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Annual  Report  2012  Iowa  Heartland  Resource  Conservation  and  Development  (RC&D)  A  non-­‐profit  organization  serving  Dallas,  Jasper,  Madison,  Marion,  Polk  and  Warren  counties  since  1994.    

Mission:  “To  enhance  our  rural  areas  and  local  communities  by  facilitating  grassroots  efforts  and  partnerships  for  conservation  and  sustainable  development.”  

Farmers  Market  Promotion  Program  

Farmers  Markets   in   the   six   county   RC&D   area  were   provided   funding   for   advertising   and   signage.     Total   funds  distributed   were   $8,050.     Initially,   eight   market   managers   attended   a   meeting   to   learn   about   the   grant  requirements.    All  agreed  the  advertising  and  signage  funds  were  essential  for  their  markets.      Ten  markets  agreed  to  participate  and  to  create  a  promotion  plan  to  use  the  funds  with  their   local   farmers’  market  committees.    All  submitted  a  written  plan,  as  well  as  bids  they  received  from  local  vendors  for  the  signs  and/or  ads  they  ordered.  The  markets  did  not  have  the  funds  to  pay  for  these   items  upfront,  although  all  agreed  the  funds  would  help  to  increase   their   customer   base.     The   11th   market   was   able   to   use   funds   that   remained   after   the   other   Farmers  Markets  had  completed   their  advertising  or   signage  purchases.    This  project  was  made  possible   through  a  grant  awarded  to  the  Iowa  League  of  RC&Ds  through  the  USDA  Farmers  Market  Promotion  Program.  

Iowa  Heartland  RC&D  provided  assistance  to  the  following  Farmers  Markets:      

Polk  County  Drake  $802  East  Side  $802  Highland  Park  $802  Warren  County  Indianola  $802  Norwalk  $802  Madison  County  Madison  County  $802  

Jasper  County  Newton  $802  Marion  County  Knoxville  $802  Pella  $802  Dallas  County  Perry  $740.44  Lucas  County  Chariton  $91.56  

Iowa  Community  Cultural  Grant  

An   Iowa   Community   Cultural   Grant   enabled   Iowa   Heartland   RC&D   to   assist   farmers   markets   during   the   2012  season   providing   funds   to   sponsor   events.     The   project   was   designed   to   provide   entertainment   and   education  making  the  farmers  markets  even  more  of  a  community  event  and  attracting  additional  customers.  Total  project  funds  were  $5,973.93  with  individuals  and  groups  performing.    The  cultural  events  ranged  from  various  music  and  art   events   to   cooking   demonstrations.   Farmers   markets   participating   in   the   project   included;   Madison   County  market,  Newton,  Van  Meter,  Waukee,  Knoxville  and  Pella.  All  of  the  events  were  enjoyed  by  the  shoppers.  

Rural  Community  Development  Initiative  

These  USDA  Rural  Development  funds  were  provided  to  Iowa  Heartland  RC&D  to  strengthen  the  local  food  work  in  the  six  county  region.    The  main  work  products  are  to  develop  producer  contact  lists,  contact  businesses  that  might  use  local  produce,  coordinate  and  support  local  food  initiatives  in  the  region  and  develop  a  plan  of  work.  The  regional  local  food  work  continues  into  2013.    

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Buy  Fresh  Buy  Local  Campaign  

Iowa   Heartland   RC&D   continued   their   partnership   with   Drake   University’s  Agricultural  Law  Center  to  lead  the  Greater  Des  Moines  Buy  Fresh  Buy  Local  campaign.    The  2012  Greater  Des  Moines  Buy  Fresh  Buy  Local  Directory  with  descriptions  of  84  farm  members  who  grow  and  market   locally-­‐grown  food,  57   farmers   markets   in   central   Iowa,   and   28   businesses,   restaurants,   and  groceries  who  are  committed  to  the  value  of  local  food.      

