The following excerpt comes from “A Vision for ‘Good Food’ for Iowa - Linking Community-Based Food Systems to Healthy Iowans and Healthy Communities” by Angie Tagtow, MS, RD, LD, and a Kellogg Food & Society Policy Fellow from Elkhart, Iowa. The piece was originally published in conjunction with the Leopold Center’s 20th anniversary celebration, and forms the basis of her upcoming keynote presentation at the 2008 Iowa Farmers Union state convention, August 22 and 23 in Marshalltown. Watch this site for more convention information.
Have you thought about where food really comes from? Or how far food has traveled before it reaches your plate? [Read more →]

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 by an overwhelming vote of 318-106 on May 14. The Senate passed the bill today by a 81-15 vote. The farm bill conference report makes record investments in nutrition, conservation, renewable energy, rural development and specialty crop programs while at the same time maintaining a safety net for farmers. [Read more →]

A new study by the Union of Concerned Scientists shows that misguided federal farm policies encouraging the growth of confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) have shifted billions of dollars in environmental, health and economic costs to taxpayers and communities.

[Read more →]