Guest blog post by Rachel Norby

Rachel Norby, who will intern this summer with Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, spent Spring Break learning about agriculture in Costa Rica. Get a glimpse of the people she met and the places she visited as you read a daily account of her journey.  Watch for more travel tales to post on Monday!

Friday, March 9, 2012

I’m spending Spring Break in Costa Rica through the Iowa State University College of Ag and Life Sciences’ Study Abroad program, “Soils, Crops and Water of Costa Rica.”  We left Ames, Iowa, yesterday at 4 a.m.  Eighteen hours later, after layovers and connecting flights, we arrived in San José.  Thankfully, Costa Rica is located in the Central Time zone.

Today we traveled northwest to the town of Grecia where we toured Argentina Sugar Cane Farm, which is one of the last remaining sugarcane plantations in the area.  Due to urban sprawl in the Central Valley, demand for land is on the rise.  The price of the farmland on this plantation was around $180,000 an acre!

The farm’s agronomist said their sugar cane plantings last about five years.  Before the fifth harvest, the field is burnt to rejuvenate the fields and to help get rid the field’s of the extra biomass for easier harvest.  During the season, one cutting of sugarcane is harvested.  The average yield is 87 metric tons per hectare, and out of that, only 10% is pure sugar after milling.  This labor-intensive work is done mainly by immigrant labor from neighboring Nicaragua.  Workers receive about $30/day, which is one of the highest farm laborer wages in the country.  Sugar cane workers are paid more due to the dangers of the job; every worker carries a machete for cutting and works in intense heat.

That evening, we traveled into the San José city center area where we experienced the culture and also enjoyed some authentic cuisine.

Saturday, March 10

Today we traveled to CoopeDota coffee cooperative.  Upon our arrival, we were treated to our choice of complimentary beverages:  black coffee, cappuccino, or an iced coffee made from a member of the squash family that resembles spaghetti squash.

This was a nice treat after traveling a couple of hours through the mountains!  After sampling their products, we could understand why CoopeDota boasts that it is one of the best in the country.  Ninety percent of its products are exported to North America and Germany.

This coffee cooperative strives to be carbon neutral, meaning no emissions of carbon dioxide during coffee processing.  They have decreased their use of firewood by 95% by using the pulp from the coffee cherry to run their roasters and heaters.

The coffee is brought to the cooperative by farmers under contract.  During our tour, a farmer brought in a small bucket full of coffee berries.  That was definitely in contrast to the semi-loads we see pulling into local co-ops in Iowa!

The coffee is sorted into two different milling areas.  The best crops, which are the completely red berries, are taken to the microlote.  Here the berries are dried outside on a patio for 5 to 7 days; the berries are turned by hand every hour using a type of rake.

Coffee that does not meet the CoopeDota’s high quality standards is put in a pit where it is then washed and sorted by size.  The cherries are taken to fermentation pools and the honey, or pulp layer, then comes off; the remaining beans covered in a parchment layer go into spinners where hot air dries them down to 11-12% moisture.  During this drying process, the final layer over the bean (parchment) is removed.  Then it’s time for packaging and vacuum sealing.

We also learned how the manager of the plant grades the coffee by aroma and taste.  Even though I’m not a connoisseur, I’ll now have a greater appreciation for my cup of morning coffee!

Sunday, March 11

This morning we toured the University of Costa Rica (Universidad de Costa Rica).  The university’s main campus, Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio, is located in the province of San José.  Our host for the trip, Dr. Enrique Villalobos, is a professor emeritus here.

There are approximately 30,000 students enrolled in different campuses throughout the country; about 2,000 of these students study agriculture.  The University of Costa Rica is also the most important research university in Central America, so it’s no wonder it has a strong connection with Iowa State University.  Many Costa Rican students have received master’s and doctorate degrees from ISU.   Dr. Villalobos received his master’s degree from ISU in the early 1980s.

After leaving the campus, we visited a local farmers market in the city of Zapote.  This was an interesting way for us to experience the culture and also to see the variety of crops grown in the area.  Everything from fresh fish and coconuts to baked goods was for sale.

We then traveled to Tapezco to visit an organic farm in the steep highland area.  The farmer at this farm produces potatoes, cabbage, onions and leaks all just five acres.  By selling his organic produce at local famers’ markets and to his neighbors, he said he makes $60,000 profit per year.

