Author: Lacey Benz

Walton Family Foundation & USDA-NRCS support agroforestry and wetlands restoration in Mississippi River Valley

Written by Lacey Benz on August 7, 2020. Posted in What We're Reading.

We’re excited to read about the partnership between the Walton Family Foundation and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to restore forests and wetlands in the Mississippi watershed. Over the last decade, this partnership has resulted in the restoration of more than 104,000 acres and the planting of more than 30 million trees in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Read more about this partnership here. We are embarking on an agroforestry and wetlands restoration project...

Our Public Benefit Report

Written by Lacey Benz on July 6, 2020. Posted in News & Media.

Iroquois Valley is proud to release its first public benefit report. We incorporated our company as a public benefit corporation in 2016 to build into our structure our intent to create public benefit. We intend to create public benefit by enabling healthy food production, restoring soil, and improving water quality through the establishment of secure and sustainable farmland tenure. Read our public benefit report here. This report builds on our history of impact reports, which measure...

Calling all transitioning & organic farmers: Share your experience in two surveys

Written by Lacey Benz on May 6, 2020. Posted in Events.

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) are collaborating with the Social and Economic Sciences Research Center (SESRC) to identify the research priorities of certified organic producers, as well as producers transitioning land to certified organic production. We are conducting two national surveys—one for certified organic producers and the other for producers transitioning to organic certification. If you are a certified organic farmer or rancher...

Iroquois Valley partners with the Organic Farming Research Foundation

Written by Lacey Benz on April 30, 2020. Posted in News & Media.

Iroquois Valley is proud to partner with the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) by supporting their research to learn more about the challenges and research priorities of organic farmers and ranchers, as well as farmers and ranchers transitioning land to certified organic production. The project includes two national surveys—one for certified organic producers, and the other for producers transitioning to organic certification. The project includes two national surveys—one for certified...

Flour Shortage? Amber Waves of Regional Grains to the Rescue

Written by Lacey Benz on April 23, 2020. Posted in What We're Reading.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been highly visible in the food system. Amy Halloran writes on the grain economy in her latest for Civil Eats, highlighting the role of small and regional mills in supplying flour during this crisis. The article includes a mention of Iroquois Valley-financed farmers, John & Halee Wepking, who farm at Meadowlark Organics. Key quote: “Outside of this industrial baking complex, there exists a world of farmer-cultivated grain systems that not...

Support Our Farmers by Shopping Online

Written by Lacey Benz on March 24, 2020. Posted in Events.

Coronavirus is growing in the United States and across the world, creating a collective experience of uncertainty and apprehension as well as increased appreciation for our local farmers. As we move through this together, we want to highlight our farmers that offer direct sales through online stores. We hope that during these difficult times you find comfort in good food. ORGANIC FLOURS, SPECIALTY GRAINS & BEANS Janie’s Mill – organic flours, grains, and beans grown and...

Celebrating B Corp Month

Written by Lacey Benz on March 9, 2020. Posted in Events.

March is B Corp Month, a time to celebrate the community of Certified B Corps and our collective impact. We became a B Corp in 2012 (and public benefit corporation in 2016) to demonstrate our commitment to triple bottom line impact. Our work is about helping organic and regenerative farmers succeed by providing innovative financial tools like long-term leases, mortgages, and, most recently, operating lines of credit. Our farmers create impact with their land and with their communities. Organic...

Pesticide Police, Overwhelmed By Dicamba Complaints, Ask EPA For Help

Written by Lacey Benz on February 6, 2020. Posted in What We're Reading.

NPR reports on dicamba drift overwhelming Midwestern pesticide testing labs. Dicamba is a Bayer Monsanto-manufactured herbicide that was approved for use by the EPA in 2016. Dicamba is sprayed on genetically engineered soybean plants that are resistant to the herbicide and survive, while surrounding weeds die. Since its implementation, dicamba has faced harsh criticism because of its propensity to drift. Pesticide drift has long been a danger to organic farmers. It’s one reason that...

Iroquois Valley awarded a 2019 Conservation Innovation Grant

Written by Lacey Benz on January 3, 2020. Posted in News & Media.

Iroquois Valley was awarded a $700,000 Conservation Innovation Grant from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS). Our project will focus on supporting our farmers beyond land tenure through operating capital and improving farm viability. The funding is provided through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, which is funding the future of agriculture and conservation through grants to organizations and universities that are developing the next generation of...

Holiday Gift Guide

Written by Lacey Benz on December 10, 2019. Posted in News & Media.

Iroquois Valley is pleased to release its first annual holiday gift guide, featuring products grown by our farmers. All products below can be purchased online. View the gift guide as a PDF here. Make sure to check our Instagram & Facebook pages for more gift ideas from our farmers available at select farmers markets. Organic Milled GrainsMeadowlark Organics – WisconsinVisit their online store here Organic Milled Grains & Gift Boxes Janie’s Mill – IllinoisView their...