BLOG
Join us in Supporting the Healing Soils Foundation
November 19, 2024
Photo credit: Meadowlark Farm and Mill
Now more than ever, it is imperative to remember that our planet and our farmers need your support. To more directly meet the needs of organic and regenerative land stewards, Iroquois Valley’s charitable affiliate, the Healing Soils Foundation, provides grants…
Preserving 22,000 Acres of Critical Arizona Habitat in Partnership with Rancher Cindy Tolle
October 1, 2024
We are excited to announce our latest investment with longstanding Iroquois Valley rancher Cindy Tolle in Cochise County, Arizona, at Diamond E. Ranch. Cindy (a biologist and environmental chemist), her family, and her team, Steven and Angie Terrell, are land stewards with decades of ranching experience across …
2023 Public Benefit Report: Reflecting on a year of strategic planning, growth & conservation
September 3, 2024
As we transition into fall and begin to plan for the coming year, it is important to reflect on all that Iroquois Valley has accomplished thus far. Our team recently finalized our 2023 Public Benefit Report and is excited to share it with you. We will build on the success described in the report in the months a…
Iroquois Valley named to the IA 50 for the twelfth consecutive year
March 12, 2024
The 2024 edition of the IA 50 features private impact fund managers delivering social and environmental impact as well as financial returns.
In partnership with the ImpactAssets Press Release – NEW YORK – March 12th, 2024
ImpactAssets Unveils IA 50 2024, Showcasing 155 Impact Fund Managers Globally from Recor…
Iroquois Valley Welcomes Ingrid Dyott to the Board of Directors
January 29, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 29, 2024
Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT, PBC announced today that Ingrid Dyott will succeed Malaika Maphalala as Board Director.
Ms. Maphalala served on Iroquois Valley’s Board of Directors from October 2017 to December 2023. She is a Private Wealth Advisor and Partner at …
2023 Holiday Gift Guide
November 30, 2023
Iroquois Valley is excited to share our annual gift guide featuring products grown by the farmers we partner with. 2023 has been a year of gratitude and community, and we hope that you have been able to appreciate local organic food, flourishing landscapes, and meaningful relationships with your communities thr…
Diverse Leaders in Climate and Agriculture Summit
October 5, 2023
Croatan Institute’s REEFS Program is hosting its first collaborative effort for thought leaders, practitioners, advocates, and values-aligned capital partners – the Diverse Leaders in Climate and Agriculture Summit.
Join Iroquois Valley at the conference as we convene on November 17th & 18th to engage in…
Regenerative Food Systems Investment Forum: Realities of a Farmland Deal
September 21, 2023
Join us on an insightful journey into the world of organic and regenerative agriculture at the upcoming Regenerative Food Systems Investment Forum, September 26th-27th in Denver, CO. On Tuesday, the 26th, our CEO, Chris Zuehlsdorff, will be taking the stage at 11:55 AM MT alongside Cindy Tolle of Evergreen Ranching…
Central Grazing Co: Catalyzing land restoration by building an alternative lamb market
April 25, 2023
Jacqueline’s child, Liam, stands among the lambs at Central Grazing Co
Jacqueline Smith of Central Grazing Company is instigating food systems change in Northeastern Kansas and beyond. In 2023, Central Grazing will sell approximately 2,000 lambs. These lambs are sourced from Jacqueline’s farm as well a…
Financing a Land Back initiative for members of the Mohawk Nation
March 29, 2023
A rainbow shines over the Longhouse structure on the Berry Farm
Indigenous Stewardship at the Berry Farm in Schoharie County, New York
Deep in the Schoharie Valley of New York, a sixty-acre farm is the site of an ancient Mohawk village rich with cultural history. Members of the Mohawk Nation identified the la…
Iroquois Valley named to the IA 50 for the eleventh consecutive year
March 14, 2023
The 2023 edition of the IA 50 features a record number of private impact fund managers delivering social and environmental impact as well as financial returns.