Musings of a Pig Farmer
by Larry Sailer

Are you smarter than a fifth grader?  I recently found out that I’m not as smart as a class of first graders in Ackley, Iowa.  I didn’t know the answers to some of their questions, and I have been farming for close to 50 years!

Of course, farming has changed quite a bit since I was in first grade.  It’s definitely become more scientific, and biotechnology now plays an important role.  These first graders learned about embryology and topics that I didn’t even existed when I was a kid.  Through week-long Ag in the Classroom activities, they also learned about dairy, pork, beef, sheep, corn and soybean production.  They learn about water quality, food production and ethanol, as well.

It was fun seeing how eager these kids were to learn about agriculture.  Plain and simple, these kids had fun learning.  Hands-on activities help them understand how agricultural products are turned into the food we eat and the clothes we wear.  Each student was given a baggie of wool and a Kool-Aid packet with directions on how to dye the wool and turn it into yarn.  Can you imagine the conversations this will help initiate at home?  I have had sheep on my farm and never knew how yarn was made!

North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom is a 501(c) that provides a variety of educational services at no cost to area schools in these six counties: Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Hancock, Kossuth, Winnebago and Worth Counties. Brenda Adams, Linda Anderegg and Leah Reinert do a fantastic job of working with schools and delivering programs that fit a school’s benchmarks and standards.

Services offered by North Central AITC include:

• Ag Education Week – one full week providing educational opportunities for several grade levels. Each day will be dedicated to a new and exciting farm-related activity and lesson appropriate for each age.
• Teacher Resources – materials and resources for teachers wishing to present agriculture lessons on their own. In most cases the resources are provided free of charge.
• Farm Tours – organized farm tours for teachers upon request.
• PizzaThon – a curriculum developed by Iowa State University and Iowa State University Extension. Students in middle school Talented and Gifted classes work on a variety of projects throughout the winter months and come together in the spring to compete with teams from other schools.

It’s great that these kids, who mostly live in town and have very little first-hand knowledge of farming, can learn to enjoy what I live every day.  This type of program exists across America with the help and support of many business sponsors such as Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds and Farm Bureau.  If you’d like to get involved, contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information.

Nestled in the midst of 21 acres of secluded woodland and 59 acres of grassland in scenic northeast Iowa – just 30 minutes from Volga Lake, Backbone State Park and Brush Creek Park – you’ll find J&J Hideaway.

This fully modern, two-story cabin had been a dream for years of John and Jacquelyn Fedeler of Arlington, Iowa.  Six years ago John’s brother Mark helped him complete the quaint 1,080-square-foot cabin.  Now the Fedelers rent out their cabin, so others may enjoy nature in a comfortable, non-commercial way.  Their cabin has all of the modern conveniences including a whirlpool tub and satellite TV.

J&J Hideaway has become a favorite get-away for men and women alike.  Groups of women have retreated to the cabin for weekend of scrapbooking and quilting.  Groups of men enjoy staying there during deer hunting, wild turkey and pheasant seasons.  Even John Michael Montgomery spent three days in the cabin in during late muzzleloader season in December 2009.  Photos of the famed country singer with Fedeler family members hang on the walls of their cabin.

“Once people stay in our cabin, chances are they’ll come back again,” says John.  “There’s a group of guys from Michigan who will be making their fourth hunting trip this fall.  There’s another group of bow hunters who return each season.  Often times these guys will then make a second trip with their wives, who enjoy the peaceful setting.”

The Hideaway is conveniently located just five miles from trout streams that are stocked by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The woodlands also make the perfect backdrop for reading books any time of the day or grilling and dining on the patio.  Plus, there is a fire pit where guests can make s’mores or sit around a fire at night.

The Fedelers have forged a trail through the woods, and they especially enjoy walking through the woods during springtime when they can find antlers shed by deer.  Their biggest find during “shed hunting” is half a rack from a 175-class buck.  There’s a state preserve next to their land, so there is plenty of natural cover for wildlife to thrive.  Bald Eagles also nest nearby, so they enjoy watching pairs return each season.

With a love for the land and of the great outdoors, John feels fortunate that he had an opportunity to start farming 32 years ago with his father.  Click here to learn more about the Fedeler family and their farming operation.

 Introduction

If you want to talk about keys to revitalizing rural America, you need look no further than Sioux County, Iowa. Matt Schuiteman is a third-generation farmer who was born and raised in Sioux County, and serves as a strong advocate for growers with frequent trips to the capital. He also serves as a member of the 2012 Ag-Urban Initiative class, dedicated to connecting ag and urban populations for positive outcomes.

