The health of our soils, the quality of our waters, and the vitality of our rural communities are important topics today and will continue to be important for the future of Iowa. Farmers, landowners, and tenants are talking about what improvements and changes they can do in their farming practices. With women now owning nearly half the farmland in our state, it is clear that women need to be a part of that conversation. Their voices, their long-range outlook, and their leadership will help Iowa achieve our environmental and social goals.
To encourage women landowners to begin those conversations, the non-profit organization Women, Food, and Agriculture Network has developed a program just for them. Women Caring for the Land has presented programs in seven Midwest states. In peer-to-peer meetings, each person’s knowledge and expertise is valued. Women are able to ask questions in a comfortable atmosphere. Resources, such as NRCS programs, are presented for women to access locally. And, women are able to exchange ideas with other landowners in their area.
A recent meeting in Jefferson was attended by 10 local women landowners. Jean Eells, WCL program facilitator, led the morning’s discussion. The group focused on relationships they have with their tenants, family members, and others involved in their individual farms. Building on these relationships, looking at others’ viewpoints, and finding common visions for the future of their land were ideas expressed that could ease the conversation. Our farms and our farmers must be financially sustainable as well as environmentally sustainable. While much research is being done, there are no exact formulas. These concerns make the conversation more challenging.
Each Women Caring for the Land meeting includes a field trip to a local farm, a highlight of the day. By taking soil samples, participants are able to see how various conservation efforts affect the soil conditions. The Jefferson group visited a restored prairie at the Chris Henning farm. The soil of the prairie’s perennial cover demonstrated a higher ability to hold water than the soil from a nearby cornfield in an easy experiment. In the warm, autumn afternoon sunshine, the group laughed and learned about the value of our Iowa soil, water, and communities.
Women are invited to attend the next Women Caring for the Land meeting to be held near Coon Rapids on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 9 am at Whiterock Conservancy, 1436 Highway 141, Burr Oak Shelter. The meeting is free to attend. Lunch and a tour around Conservancy grounds will be included, and the meeting will conclude by 3 pm. Those interested should RSVP to Angie Carter at 515-337-3908 or angiecarter@augustana.edu.
