What is the Center doing now to increase opportunities for Iowa livestock producers?
A more recent activity has been the formation of the Pork Niche Market Working Group. This group is led by Practical Farmers of Iowa and is part of the Value Chain Partnerships project coordinated by the Leopold Center. It brings together producers, industry representatives, extension staff, researchers and others interested in expanding the opportunities in alternative pork production systems. The Leopold Center also is funding projects targeted for dairy, grass-finished beef and goats. Following a special call for proposals in 2006, we are supporting three new projects that offer promise for grass-based dairy systems in Iowa. They are designed to increase the number of Iowa producers using these systems to meet the growing demand for milk production. In 2008, we will launch an interdisciplinary team whose primary task will be to build and expand grass-based beef systems in Iowa. Other Leopold Center competitive grants underway will develop a grassland products calculator, help small
