In the final episode of our limited series podcast, our host Ron Kroese moderates a discussion on the 1980s farm crisis.

This is a continuation of the roundtable discussion from the last two episodes. Each individual played an important role in the work of National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and its predecessor efforts.

During the first week, we focused on the formation, development, and accomplishments of NSAC over the past three decades, through 5 farm bills and 27 appropriation bills. Last week, we focused on successes, challenges, and took a deeper look at the organization. This week, participants also share stories about those who made an impact on sustainable agriculture policy along the way.

Discussion participants and their positions and locations at the time of the interview include:

• Fred Kirschenmann: affiliated with the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, and also the Stone Barn Center for Food and Agriculture in New York. Lives in Ames, Iowa.
• Ann Robinson: Midwest regional office director for the National Center for Appropriate Technology. Located in Des Moines, Iowa.
• Michael Sligh: with the Rural Advancement Foundation International in Pittsboro, North Carolina.
• Chuck Hassebrook: Formerly with the Center for Rural Affairs in Nebraska.
• Mary Fund: with the Kansas Rural Center and also a certified organic farmer.
• Ferd Hoefner: policy director for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition in Washington, D.C.
• Margaret Krome: policy director for the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in East Troy, Wisconsin.
• Frances Thicke: farmer from southeast Iowa. Owns and operates an organic dairy farm, processes milk on the farm and markets it all locally.
• Amy Little: policy director for the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group.
• Duane Sand: on the staff of Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Des Moines, Iowa.
• Teresa Opheim: with Practical Farmers of Iowa. Located in Ames, Iowa.
• Duane Havorka: executive director of the Nebraska Wildlife Federation. Lives near Elmwood, Nebraska.

The roundtable was conducted on Aug. 2, 2015.

Link this episode:

National Sustainable Agriculture Oral History Archive (video link)

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This week, we focus on successes, challenges, and take a deeper look at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC). This is the second of three episodes of a roundtable discussion moderated by host Ron Kroese.

Next week, we’ll talk about the 1980s farm crisis and share stories about those who made an impact on sustainable agriculture policy along the way. Last week, we focused on the formation, development, and accomplishments of NSAC over the past three decades, through 5 farm bills and 27 appropriation bills.

Each individual played an important role in the work of NSAC and its predecessor efforts. Discussion participants and their positions and locations at the time of the interview include:

• Fred Kirschenmann: affiliated with the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, and also the Stone Barn Center for Food and Agriculture in New York. Lives in Ames, Iowa.
• Ann Robinson: Midwest regional office director for the National Center for Appropriate Technology. Located in Des Moines, Iowa.
• Michael Sligh: with the Rural Advancement Foundation International in Pittsboro, North Carolina.
• Chuck Hassebrook: Formerly with the Center for Rural Affairs in Nebraska.
• Mary Fund: with the Kansas Rural Center and also a certified organic farmer.
• Ferd Hoefner: policy director for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition in Washington, D.C.
• Margaret Krome: policy director for the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in East Troy, Wisconsin.
• Frances Thicke: farmer from southeast Iowa. Owns and operates an organic dairy farm, processes milk on the farm and markets it all locally.
• Amy Little: policy director for the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group.
• Duane Sand: on the staff of Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Des Moines, Iowa.
• Teresa Opheim: with Practical Farmers of Iowa. Located in Ames, Iowa.
• Duane Havorka: executive director of the Nebraska Wildlife Federation. Lives near Elmwood, Nebraska.

The roundtable was conducted on Aug. 2, 2015.

Link this episode:

National Sustainable Agriculture Oral History Archive (video link)

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Liked this show? SUBSCRIBE to this podcast on Spotify, Audible, Apple, Google, and more. Catch past episodes, a transcript, and show notes at cfra.org/SustainbleAgPodcast.

In the final three episodes of our limited series podcast, our host Ron Kroese moderates a discussion. Each individual played an important role in the work of National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and its predecessor efforts.

This week, we focus on the formation, development, and accomplishments of NSAC over the past three decades, through 5 farm bills and 27 appropriation bills. Next week, we’ll focus on successes, challenges, and take a deeper look at the organization. In the final week, we’ll talk about the 1980s farm crisis and share stories about those who made an impact on sustainable agriculture policy along the way.

