The 15th annual Iowa Organic Conference was held Nov. 22-23 at the University of Iowa (UI), Iowa City, as a joint effort between Iowa State University and the UI Office of Sustainability. The 327 participants, from five states, shared tips for transitioning into organic production and methods to enhance organic operations.

With worldwide interest in monarch butterflies and pollinators this year, the conference theme was “Celebrating the Biodiversity of Organic Farming: People, Animals, Pollinators and Plants” to highlight how organic practices are critical for preserving pollinator habitat and reducing impacts from pesticides.

“We were extremely pleased with the attendance and participation,” said Kathleen Delate, ISU organic specialist. “There was excellent interaction between speakers, attendees and the 53 exhibitors at this year’s conference. Everyone came away with new ideas and enthusiasm.” Delate organizes the conference each year with a 13-member committee consisting of producers, consumers, and university and agency representatives.

A Local Foods Expo kicked off the conference on Sunday, bringing together producers and buyers of local and organic products, including Lucky’s Market, Whole Foods Market, and Hoq restaurant in Des Moines. The Expo was sponsored by the ISU Extension and Outreach Local Foods Team, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development.

Sunday’s keynote speaker was Sarah Waring, with the Center for an Agricultural Economy, who inspired attendees with an account of the vibrant local foods system in Vermont, which is similar to Iowa in number of farmers.

Monday’s lunch was a gourmet meal highlighting local and organic produce, meats, and dairy products, prepared by award-winning UI Executive Chef Barry Greenberg and his team.   Monday’s keynote speakers were Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens, who grow and market over 10 varieties of organic grains in New York. They shared images of their diverse farm and emphasized how maintaining longer crop rotations with small grains and forage crops was key to the long-term sustainability of their farm.

In the “Improving Iowa’s Water Quality” session, Bill Stowe, with the Des Moines Water Works, discussed how fertilizer runoff and leaching into Des Moines area water supplies impact his clients. Cindy Cambardella, soil scientist at the USDA National Lab for Ag and the Environment, presented research data from an LCSA-funded project with Delate, showing a 50 percent reduction of nitrate loads under organic vs. conventional fields. Organic practices, such as longer crop rotations and slow-release manure-based fertilization, can help reduce nitrates entering Iowa water bodies.   New this year were farmer–mentor roundtables, with organic farmers and organic certification experts meeting one-on-one. The roundtables were sponsored by Blue River Organic Seed and organic farmer Roger Lansink, Odebolt, Iowa. Next year’s conference will be Nov. 12-13 in Iowa City.

by Kathleen Delate, published in the Leopold Letter Winter 2015, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture