[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16905]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    PRACTICAL FARMERS OF IOWA (PFI)

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LEONARD L. BOSWELL

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 26, 2000

  Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize a public-private 
partnership between Iowa State University and the organization 
Practical Farmers of Iowa. In April this partnership was awarded one of 
16 National Awards for Environmental Sustainability by Renew America. 
Since 1989, Renew America has been bringing national attention to 
constructive, community based programs through which average citizens 
are meeting the challenges of sustainable development.
  A private, nonprofit organization, Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) 
was begun in 1985 as a vehicle to share information from farmer to 
farmer about how to farm successfully using sustainable methods. The 
farmers and other agricultural professionals who originated the 
organization recognized that, while the university system was becoming 
active in researching alternative farming methods, there was also a 
wealth of indigenous knowledge among producers. PFI was formed to be a 
conduit and ``amplifier'' for that information.
  PFI initiated a network of on-farm research and farm field days in 
1987 using straightforward protocols that farmers can use to plan, 
implement, and analyze their own on-farm research. It was at this point 
that far-sighted leaders at Iowa State University saw the opportunity 
for collaboration with Practical Farmers of Iowa, and the leadership of 
PFI responded. Out of the partnership grew the statewide on-farm 
research program with an ISU Extension agronomist as coordinator.
  The on-farm research and dissemination effort has grown to include 
new kinds of research and new kinds of collaborators, both in the 
farming community and within the university. The PFI-ISU partnership is 
a ``lightning rod'' allowing the university to respond quickly to new 
issues, issues as diverse as animal-friendly swine production systems, 
alternative parasite control methods, local food systems and community-
supported agriculture (CSA). The partnership also provides the 
university with thoughtful and sometimes critical feedback concerning 
research and technology development
  The PFI-ISU partnership was among the first between a university and 
a sustainable agriculture organization, and it is among the more 
successful. It is a credit to the leadership on both sides, reflecting 
a science-based approach and cordial relationships. The project has 
drawn in scientists from many disciplines, providing skilled farmer-
collaborators and a support constituency for research into topics as 
diverse as integrated pest management, soil quality, intercropping, 
energy crops, prairie restoration, synthetic corn varieties, family 
allocation of labor, deep-bedded swine systems, specialty marketing, 
and the social impacts of sustainable agriculture. The membership of 
PFI brings a built-in ``conscience'' to the collaboration that keeps it 
focused on the issues relevant to sustaining the land, farm families, 
and communities. In the past decade as our understanding of sustainable 
agriculture has deepened and broadened, this partnership has provided a 
forum through which that process has advanced.

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