In partnership with the ImpactAssets Press Release – BETHESDA, MARYLAND – March 14th, 2023
ImpactAssets’ Twelfth IA 50 Impact Fund List Showcases 163 …
Christopher Zuehlsdorff named CEO at Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT, PBC
March 8, 2023
Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT
Press Release
Iroquois Valley’s Board of Directors unanimously appointed Christopher Zuehlsdorff as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Company, following William “Bill” Stoddart’s departure from the organization, effective February 27, 2023. The Company and Mr. Stoddart parte…
2022 Holiday Gift Guide
November 30, 2022
Iroquois Valley is excited to share our annual gift guide featuring products grown by the farmers we partner with. 2022 has been a year of gratitude and community, and we hope that you have been able to appreciate local organic food, flourishing landscapes, and meaningful relationships with your communities thr…
Black Wind Farm: An investment in a veteran farmer’s journey to farmland ownership in New York
August 11, 2022
We are so proud to welcome Justin Butts to our portfolio. Justin is a first-generation, Navy veteran farmer with extensive and varied experience – he’s a farmer, a small business owner, and a chef. Hear Justin tell his story in this Sustainable Dish podcast episode.
Justin was the livestock manager at Soul …
Eli’s Ridge: Pasture & forest-raised livestock in the heart of North Carolina
August 11, 2022
Shawn and Jennifer Hatley are fourth-generation farmers in Stanly County who raise sheep, pigs, cows, ducks, and chickens with their sons, Blake and Eli. The Hatleys apply sustainable and regenerative farming principles and work within a perennial pasture and forest-based farming system (also known as silvopast…
Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT, PBC Announces Bill Stoddart as CEO and Christopher Zuehlsdorff as COO
July 28, 2022
Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT Press Release EVANSTON, IL, July 28, 2022.
Iroquois Valley is proud to announce the hiring of William “Bill” Stoddart as CEO, effective July 11th, 2022, and Christopher Zuehlsdorff as COO, effective July 25th, 2022. The Board of Directors undertook a six-month nationwide search to i…
Dr. George Washington Carver: More than a peanut man
June 16, 2022
George Washington Carver holding a piece of soil in a field, 1906. Library of Congress.
Celebrating Dr. George Washington Carver’s Impact on Sustainable Agriculture
Dr. Carver had a profound impact on sustainable farming practices in the South
Iroquois Valley was one of the first finance companies to suppo…
Earth Day 2022: Investing in Our Planet
April 22, 2022
Fresh basil from one of the newest farms in our portfolio, Sumac Creek Farm in Kankakee County, IL
Earth Day is here, and we are grateful that there is a day devoted to raising awareness about environmental issues and celebrating our planet. The official theme for Earth Day 2022 is “Invest in Our Planet”, and it…
Organic Farming Research Foundation publishes the 2022 National Organic Research Agenda
March 28, 2022
Iroquois Valley is proud to have partnered with the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) to support their work in publishing the 2022 National Organic Research Agenda (NORA). This report details organic research needs with the goal of informing future investments to support the success of organic farmers and …
Iroquois Valley named to the IA 50 for the tenth consecutive year
March 16, 2022
Iroquois Valley was named an Emeritus Manager by ImpactAssets in its annual ImpactAssets 50™ (IA 50). This year, ImpactAssets celebrates its eleventh year curating its widely recognized list of impact investment fund managers.
According to ImpactAssets, the IA 50 is the first publicly available database that…
Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT, PBC Welcomes Andy Ambriole as Interim CEO
December 20, 2021
Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT
Press Release
The Company and Tera Johnson, our former CEO, parted ways effective December 3, 2021. Ms. Johnson’s departure was amicable – she moved on to pursue other opportunities. Dr. Stephen Rivard, the Co-Chair of the Board of Directors, expressed appreciation for “all of Te…
2021 Holiday Gift Guide
December 3, 2021
Iroquois Valley is excited to share our annual gift guide featuring products grown by the farmers we partner with – 2021 has been an exceptional year, and we hope that you have been able to enjoy local and organic foods, diverse and thriving landscapes, and intentional relationships with your communities throu…
Iroquois Valley presented at the 2021 Regenerative Food Systems Investment Forum
October 8, 2021
The 2021 Regenerative Food Systems Investment (RFSI) Forum was held September 28-29 in Oakland, CA, and we were honored to have two of our staff members present at the conference. The RFSI Forum catalyzes conversation, advances education, and drives increased investment in regenerative agriculture and food, and…
Iroquois Valley joins Will County, IL farm alliance to improve soil health, water quality and local economies
August 20, 2021
Iroquois Valley signed on to a letter to the editor of the Chicago Tribune in opposition to a proposed airport project. The letter is shared below. The issue was taken up by reporter, Ted Slowik, in the Daily Southtown and Chicago Tribune. Read his response here.
