Agri News

Farmers contribute to book on alternatives

Thursday, May 9, 2002

By Jean Caspers-Simmet
Agri News staff writer

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa-Using the stories of farmers-many from Minnesota and Iowa-"The Farm as Natural Habitat: Reconnecting Food Systems with Ecosystems,'' shows that agriculture doesn't have to be just corn and beans and rows of large hog confinement buildings.

"Modern agriculture has created the impression that it's inevitable that agricultural regions be ecological sacrifice zones,'' said Laura Jackson, a University of Northern Iowa biology professor, who co-edited the book with her mother, Dana Jackson.

Dana, through her work as associate director of the Land Stewardship Project, and Laura, through her involvement with members of the Practical Farmers of Iowa, met farmers who were increasing biological diversity and improving water quality while staying economically viable.

In the book, published by Island Press, the Jacksons ask why people should accept factory farms as the future when there is an alternative that offers society benefits. They challenge conservation biologists and environmentalists to look beyond public wildlife areas and to become engaged in discussions about agriculture and the environment.

"We all eat, and we all vote, and we can all be involved in supporting an environmentally sound and socially just food system,'' Laura said. "There is a connection between the grocery list and the endangered species list.''

The book lays out ways government policy could reward farmers for environmental practices, for maintaining diverse habitats, protecting water quality and providing a good quality of life for rural neighbors. In many cases, farmers who are good stewards are penalized by farm policy.

"If we wanted to we could reward farmers for farming in ways that benefit society,'' Dana said.

The inclusion of the Conservation Security Program in the final version of the farm bill is a good step, but many of the farm bill's proposals still promote industrial agriculture, Dana said.

The book provides detailed examples of farm families finding practical ways to balance food production with the protection of nature and economic viability.

New Hampton farmer Tom Frantzen shares how he transitioned from confinement hog production to raising pigs organically in hoop buildings. Mike Natvig, who raises hogs, cattle and crops near Protivin, shares his system, as do Howard County farmers John and Joan Lubke. Clayton County farmers Dan Specht, Jeff Klinge and Greg Koether are also in the book.

Minnesota farmers who participated on the LSP's Biological, Social and Financial Monitoring Team are featured: Daniel and Muriel French, Ralph and Geri Lentz, Dave and Florence Minar, Mike and Jennifer Rupprecht, Joe and Marlene Finley and Art and Jean Thicke.

The Jacksons call for agroecological restoration, but they are quick to point out that it must go beyond putting all responsibility on farmers and simply telling them to shape up.

"But we can't just preach at farmers; the problems belong to all of us who eat and vote,'' they write. "Farmers need help from conservationists, consumers and government policymakers to release them from the powerful hold of trends in industrial agriculture.''