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Unified voice for organic agriculture praised Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Agri News staff writer
AMES, Iowa -- The need for a unified voice to represent Iowa's organic industry became apparent to Joe Ward in February 2005 with the introduction and swift passage of legislation that prohibited local governments from regulating agricultural seed.
"Many of you including myself were not happy with that legislation," said Ward, of Wholesale Feeds in Marion and president of the Iowa Organic Association. "Many of you came together to give testimony at legislative committee meetings, but we were not able to represent a unified message and we were overrun by other interests including corporate interests."
Later, legislators friendly to the organic industry suggested that an umbrella organization be created to represent organic agriculture in Iowa.
In March a steering committee was formed to look at forming an organic association. In July, the Iowa Organic Association was formed. The group held its inaugural meeting at last week's Iowa Organic Conference in Ames.
"Organic agriculture is farming, livestock, horticulture, vegetables and research," Ward said. "At the end of the day, someone has to buy what we produce so the consumer is also important."
The group's mission is to advance organic opportunities by fostering education, research, promotion and market development and policy. Ward said the core activities of the association will center on these four areas and no one group of stakeholders will be given more priority than the other.
Iowa has always been in the forefront of leadership and advancements in agriculture, Ward said.
"The time has come to provide this leadership again so that Iowa's organic agriculture can grow and prosper," Ward said. "Organic is one of the best solutions for maintaining a family-farm system of agriculture in our state."
He thanked Organic Valley for providing start-up funds for the organization.
Membership is $50 per year.
Other board officers are Roger Lansink, Lansink Organic Farms, Odebolt, vice president; Dana Haugli, Prairie Wind Farms, Ellsworth, secretary; and Ron Rosmann, Rosmann Family Farms, Harlan, treasurer. Board members are Virginia Moser, Moser's Wildwood Garden, Garrison; Diane Gibb-Lahodny, Campbell's Nutrition, Des Moines; Steven Williams, Naturally Iowa Farm, Villisca; Tim Daley, Stonebridge, L.T.D., Cedar Falls; Kent Boyum, Maharishi, Vedic City; and Ken Roseboro, Non-GMO Report, Fairfield. The board is still looking for another consumer member. Advisors are Kathleen Delate, Iowa State University; Margaret Smith, ISU Extension, and Susan Futrell, consultant, Iowa City. Jerry Rosmann, Harlan, is interim executive director. |
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