Northeastern Illinois boasts some of the planet’…
Iroquois Valley recognized as 2021 Best for the World B Corp
August 18, 2021
Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT, PBC is proud to announce our recognition as a Best for the World B Corp: Governance for 2021.
This award honors Iroquois Valley for our exemplary governance and commitment to long-term stakeholder-minded business practices. Through the adoption of legal practices that und…
Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT, PBC Names Tera Johnson CEO
August 9, 2021
EVANSTON, IL – Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT, PBC announced today that Tera Johnson will succeed co-founder, David Miller, as Chief Executive Officer effective September 1, 2021.
David Miller, co-founder. Photo first appeared in Eating Well magazine.
Johnson is the founder of the Food Finance Institute (FFI)…
Financing organic farmers: opportunity intertwined with a challenge
July 20, 2021
We are pleased to announce Donna Holmes as our new VP, Investor Relations. She replaces Alex Mackay in this position as Alex has left Iroquois Valley to pursue other opportunities. Donna joins us with more than 15 years of experience in business development and investor relations. Her extensive educational backgrou…
Restoring the Agricultural Richness of Pembroke
June 26, 2021
Located one hour south of Chicago, the Pembroke Township in Illinois was once home to the largest Black farming community north of the Mason-Dixon line. Today, less than 50% of this land is owned by descendants of the farming families. Iroquois Valley, in partnership with Black Oaks Center, Savanna Institute, Conse…
5 Things We Must Do To Improve the U.S. Healthcare System
June 9, 2021
“Shifting to organic practices on a large scale has enormous potential to regenerate soils, ecosystems, rural economies, our food system, and so much more.”Dr. Stephen Rivard
Authority Magazine, a Medium publication, is devoted to sharing interviews to draw out stories that are both empowering and actionable.&nb…
A Conversation with Chicory Wealth
June 1, 2021
Chicory Wealth, one of the registered investment advisors in our financial advisor network, recently hosted Alex Mackay, our VP, Investor Relations, for a conversation about investment opportunities at Iroquois Valley. We would highly recommend the webinar to anyone interested in a comprehensive overview of what we…
“We’re part of the solution: #fornature”: Celebrating the International Day for Biodiversity
May 24, 2021
“Biodiversity—the variation of life on Earth—is essential to healthy ecosystems and serves as nature’s own system of checks and balances.”
Rodale Institute
On May 22nd, the U.N.-sponsored International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) was celebrated around the world. Events included visual art shows in the U….
The Promises & Perils of Regenerative Agriculture
May 10, 2021
One of the most common questions we get asked is whether we differentiate between regenerative agriculture and organic agriculture when financing our farms. Our standard response is that the term “regenerative agriculture” is still in development and does not have a definition that is agreed upon across the industr…
Worried about inflation? Invest in organic farmland
April 26, 2021
“Now is a very good time to invest in one of human civilization’s oldest and most reliable sources of wealth… farmland.”
Justin Anderson, Yahoo Finance
The rising fear of inflation is causing many investors to direct their money toward bonds or alternative asset classes instead of the stock market. Despit…
Featherstone Farm: COVID Stories
March 2, 2021
The coronavirus pandemic has put the food system in the spotlight in new ways. Our farmer partners at Featherstone Farm in Fillmore County, Minnesota share their experience navigating the pandemic as an …
Iroquois Valley named to the IA 50 for the ninth year in a row
February 25, 2021
Iroquois Valley was named an Emeritus Manager by ImpactAssets in its annual IA 50. This year, ImpactAssets celebrates its tenth year curating its widely recognized list of impact investment fund managers.
According to ImpactAssets, the IA 50 is an annual showcase of companies dedicated to making impact inve…
New Partnership Brings Tree-Range® Chicken to Americans’ Doorsteps
February 3, 2021
We recently financed the purchase of 75 acres in Rice County, MN for Reginaldo & Amy Haslett-Marroquin to establish their home farm at Salvatierra Farm. Iroquois Valley is pleased to be a key financial partner to the BIPOC farmers and others who are central to seeing Tree-Range® chicken supply chain come alive….
