Iowa commodity growers are often demonized for what and how they grow, andย monocultures and ethanol arenโt exactly healthy for the planet. But all of the farming families I talked to expressed a deep respect for the land and the desire to take good care of it forย the next generation. If we want to understand how and why our agriculture system is the way it is, weโd be wise to approach all farmers with an open mind.
So, meet a few of Iowaโs farmers.ย Here are our edited and condensed conversations:
Brock Hansen
Farm stats: 2,300 acres of corn and soybeans in Baxter, Iowa
In what ways are the goals of the food movement consistent with the goals on this farm?
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I donโt see the consumer, to tell you the truth. Itโs a closed circuit for me. I take our grain straight to the ethanol plant. But you know, consumers are asking them for non-GMO bean meal to feed non-GMO pigs at the company we haul our beans to. Thereโs a growing demand for that. But you as a consumer, and me as a producer, our paths donโt usually cross.
When the consumer asks us what weโre doing, I tell them weโre trying to be better. I donโt think our story is told enough, but weโre trying. I blame some of that on the media โ no offense. Itโs easy to cover the bad things, not the good things. For instance, weโve been no-till for 25 or 30 years, which helps with erosion and creates better top soil; weโve introduced cover crops; we use GPS equipment to help minimize over-use of chemicals; weโve upgraded grain driers; we applied for an energy grant to make the drier more efficient, to use less natural gas; weโre looking at putting up a wind turbine. Weโre trying to be environmental, green โ whatever you call it.
Read full, original article:ย Think commodity corn farmers are evil? Meet a few of them