Discussion participants and their positions and locations at the time of the interview include:

• Fred Kirschenmann: affiliated with the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, and also the Stone Barn Center for Food and Agriculture in New York. Lives in Ames, Iowa.
• Ann Robinson: Midwest regional office director for the National Center for Appropriate Technology. Located in Des Moines, Iowa.
• Michael Sligh: with the Rural Advancement Foundation International in Pittsboro, North Carolina.
• Chuck Hassebrook: Formerly with the Center for Rural Affairs in Nebraska.
• Mary Fund: with the Kansas Rural Center and also a certified organic farmer.
• Ferd Hoefner: policy director for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition in Washington, D.C.
• Margaret Krome: policy director for the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in East Troy, Wisconsin.
• Frances Thicke: farmer from southeast Iowa. Owns and operates an organic dairy farm, processes milk on the farm and markets it all locally.
• Amy Little: policy director for the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group.
• Duane Sand: on the staff of Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Des Moines, Iowa.
• Teresa Opheim: with Practical Farmers of Iowa. Located in Ames, Iowa.
• Duane Havorka: executive director of the Nebraska Wildlife Federation. Lives near Elmwood, Nebraska.

The roundtable was conducted on Aug. 2, 2015.

Links this episode:

National Sustainable Agriculture Oral History Archive (video link)

“A Time to Choose: Summary Report on the Structure of Agriculture”

"Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming"

“The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture” by Wendell Berry

“Who Will Sit Up With the Corporate Sow?”

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Joyce E. Ford and Jim Riddle have worked tirelessly on organic agriculture policy in the state of Minnesota, nationally, and internationally.

This week, Ron Kroese talks with the long-time organic farmers and sustainable farming advocates from Winona, Minnesota, who share their numerous accomplishments, stories of colleagues they’ve worked with throughout the years, how they got started in the organic field, and what’s next for organics.

For more than 30 years, Jim has been an organic farmer, gardener, inspector, educator, policy analyst, author, and avid organic eater. Joyce started her career as an organic vegetable farmer in the 1970s.

The couple helped organize the Winona Farmers Market, where Jim was a founding chair of the Winona Farmers Market Association.

Joyce and Jim also helped start the International Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA). In that capacity, they co-authored the IOIA inspector curriculum manuals, and co-developed IOIA’s inspector training program and projects such as organic system plans and record keeping templates for organic certification. Joyce has trained organic inspectors for the IOIA and was the first inspector to monitor pipeline construction on organic farms, enforcing Minnesota Agricultural Impact Mitigation Plan’s Organic Appendix. She served as IOIA’s Ethics Committee chair for many years.

Jim served as chair of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Organic Advisory Task Force and was instrumental in passage of Minnesota’s landmark organic certification cost-share program, which now is a farm bill program that provides 75% reimbursement for organic certification costs nationwide.

In addition, Jim worked for the University of Minnesota as Organic Outreach Coordinator and as Organic Research Grants Coordinator for Ceres Trust. He served on the Leadership Team for eOrganic, the national Extension Community of Practice for organic agriculture and on the Citizens Board of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. He was the steering committee chair for the Organic Farmers Association when it was newly formed in 2016.

Jim is former chair of the USDA National Organic Standards Board and a leading voice for organic agriculture.

Joyce co-authored the Organic Trade Association Good Organic Retailing Practices (GORP), and the certification chapter in Organic Dairy Farming published by the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES). Joyce served on the MOSES board of directors for 6 years. More recently, she served 3 years on the Steering Committee to develop a Healthy Food Charter for Minnesota and volunteered to assist Winona County in developing a county Food Charter, a policy action plan to help get healthy foods accessible.

Joyce has worked for the International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS) and has served on its Accreditation Committee that administers accreditation for organic certification and other sustainable labels.

In 2013, Joyce and Jim were awarded EcoFarm’s Stewards of Sustainable Agriculture. They currently operate Blue Fruit Farm, a certified organic perennial fruit farm, where they grow blueberries, black currants, elderberries, aronia berries, honeyberries, and more.

The interview was conducted on Feb. 14, 2018.