A partnership to support diverse, beginning farmers access more money
January 23, 2021
A project funded in fall 2020, led by Food Finance Institute (FFI), is on a mission to lower the risk of beginning farm investments to make them more attractive to funders. The project is funded through a $387,000, three-year Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Program grant from the U.S. Depar…
Animal welfare at Iroquois Valley partner farms
December 8, 2020
Heritage pigs grazing at Singing Pastures, one of our partner farms in Maine
We’re often asked why Iroquois Valley invests in operations that include livestock. Animal agriculture is an incredibly complex topic and it looks different across farms and across the food system.
We support farmers who raise anim…
2020 Holiday Gift Guide
December 1, 2020
Iroquois Valley is proud to share its annual gift guide featuring products grown by the farmers we partner with – 2020 has been unlike any other year and we hope it has deepened your connection to what nourishes you. This year’s gift guide is illustrated by Evanston-based artist, Hannah Bess Ross who sells…
Innovative financing to help restore soil health
November 10, 2020
Iroquois Valley’s Soil Restoration Notes are an innovative conservation financing tool that provides investors a return and enables farmers to invest in the land. These notes specifically target support for soil health and the organic transition. This work was partially funded by a Natural Resources Conservation Se…
From the field: Farming regeneratively at Singing Pastures Farm
October 20, 2020
This piece originally appeared in a newsletter and is shared with permission from the Arbuckles at Singing Pastures. Iroquois Valley provided mortgage financing to the Arbuckles to establish their operation in Maine.
Singing Pastures has deep roots in farming. It’s not just a job, it’s a commitment to food and t…
Rodale Institute invests $2 million into Iroquois Valley
October 19, 2020
Rodale Institute, the global leader of regenerative organic agriculture, is “putting its money where its mouth is” by investing 2 million dollars with Iroquois Valley Farmland Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), a farmland finance company that works with mission-driven investors to provide organic and regener…
A day at Rock Creek Farm
October 9, 2020
This week, the Rock Creek Farmhouse was designated a historic landmark and the Midwestern contingent of the Iroquois Valley team hosted a socially distant gathering to celebrate. The house is one of 57 historic landmarks in Will County, Illinois.
Last spring, Iroquois Valley planted 10,000 trees at Rock Cre…
Walton Family Foundation & USDA-NRCS support agroforestry and wetlands restoration in Mississippi River Valley
August 7, 2020
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 mo…
Our Public Benefit Report
July 6, 2020
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 qu…
Calling all transitioning & organic farmers: Share your experience in two surveys
May 6, 2020
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 co…
Iroquois Valley partners with the Organic Farming Research Foundation
April 30, 2020
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 includ…
Flour Shortage? Amber Waves of Regional Grains to the Rescue
April 23, 2020
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 …
Support Our Farmers by Shopping Online
March 24, 2020
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 d…
Celebrating B Corp Month
March 9, 2020
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…
Pesticide Police, Overwhelmed By Dicamba Complaints, Ask EPA For Help
February 6, 2020
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. Sinc…
Iroquois Valley awarded a 2019 Conservation Innovation Grant
January 3, 2020
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…
Holiday Gift Guide
December 10, 2019
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 farmer…
Organic farmers to harvest record acres in 2019
November 14, 2019
Organic agriculture is growing – in 2019, 8.3 million acres were planted and certified organic in the US. This equates to 18,155 organic farms and a 3% jump from 2018. Mercaris, a leading data provider for organic and non-gmo markets, recently released their Annual Acreage Report and Organic Farm Heat Map, whi…
Foundations Can Unlock a Food System to Feed the World
November 14, 2019
Iroquois Valley was featured in the Swift Foundation’s piece for Stanford Social Innovation Review’s Summer 2019 issue. Their article looks at a few organizations, including California FarmLink and RSF Social Finance, who are working to support regional food systems through finance. It also identifies a role for fo…
If We Want to Change Our Food System, We Need to Change Our Finance System
November 8, 2019
Heritage breed pigs at Yker Acres Farm in Carlton County, MN
While organic farming is growing, only 1% of all U.S. farmland is farmed organically. We’re looking to change that by providing secure, long-term land access for regenerative farmers.
Key quotes:
Our investment theory is that land security enab…
Is Organic Farming Risky?
October 25, 2019
The National Center for Appropriate Technology recently released a report evaluating risk in organic agriculture based on five years of research.