In  addition  to  the  directory,  the  campaign  published  a  weekly  Buy  Fresh  Buy  Local   (BFBL)   newsletter   to   2,500   email   subscribers,   assisted   individual  farmers  and  businesses  with  marketing  and  promotion,  hosted  a   successful  

sold-­‐out  Harvest  Party  with   local   food  and   farmers,   and   reached  out   to  minority   and  beginning   farmers   to  help  build  their  capacity  for  success.    Grant  support  was  provided  by  the  Iowa  Department  of  Agriculture  and  the  Iowa  Department  of  Natural  Resources.    

Delivering  Specialty  Crops  to  Employers  through  Community  Supported  Agriculture  

Funding  was   received   from   the   Iowa  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Land  Stewardship   through   a  Specialty  Crop  Block  Grant   to   connect   larger   employers   in   the  Des  Moines  metro   area  with   Community   Supported  Agriculture  (CSA)  businesses.    CSA’s  are  a  form  of  direct  marketing  in  the  U.S.,  There  is  a  great  deal  of  variation  and  flexibility  in  how  CSAs  are  organized  and  run  but  the  most  common  features  are  an  established  share  price  for  the  members  and  a  set  number  of  weekly  deliveries  for  the  growing  year.    The  share  price  for  a  CSA  will  vary  depending  on  the  quantity   of   food   provided   each   week   and   the   number   of   weekly   deliveries   promised.     Most   CSAs   provide   for  around  20  weekly  deliveries  during  the  growing  season  with  share  prices  averaging  around  $500.    Most  CSAs  are  premised  on  the   idea  of  “community”  with  the  subscribers  being  considered  members  of   the   farm.    CSA’s  often  include  weekly  newsletters  and  recipes  with  the  deliveries  and  may  hold  regularly  scheduled  open  houses  on  the  

farm.    Some  CSAs  even  allow  members  to  work  a  certain  number  of  hours   during   the   year   as   part   of   their   share   price.     The   CSA  would  deliver  fresh  produce  from  the  farm  to  the  corporation  employees  at  an   agreed   upon   time   and   place.     Iowa   Heartland   RC&D   wrote   the  grant   in   partnership   with   Matt   Russell   and   Drake   University  Agricultural   Law   Center   to   act   as   the   facilitator/marketer   between  the  CSA  and  the  company/institutions.    CSAs  can  be  a  powerful  tool  to  put  more  fruits  and  vegetables  on  the  plates  of  employees.  

   Forest  Health  -­‐  Emerald  Ash  Borer  and  Gypsy  Moth  Detection    

In   partnership  with   the   Iowa   Department   of   Natural   Resources,   Iowa   Heartland   RC&D   hired   trained   experts   to  perform  visual  surveys  of  ash  trees  to  evaluate  tree  health  and   look  for   indicators  of  Emerald  Ash  Borers  (EAB).    EAB  adults   lay  their  eggs  in  ash  trees  and  the  larvae  feed  on  the  inner  bark  of  ash  trees.    This  disrupts  the  tree's  ability   to   transport  water   and  nutrients.     In   all   likelihood,   EAB   arrived   in   the  U.S.   on  wood  packing  material   via  cargo  ships  and/or  planes.    Since  the  time  they  were  found  in  the  United  States  in  about  2001  and  in  Iowa  in  2010,  EAB  have  killed  tens  of  millions  of  ash  trees  in  the  U.S.      

CSA  will  have  boxed  produce  for  the  share  holder  

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Iowa  Heartland  RC&D  also  hired  trained  foresters  to  cut  down  and  evaluate  “sentinel”  ash  trees  in  14  counties  that  had   been   planted   in   public   areas   and   stressed   specifically   to   attract   and   detect   EAB.     Foresters   then   planted  replacement  trees  to  continue  the  detection  process.      

       

                                         

 

 

 

 

A  second  invasive  species  of  concern  for  Iowa’s  forests  is  the  gypsy  moth.    Through  a  DNR  partnership,  gypsy  moth  traps  were  set,  collected  after  a  set  period  of  time  and  evaluated  for  the  presence  of  gypsy  moths.    Unfortunately,  the  numbers  of  gypsy  moths  in  Iowa  seems  to  be  steadily  increasing.    Gypsy  moths  damage  trees  and  shrubs  when  the  larvae  (caterpillar  sage)  eat  the  leaves.    They  can  defoliate  (remove  all  the  leaves)  an  entire  tree,  which  can  kill  the  tree.  

