This past March, Iowa IPL held Faith Farms & Climate meetings in Harlan, Red Oak, Earlham, and Atlantic. We gathered farmers of faith to discuss their connection to faith and how it calls them to agriculture, as well as to faithful climate action. We also heard from rural faith leaders about the unique joys and challenges of rural faith leadership and the role of rural faith leaders in responding to the climate crisis. All told, we heard from 75 faith leaders and farmers, and picked up on some common themes throughout the eight conversations.
- Climate action is a moral imperative
You might be able to guess that farming feels like an act of faith – planting a seed with the hope and prayer that it flourishes, that it survives flood, drought, and derecho. Farmers spoke of the joy of interacting with livestock and crops, knowing that they are feeding their communities, and connecting with the earth. Many are rooted in a belief that humans are here to steward the land well, and others are concerned for the futures of their children and grandchildren. Throughout these conversations, it became clear that responding to a call to climate action is a moral imperative for farmers of faith and faith leaders.
- Lack of rural infrastructure and government support
When asked about the obstacles of responding to a call to climate action, we heard time and again that the lack of rural infrastructure is a barrier. Rural Iowa used to be a place for local mills, poultry coops, canning facilities, and meat processing to thrive. Nowadays, rural infrastructure supports corn and soybean production above all else. Farmers looking to produce small grains, table food, and direct-market livestock products are left to their own devices.
In general, we heard that the support for farmers interested in going against the grain of industrial agriculture is flimsy. Subsidies and crop insurance offer corn and soybean production a leg up. Farmers that are working to make a shift from corn and soybean production to longer crop rotations, or from continuous cattle grazing to rotational, or working to incorporate cover crops, shared that these efforts are certainly a leap of faith.
- An uncertain generational transition
Many are concerned about land access and what the transition for the next generation might look like. Some farmers shared that they don’t have the resources they need to acquire land in order to expand their operation, while others shared that they will not have another generation to pass their land on to. Without the next generation of farmers, people shared the worry that out of state interests may take control of Iowa’s farmland.
- Concern for Iowa’s public health and food security
We hosted these conversations at the same time Iowa’s ranking as the #2 state in the nation for cancer rates was released. So many participants shared alarm at this reality, wondering if it is related to our high rates of pesticide use, poor air and water quality, or a limited access to nourishing food. Many participants also noted that 90% of Americans are not eating the government-recommended quantity of fruits and vegetables, that 340,000 Iowans are reportedly food insecure, and that 90% of Iowa’s food is imported from outside of the state.
- Building community across difference is difficult
Though we gathered to talk about climate change, the conversation quickly turned to community and the divisiveness that people are experiencing in rural Iowa these days. Many participants shared that where farm tasks used to be a communal effort, farmers nowadays tend to stick to themselves and their own equipment. Beyond that, it is difficult to come together across differences as we have entered a divisive political climate. When it comes to climate change, it is difficult to take actions that may not have immediate benefit, as many Iowans struggle to maintain their livelihoods and climate actions can sometimes feel out of reach.
So what next? Farm Bill and other policy changes, farmer-to-farmer learning, local food systems, learning to love our neighbors…We all play a role.
Given these themes, Iowa IPL is proud to be engaged in conversation and action around the Farm Bill – check out our Farm Bill platform here. The Farm Bill has incredible power to shape our agricultural reality, as well as food access in our state and country. We are proud members of the Iowa Farmer’s Union, which works to make policy changes that support Iowa farmers and thriving rural communities in our state. We are excited about the work of the Iowa Food System Coalition, a project working to build a bright food future, tackling issues of infrastructure, land access, and food insecurity. We are proud members of Practical Farmers of Iowa, a group that facilitates farmer-to-farmer learning and a culture of community growth and support. Iowa IPL will be sponsoring a PFI Field Day in Atlantic. During our Atlantic meeting, we were also excited to learn about Cass County’s Grow Another Row program, which calls on gardeners and farmers to plan a produce and fruit surplus for donation, addressing the reality that fresh fruits and vegetables are the most desired items at local food pantries.
This summer, we will be working with farmers and faith leaders in central and southwest Iowa to connect the dots between farming, faith, and climate action. In order to respond to the climate crisis, we need one another! Join us for our first Faith Farms and Climate event of the season at Bear Creek Friends Meeting House outside of Earlham on June 4th, 2023 at 6:00pm to watch the critically acclaimed PFI documentary Livestock on the Land and hear from local livestock graziers about the importance of livestock to our communities and ecosystem!
Be sure to check out our first few installations of our Faithful Farmer series to hear directly from farmers about how faith and climate action interconnect with agriculture. This month, we will hear from farmer Hannah Breckbill about their experience as a food farmer in Decorah, Iowa and how her Mennonite background informs her farming practices.