“I’m able to report that we found no strong evidence that organic farms are any riskier than non-organic ones, and at least some evidence to the contrary”, says Jeff S…
A Best for the World Company
September 4, 2019
Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT, PBC is recognized as a “Best For The World” B Corp for customers, governance and overall.
Iroquois Valley, a Certified B Corporation, has been named a Best For The World honoree in recognition of their significant positive impact in their innovative governance structures, supp…
Purpose-driven business
August 28, 2019
As a B Corp and Public Benefit Corporation, Iroquois Valley has long been committed to creating positive triple bottom line impacts. We’re grateful to be part of a community that recognizes business should consider all stakeholders, including people and planet.
We’re glad to see that these ideas have gone mains…
Soil Wealth
August 8, 2019
Croatan Institute recently released Soil Wealth, a comprehensive look at investing in regenerative agriculture across the US. Their term, soil wealth, relates to “the constellation of benefits associated with building both soil health and community wealth through regenerative agriculture.” The report offer…
Press Release: Iroquois Valley’s Direct Public Offering
July 25, 2019
Retail investors can now directly invest in organic farmland through Iroquois Valley’s Direct Public Offering (DPO). The DPO provides a long-term investment opportunity targeting market rate returns for the asset class while supporting healthy food production, environmental stewardship, and prosperity for independe…
Aeris Impact Management Assessment
July 1, 2019
We recently became one of the first companies to undergo an Impact Management Assessment by Aeris. This assessment evaluates a fund’s impact management capacity by focusing on impact management systems and processes as the strongest indicator of the fund’s ability to make investments in alignment with its stated im…
‘A major punch in the gut’: Midwest rains projected to create near-record dead zone in Gulf
June 20, 2019
It’s been a slow spring in the Midwest, marked by historically wet conditions that have caused floods and delayed planting throughout the region. These effects are being felt throughout the region and beyond: flooding in the Midwest is accelerating the flow of water from the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexic…
Farm Field Trip
June 11, 2019
During the last week of May, a handful of Iroquois Valley staff members visited a few of the farms and families that have been a part of our story since the beginning. The field trip was a great opportunity for our newer and more remote staff to have a hands-on orientation and see the transformation happening in th…
Restoring the Heartland
April 15, 2019
Iroquois Valley was featured in the Spring 2019 issue of the Stanford Social Innovation Review – read the piece here. “Restoring the Heartland” looks broadly at trends in agriculture and positions our work providing secure land tenure to transitioning and organic farmers as part of a larger shift toward regenerativ…
How impact investing helps meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
April 9, 2019
What are the UN Sustainable Development Goals?
In 2016, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emerged as a strategic framework that companies, organizations, and policymakers can apply to solve the world’s most pressing issues. Ranging from eliminating poverty to protecting the planet, the 17 sustainabl…
2018 SRI Conference: The 29th Annual Conference for Sustainable, Responsible & Impact Investing
November 1, 2018
Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT is excited to sponsor the 2018 SRI Conference in Colorado Springs! This marks the eighth consecutive year that Iroquois Valley will be attending and the fifth straight year as a sponsor of the event. SRI brings together the largest group of socially responsible investment advisors in th…
Civil Eats: Can an Investment Firm Help Increase U.S. Organic Farmland?
October 30, 2018
Iroquois Valley was featured in a Civil Eats article, “Can an Investment Firm Help Increase U.S. Organic Farmland?” for our work to help scale organic agriculture in America. The article features interviews with farmers we work with at Vilicus Farm, Creambrook Farm, and Richview Farms.
Some key takeaways from the a…
The Chicken and The Egg: Stop Linear Farming and Embrace Circular Agriculture
October 24, 2018
In a recent Forbes article, “The Chicken and The Egg: Stop Linear Farming and Embrace Circular Agriculture,” our partners at Main Street Project had their poultry-centered permaculture model featured in an interview with head agronomist, Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin. In it, he speaks about Main Street’s holistic appr…
Slow Money Gathering 2013
May 5, 2013
Iroquois Valley’s Director of Impact, John Steven Bianucci, spoke at the 2013 Slow Money Gathering in Boulder, CO. Watch his presentation:
Recent Posts
November 19, 2024
January 29, 2024
November 30, 2023
October 5, 2023
September 21, 2023