                       

 

Working  to  slow  the  spread  of  gypsy  moth  and  emerald  ash  borer  infestations  are  very  important  to  the  health  of  Iowa’s  trees  whether  they  are  in  your  yard  or  in  timber.      

Grazing  Prairie  and  Browsing  Oak  Savanna  

Improving  Species  Diversity  while  Maintaining  Cattle  and  Goat  Productivity  

This  was  the  fifth  and  final  year  for  the  research  project  to  increase  species  diversity  at  Chichaqua  Bottoms  Wildlife  Area,  a  7,000  acre  tract  owned  by  Polk  County  Conservation.      

Tunnels of emerald ash borer larvae under ash bark  

Jim Alderson retrieves a gypsy moth trap  

Gypsy moth larvae (caterpillar)  

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The  first  objective  is  to  increase  species  diversity  on  263-­‐acres  of  reconstructed  floodplain  prairie  at  Chichaqua  by  using   cattle   in   a   planned,   flexible   manner.     Drake   University   scientists   perform   surveys   before   and   after   each  grazing  season  to  evaluate  species  diversity  of  plants,  bird,  butterflies  and  moths,  small  mammals,  and  reptiles.  

The  second  objective  is  to  increase  species  diversity  on  30-­‐acres  of  swamp  white  oak  savanna  degraded  by  invasive  species  by  using  goats.    The  third  objective  is  to  demonstrate  that  cattle  and  goat  production  is  feasible  in  these  circumstances  as  measured  by  calf  weaning  weights  and  body  condition  scores  of  both  cattle  and  goats  at  the  end  of  the  grazing  and  browsing  seasons.  

     

 

Outreach  Meetings  

Iowa   Heartland   RC&D   worked   with   other   RC&D’s   to   offer   meetings   to   underserved   clients   explaining   the  opportunities  available  to  assist  their  business  through  NRCS  conservation  programs.    The  meetings  were  focused  on   local   food   producers,   those   transitioning   to   organic   agriculture   and   alternative   agriculture.   Speakers   went  through  programs,  policies  and  locations  to  receive  assistance.  Many  local  food  producers  were  interested  in  the  lunch  speaker  who  related  his  own  experiences  with  a  high  tunnel  and  how  he  received  EQIP  cost  share  through  USDA  Natural  Resources  Conservation  Service  for  a  portion  of  the  purchase  price.        

Watershed  Assessment  Tools    

Iowa   Heartland   offers   two   watershed   assessment   tools   for   use   by   local   citizens   and   groups   in   evaluating   local  streams  and  adjacent  land  use.    The  first,  a  Trimble  GIS  (geographic  systems  information)  is  used  on  a  creek  walk  to  enter  data  about  stream  bank  quality,  water  clarity,  streambed  quality,  speed,  canopy  cover,  adjacent  land  uses,  tile  lines,  and  other  information.  

The  second  tool   is  a  Panasonic  tablet  computer  used  to  enter  data  about   land  use,  open  feedlots,  highly  eroded  areas,  gully  erosion,  filter  strips,  urban  uses,  and  other  important  data  useful  to  understanding  water  quality  in  the  watershed.    

These  tools  are  loaned  at  no  charge  (with  a  security  deposit)  in  Dallas,  Jasper,  Madison,  Marion,  Polk,  and  Warren  counties  through  the  local  Soil  and  Water  Conservation  Districts.  

Norm McCoy brings the goats closer for field day participants to observe.  

A project field day, participants observe improvements at the Carney farm pastures.  

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Grant  Writing  and  Business  Development  Assistance  Iowa  Heartland  RC&D  staff  has  grant  writing  experience  and  worked  with  developing  businesses  and  projects  the  past  year.    Grants  were  submitted  to  the  Sustainable  Agriculture  Research  and  Education  program,  the  Watershed  Improvement  Review  Board,  the  Specialty  Crop  Block  Grant  program,  the  Food  and  Farm  Plan  program  at  the  Leopold  Center  and  to  the  EPA  Environmental  Education  grant  program  plus  a  few  private  foundations.  Iowa  Heartland  RC&D  staff  is  also  experienced  and  available  to  work  with  counties  and  cities,  as  requested,  on  new  business  opportunities,  expansions  and/or  partnerships.    