Secrets to Sioux County’s Success
by Matt Schuiteman,
livestock and row crop farmer, Sioux County, Iowa 

A Des Moines Register article in a three-part feature on Sioux County recently said, “If manure smells like money – and in February 2012 the commodity markets say it does – than Sioux County is the wealthiest place in the state.” In a tumultuous economy, the county I’ve spent my life in has indeed managed to not only remain status quo, but grow our population at a rate that is 63 percent higher than the rest of the state.

There are many reasons – and people – who have positively affected that growth, but at the core is our activity and support in the agriculture industry.

Agriculture is King

Livestock farming is northwest Iowa’s #1 asset. Our livestock enterprises are built on consistent, annual production from fertile soils, and have required us to import corn for more than 30 years. Our community members have a strong understanding of what it means to add value to agricultural products; they understand that for every $1 our gross revenue from livestock earns, it turns over 7 times in our local community ($1 of dairy made into ice cream turns over 10 times!). Our integrated, diversified agriculture fuels the economy, and is why we were listed one of Progressive Farmer Magazine’s top 10 agriculture counties in the U.S.

Local Ownership

Sioux County encourages local ownership of the county’s infrastructure and resources; that’s what keeps dollars circulating on Main Street. This spirit has allowed many farmers to continue or begin farming who otherwise may not have had the opportunity. Local ownership is encouraged; all four banks in Sioux Center are locally owned, and have funded numerous entrepreneurial enterprises using local investments. In the past five years alone, Sioux County has added The Ridge Golf Course and Residential Development – 400 acres for an 18-hole golf course and residential lots, a new Orange City Area Health System hospital, a Sioux Center Community Hospital, Rock Valley, Sioux Center, Trinity Christian and MOC/FV schools have all added capacity, and a local dairy farmer built a cheese production plant in Hull. The spirit to support targeted risk with local dollars is proving successful, and has provided a strong foundation for continued growth in our community.

I also believe, at the heart of it, Iowans are Iowans. We work hard, we believe in supporting our neighbors, we have innovative ideas and the experience to bring ideas to fruition. Sioux County isn’t a vacuum, each Iowa county has its own strengths, and with the right dedication and support from community members, has the potential to grow in challenging times.

Musings of a Pig Farmer
by Larry Sailer

During last week’s Ag Day celebration, many Iowans were touting ag facts like our great state ranks first in the production of corn and soybeans.  It’s a lesser known fact, however, that Iowa is a leading producer of wind energy.

Seventy-five percent of Iowa is suitable for wind energy production.  However, average annual wind speeds and the amount of energy potential vary greatly across the state.  The same wind turbine at a high wind site will produce over three times the amount of electricity as a low wind site, according to the Iowa Wind Energy Center.  Even differences of a fraction of a mile per hour in wind speed can make a significant difference in the economic viability of a turbine.

As someone who lives in the middle of the Whispering Willow Wind Farm – East, I know the turbines here run 90 percent of the time. It’s amazing!  Each of the 121 windmills within this farm has the ability to produce 1.65 mega watts of electricity, collectively producing enough energy to power 50,000 homes. The capacity to power even more homes will soon grow as Alliant Energy plans to put up 50 more turbines here this year.

These turbines look impressive from the road, but they’re especially imposing when you stand next to them.  From the videos and photographs that I’ve posted online, you can get an idea of their scale and the scope of this project.

To provide even more examples of scale and scope, here are few “fun facts” that I’ve learned about windmills:

• The total height of the windmill with a blade straight up is 397 feet, which is 92 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty!
• Each windmill weighs 481,456 pounds – almost 241 tons! That’s about two times the size of the largest living creature, Blue Whales, which average 100 to 150 tons.
• There are 50 truckloads of concrete, or 450 cubic yards, in each base.  Plus 35 tons of steel bars reinforce each base.
• When the blades are turning at 14.4 turns per minute (which is actually pretty slow), the tips of the blades are moving at 138 miles per hour!
• There are 57.2 miles of trenches with 187 miles of wire that transfer the power from Whispering Willows’ windmills to the substation.

