be productive and profitable into the future, we must be working on conservation now. |
| The Leopold Center is for Sustainable Agriculture. Big Ag is not sustainable! |
| The Leopold Center is one of the few organizations in Iowa that is able to effectively research and promote agricultural practices that work within high production systems and encourage resource conservation at the same time. It is one of the only organizations that puts Iowa as a priority and its mission is crucial to ensuring agricultural and economic stability for our state. |
| The Leopold Center is one of the only research funding agencies to support diversified agriculture in the Midwest. This center is critical to ensuring a healthy sustainable future for the state. Cuts to it are short sighted and detrimental to all Iowans. |
| The Leopold center is responsible for funding cutting edge research designed to answer consequential and conscientious questions about our agricultural systems. It encourages research that provides farmers and educators tools and knowledge with which to make informed management decisions, and should continue doing so. |
| The Leopold Center is the one bastion of agricultural integrity left at Iowa State University. They have worked directly with many Sustainable Agriculture graduate students that I know, most of whom have gone on to do amazing things in their field and for their communities. The Center is a great source of information for many young farmers. Funding should not be cut. |
| The Leopold Center is the only research center in the state focused on sustainable agriculture and prepared to address the challenges Iowa’s soil and water face in the coming years. |
| The Leopold Center protects the viability and health of Iowa’s soil and water. As a result, it protects the family farm – the bedrock of our society. |
| The Leopold Center provides essential resources to scientists and practitioners working to protect Iowa’s important public resources. Their investment in this science is critical to our state’s progress and livelihoods. Clean water is an essential part of health communities; the Leopold Center, its staff, and the scientists who have received funding from the Leopold Center have dedicated their professional careers to ensuring Iowans have clean water. Progress has been made, but much remains to be done — the Leopold Center is a required asset to make that progress. |
| The Leopold Center provides research and outreach to support Iowa’s agricultural economy, communities, and heritage while simultaneously protecting and improving the state’s important environmental resources. |
| The Leopold Center provides small amounts of funding to projects with huge potential to positively impact the state of Iowa. It is the definition of a cost effective granting program that only pursues projects with SMALL COSTS but disproportionately LARGE REWARDS. I have seen this under numerous instances throughout my own time at Iowa State University. If the state of Iowa is reduce research funding dollars, this would be the LAST PLACE to do so. |
| The Leopold Center supports innovative agriculture research that Iowans depend on for sustaining our landscapes. The funding the Center provides is critical for addressing many challenges we face in managing our lands to provide not only clean water, and fertile soils, but also robust businesses and resilient communities. Cutting funding for the Leopold Center is cutting off investment in our land and our people. |
| The Leopold Center was set up to address water pollution issues in Iowa. We want to eliminate this office now? |
| The Leopold Center, among other wonderful contributions, allowed me as a graduate student to obtain experience writing grants for research projects with direct impacts on the communities in which a researcher is living – that experience was invaluable as I continue my academic journey, and would not have been possible without the unique funding structure of the state of Iowa and the Leopold Center. |
| The research funded by the Leopold Center enables us to both determine and promote best practices for agriculture in so many of its dimensions. And when a project is funded by the Leopold Center, attention is paid by important funders of sustainable agriculture like the Kellogg Foundation and the Wallace Foundation–so much so that those projects receive much more money than would otherwise be the case. With some 600 projects in 30 years here in Iowa, and all of it nonpartisan and scientifically sound, it’seems an absolute boon to the state, all farmers and Iowa’s reputation for agricultural excellence. It’s a keeper. |
| The research supported by the Leopold Center is critical to many small-scale producers in Iowa, as well as large-scale producers of common commodity crops seeking to improve the environmental impact of their agricultural practices. |
| The results of their work provide real solutions to Iowa’s complicated agricultural and environmental problems. |
| The state of Iowa is facing an environmental crisis and needs institutions like the Leopold Center to ensure our farmers have the best information and research to protect and improve our natural and agriculture environments. |
| The US needs high quality research centers, period. Of huge concern is continuing to feed ourself nutritious, healthy, affordable food while diversifying farmer income and protecting the environment for future generations. The Leopold Center is at the forefront of this and must be preserved by the state of Iowa at all costs. |
| The work and students that the Leopold Center produces is imperative to the sustainable future of agriculture in Iowa and across the country. |
| Their research has supported the creation of hundreds of new jobs across Iowa |
