Tag: organic farming

Financing organic farmers: opportunity intertwined with a challenge

Written by Lacey Benz on July 20, 2021. Posted in What We're Reading.

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 background in law and taxation and her enthusiasm for organic farming make her an invaluable addition to Iroquois Valley. Outside of work, Donna enjoys gardening in her downtown Chicago apartment...

Restoring the Agricultural Richness of Pembroke

Written by Lacey Benz on June 26, 2021. Posted in News & Media.

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, Conservation Fund, Food Finance Institute, and Fresh Taste, was awarded a Conservation Collaboration Grant in 2020 to support this farming community with the financial and technical resources...

5 Things We Must Do To Improve the U.S. Healthcare System

Written by Lacey Benz on June 9, 2021. Posted in What We're Reading.

“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. As a part of Authority Magazine’s interview series called “5 Things We Must Do To Improve the U.S. Healthcare System”, Luke Kervin, Co-Founder of PatientPop, had the pleasure...

“We’re part of the solution: #fornature”: Celebrating the International Day for Biodiversity

Written by Lacey Benz on May 24, 2021. Posted in Events.

“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.S., biodiversity presentations in Portugal, and gardening workshops in South Africa. The IDB reminds us that biodiversity is the solution to several sustainable development challenges,...

From the field: Farming regeneratively at Singing Pastures Farm

Written by Lacey Benz on October 20, 2020. Posted in What We're Reading.

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 the global community we serve. We want to do the most good possible. We’ve decided that “sustainable” isn’t good enough. We want to be regenerative. In...

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...

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...

‘A major punch in the gut’: Midwest rains projected to create near-record dead zone in Gulf

Written by Lacey Benz on June 20, 2019. Posted in What We're Reading.

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 Mexico. The Washington Post recently reported on the connection between Midwestern agriculture and ocean health – and it’s not pretty. It’s critical that the farms in the Mississippi...