Not only do windmills stand tall in Iowa, but they stand to make a large impact on the total amount of energy – renewable energy – that can be produced as demands increase.  As I wrote in last week’s blog, we need to provide energy choices.  Power must be generated in many different ways to have enough to meet our growing energy needs.

Just like we need many different ways to raise enough food for everyone in the world, we also need many ways to generate enough energy.  I wish all the best to Alliant Energy as it develops its next phase of windmills in North Central Iowa.  I also encourage more of America’s farmers to look into the viability of installing wind turbines on their farms.

Today marks Ag Day, a day to celebrate our industry and the hard-working individuals in the field and on the farm who provide us with nutrition, fuel, clothing and energy.

When agriculture unites, it’s amazing the challenges that can be overcome. One of the greatest challenges of our time will be meeting the needs of a growing world. Experts say that by 2050 those in production agriculture will need to produce 40% more from existing acres to feed the forecasted population.

This challenge is coming to the forefront during discussions surrounding a new Farm Bill. A farm bill proposal, including a $23 million reduction package over 10 years, was submitted by Agriculture Committee leaders last November. The bill took an unusual route through the Capital, forgoing the normal process of hearings, negotiations and amendments. The reauthorization of the farm bill will expire this September, and the usual process of field hearings and the opportunity for input should resume.

The importance of guiding smart choices regarding the farm bill is at an all-time high, and requires the ag community unite once again to lead discussion at the Capital. In a recent SeedWorld article, John Latham, president of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, spoke about the reasons why he will head to Capital Hill this June to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other seed executives across the nation at ASTA’s 129^th Annual Convention and Legislative Conference.

“Right now, times are good and the prices are high, and farmers are doing well,” he said. “My fear is a cutback as well as a pullback of prices could really leave people in bad shape,” he says. “There has to be some sort of safety net for when times are tough. The food supply is critical, not only for the United States, but for the whole world, and the United States leads that. We need to have some sort of safety net, and I hope that comes through in this farm bill.”

In this same article, Leslie Cahill of the American Seed Trade Association says, “There’s never been a more critical time in our history as far as agriculture is concerned. We really need to lock arms and stand together because, if we don’t, there could be a lot of harm and uncertainty ahead for us.”

Cahill recommends that farmers and industry professionals contact members of Congress and work with other agricultural association groups because the farm bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation to pass through Congress.  She says, “As we look to bolster the economy, feed a growing population and help maintain national security… we have to have some very honest discussions on exactly what agriculture brings to the table — and that’s quite a bit.”

Please feel free to contact us if we can help you reach out and guide conversations on the Farm Bill.

To those of you involved in and supporting agriculture – thank you for all you do each day to help feed and fuel our world!

Musings of a Pig Farmer by Larry Sailer

Three years ago, I was farming in the middle of the biggest construction zone I have ever seen.

Construction of Whispering Willow Wind Farm-East began in December 2008, and the wind farm became operational in December 2009.  This turned into a yearlong quagmire of muddy roads, muddy trucks and even muddy mailboxes!

All day, every day, the gravel road in front of my house was heavily traveled by gravel trucks, cement trucks and support equipment.   All this heavy truck traffic literally tore the road apart every day, and every night they would rebuild it.  They tried using various kinds of rock to make the road last. They even tried extremely large rocks; some were the size of footballs!  One week I had six flat tires from the very sharp rocks about the size of grapefruit.  Because the road conditions are hard to describe, I’ve added some video and photographs for your enjoyment.  (At least I enjoyed looking through them!)

Now you might be thinking I’m not a very big fan of windmills by this point, but that’s not true at all. I’m actually a fan of this renewable energy source.  For example, Whispering Willow Wind Farm-East produces enough energy to power 50,000 homes.  How can I be against that?

I consider energy to be similar to farming.  Just like we need all types of farming operations to produce enough food for the growing world population, we also need energy choices and a mix of all kinds of power.  We need wind farms, as well as generating plants run by natural gas, coal and nuclear.  America also has dams that create a huge amount of hydro power and solar panels.  Some of these options are better than others, but the point is we need a mix.  We cannot throw all of our eggs in one basket.  (Yes, that farm pun intended!)

Although I wouldn’t want to have all of that construction in front of my house again, I do see the value of this wind farm and am glad it was built here.  I use power and know it must be generated in many different ways to have enough to meet our growing energy needs.  Just like we need many different ways to raise enough food for everyone in the world, we also need many ways to generate enough energy.  Choices are important!