Changes/Challenges/Opportunities    Iowa  Heartland  RC&D  was  first  organized  under  the  RC&D  program  authorized  by  the  U.S.  Food  and  Agriculture  Act  to  assist  rural  communities  in  defining  and  fulfilling  economic  and  natural  resource  goals.    Our  charter  with  the  U.S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  Natural  Resource  Conservation  Service  (USDA/NRCS)  called  for  a  governing  Council  composed  of  representatives  from  six  counties  in  central  Iowa  (Jasper,  Polk,  Dallas,  Madison,  Warren  and  Marion.  Iowa  Heartland  RC&D  became  an  

independent    non-­‐profit  organization  with  IRS  501©3  status  in  1993.  The  NRCS  provided  a  full-­‐time  coordinator  who  helped  guide  the  organization  and  worked  as  a  liaison  with  the  cooperating  counties  to  identify  needed  projects  and  develop  funding,  Linda  Appelgate  was  the  NRCS  Coordinator.  The  U.S.  Congress  voted  to  withdraw  USDA  support  in  Spring  2011  and  this  required  Iowa  Heartland  RC&D  to  change  offices  and  staff.  Pictured  above,  Shirley  Stout  Frederiksen  is  now  the  Executive  Director  and  the  office  is  located  in  Warren  County  at  301  North  Buxton,  Suite  202  in  Indianola,  Iowa  50125.    Iowa  Heartland  RC&D  has  been  fortunate  to  maintain  many  of  the  dedicated  board  members  and  President  Gay  Lea  Wilson.  Iowa  Heartland  RC&D  also  had  a  successful  independent  audit  of  the  financial  records  for  the  year  ending  in  2011.        Iowa  Heartland  RC&D  provides  technical,  funding  and  administrative  coordination  to  a  variety  of  conservation  and  development  areas  including:  

• Watershed  development,  management  and  coordination  • Forestry  and  value  added  forest  products  • Resource  and  habitat  restoration  and  inventories  • Sustainable  community  development    • Local  food  systems  planning  and  local  food  business  assistance  • Wildlands  fire  management  • Land  or  water  trail  development    

Ryan Gerlich, Soil Conservationist, uses a Trimble GIS unit to enter information about water depth, clarity, streambank quality, and adjacent land use.  

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Iowa  Heartland  RC&D’s  technical  staff  usually  designs  and  completes  on-­‐the-­‐ground  projects;  navigates  the  agency  requirements  for  permitting;  facilitates  partnerships  of  stakeholders  to  set  priorities  and  identify  solutions;  manages  subcontracts;  and  writes  competitive  grants  or  otherwise  arranges  for  and  administers  funding.    Sustaining  Our  Future  Iowa  Heartland  RC&D  is  working  toward  a  more  sustainable  future  with  less  reliance  on  government  grant  sources  and  more  involvement  from  the  private  sector.    In  order  to  accomplish  this,  the  RC&D  established  a  charitable  account  within  the  Community  Foundation  of  Greater  Des  Moines.  So  you  can  now  donate  to  Iowa  Heartland  RC&D  through  the  following  link  https://www.desmoinesfoundation.org/give-now.aspx?id=d1de3368-3c24-48fb-a7b1-001b7cb2fd64 Funds donated will be used to support projects in natural resources, historic preservation and sustainable community development.    

 Iowa  Heartland  Resource  Conservation  and  Development  Board  Members    

Warren  County       Polk  County       Marion  County  Doug  Shull       Gay  Lea  Wilson                                  Craig  Agan  Don  Van  Ryswyk    Madison  County     Jasper  County       Dallas  County  Keith  Sparks       Denny  Carpenter     Mark  Hanson  Bob  Duff       Dave  Crow       John  Schultz