| Their work is much too important to be limited, let alone defunded entirely. Their research is valuable and truly helps American agriculture. It is research that will not be funded, by in large, by for profit companies which fund other research at the University. It helps make ISU and the State of Iowa a leader in the Sustainable Agriculture movement. The state with the World Food Prize headquarters should have more respect for sustainability in agriculture. |
| There is NO DOUBT that funding for sustainable agriculture research and information sharing that The Leopold Center provides should be of highest priority for the legislature IF concerns of all Iowa constituents is of concern. |
| There needs to be an alternative voice concerning agriculture and environmental issues. |
| They have produced the best and most pragmatic food systems research in Iowa. The health of Iowa citizens is an important benefit not to be defunded. |
| They make sure that research in the state is diversified and are a unique resource in the state. |
| This attempt to end the thirty years of legacy and vision of such people as Paul Johnson and David Osterberg is frightening and is a another stark reminder of the times we live in. The Leopold Center and Practical Farmers of Iowa were both created to help address Iowa’s environmental issues of water and soil and air quality as well as the quality of life of all Iowans. I hope all PFI members will voice their concerns to the legislature regarding the possible abandonment of their commitment to Iowa’s future. |
| This is a unique program that offers a new perspective to not only the agricultural programs at ISU but also every other college. Everyone can benefit from the critical thought and methodology that is offered in this program. |
| This organization contributes knowledge, training, and leadership to Sustainable Agriculture in our state–something we certainly need and will continue to need even more in the future. Please continue to support the Leopold Center! |
| This work is important to lead the way in agriculture research. |
| We are at the crux of a better way of producing food in Iowa and the Leopold center provides the opportunity and leadership for us. We desperately need better cleaner agriculture in Iowa. |
| We are blessed with Iowa’s rich natural resources and Leopold Center has contributed greatly to protect Iowa’s soil and water. Don’t take the bless away. |
| We are not living or farming sustainably. Our earth is in trouble and we need places like the Leopold Center to do the research that we so desperately need. Defunding this now would be a colossal mistake and end up costing us a lot more in the future. |
| We can’t save our soil in Iowa without this research center. |
| We need a center for sustainable agriculture research at ISU to ensure that the long term interests of Iowans are represented. |
| We need scientific and practical results that work for Iowa, the Leopold Center does this. There is no other Center like it. Don’t ax it. |
| With only 478,000 Iowa farmland acres representing less than 2% of Iowa’s 30 Million Agricultural Farm land using cover crops as means to regenerate soils, build organic matter, prevent further soil erosion and as a means to reduce nitrate and phosphorous pollution of our vital drinking sources, coupled with reducing the dead zone down stream, how can we in good conscience not fund the Leopold Center? Where else does Iowa farmers and ranchers have a research based “Home Grown” place to turn to that provides unbiased expert advise that allows for methods and applications that will restore Iowa’s fertile valleys, soils and water using vital proven regenerative methods? The idea that 98% of Iowa Farm lands are still in the year 2017 using production methods that assure sterility of biological soil activity, erosion of top soil and overall degradation of our most productive farmlands is the greatest crime against humanity imaginable. |
| With the exception of four years in the U..S. Navy, my life has in some way been connected to agriculture. This includes graduating from Iowa State with a B.S. in Agriculture, working on farms, working in Ag Extension, and working and retiring from FmHA, and in addition living on a small farm for 46 years, where we installed waterways, tile, and terraces. Nothing is more important to Iowa than the conservation of our soil and water resources. The Leopold Center has been a leader in these efforts. At age 86 what happens will have little effect on me personally. However, I am very concerned about the conservation of our soils and natural resources for future generations. I urge you not to cut funding for the Leopold Center. |
| Work from the Leopold Center and it’s funding has been fundamental in understanding issues surrounding and in developing improved practices for improved water quality; diverse cropping systems, including organic agriculture; sustainable grazing systems and modern agroforesty. Hard to imagine Iowa in 2017 without this great work to inform our important agricultural decision so today. |
| I retired after 30 yrs. working for the IDNR and it was evident across the state that the LC had accomplished more than most people would understand. |
| The Leopold Center allows for important research to be done that contributes to agricultural programs across our communities in Iowa. |
| Iowa needs educated and supported to move to a sustainable future |
| The studies they support lead to new ways we can be better caretakers of the earth, |
| The entire USA as well as Iowa benefits from Leopold-funded research. It is critical to have non-profit oversight of research in addition to corporate/seed-titan publications. |