Additional links this episode:

National Sustainable Agriculture Oral History Archive (video link)

Organic Farmers Association

International Organic Inspectors Association

Winona Farmers Market

Bob Bergland’s vision and leadership led to the government’s first initiative in organic and sustainable agriculture.

This week, our host Ron talks with Bob about his several decades of public service, with the interview focusing primarily on four studies. This was recorded in 2017, one year before Bob passed away.

Robert (Bob) Bergland was born on July 22, 1928, on a farm near Roseau, Minnesota. He lived in the community until he passed away in December 2018 at the age of 90.

In 1963, he went to work for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, first at the state level in Minnesota, and later in Washington, D.C.

In 1970, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving three terms from 1971 to 1977 as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. In Congress, he served on the House Committee on Agriculture's subcommittees for Conservation and Credit, and Livestock, Grains, Dairy, and Poultry.

In 1977, shortly after beginning a fourth term in the House, he was appointed Secretary of Agriculture by President Jimmy Carter and served in that role from Jan. 23, 1977, to Jan. 20, 1981. During his tenure, he commissioned a major report examining the structure of American agriculture, "A Time to Choose," and the first USDA study on organic farming, "Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming."

At the end of President Carter's administration, he was named vice president and general manager of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

After retiring in 1994, he was elected by the Minnesota State Legislature to a term on the University of Minnesota Board of Regents.

The interview was conducted on March 7, 2017.

Links this episode:

National Sustainable Agriculture Oral History Archive (video link)

“A Time to Choose: Summary Report on the Structure of Agriculture”

"Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming"

“The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture” by Wendell Berry

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Elizabeth Henderson was raised by people concerned with peace and justice, which shaped her life path.

This week, Elizabeth sits down with our host, Ron, and talks about community-supported agriculture (CSAs), organic ag, and food justice.

She is a long-time activist for local and national policies and programs to advance socially and economically just sustainable agriculture—both in the US and abroad. She may be most known for helping shape the landmark organic food policy act of 1990, but tells us about much more.

Elizabeth farmed at Peacework Farm in Wayne County, New York, producing organically grown vegetables for the fresh market for more than 30 years.

She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY), co-chairs the Policy Committee, and represents the NOFA Interstate Council on the Board of the Agricultural Justice Project.

For 20 years, from 1993 to 2013, she chaired the Agricultural Development Board in Wayne County and took an active role in creating the Farming and Farmland Protection Plan for the county.

In 2001, the organic industry honored her with one of the first “Spirit of Organic” awards, in 2007, Abundance Co-op honored her with the “Cooperating for Communities” award, and in 2009, NOFA-NY honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award and then a Golden Carrot in 2013. In 2014, Eco-Farm presented her with their Advocate of Social Justice Award, the “Justie.”

Her writings on organic agriculture appear in The Natural Farmer and other publications, she is the lead author of Sharing the Harvest: A Citizen’s Guide to Community Supported Agriculture (Chelsea Green, 2007), with a Spanish language e-book edition in 2017, and co-authored Whole Farm Planning: Ecological Imperatives, Personal Values and Economics with farmer Karl North (2004).

She also wrote A Food Book for a Sustainable Harvest for the members of Peacework Organic Community Supported Agriculture (aka GVOCSA) in its 29th year in 2017.

The interview was conducted on Dec. 14, 2017.

Links this episode:

National Sustainable Agriculture Oral History Archive (video link)

“Sharing the Harvest: A Citizen’s Guide to Community Supported Agriculture”

“Whole Farm Planning: Ecological Imperatives, Personal Values and Economics”

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Mark Winne is a renowned lifelong advocate for policies to advance equitable and sustainable food systems in the U.S. and throughout the planet.

On this week’s episode, Mark speaks with host Ron Kroese about food policy councils, farmers markets, food banks, farm to school, youth nutrition, and farmland preservation.

Mark grew up in the Garden State, watching gardens disappear, and became sensitive to food production and commercial ag production. He carried that forward, along with a desire to “do something about hunger.”

From 1979 to 2003, Mark Winne was the executive director of the Hartford Food System, a Connecticut nonprofit food organization. Under his direction, the organization started one of the first farmers markets in the country. They also studied food security and food in relation to agriculture.

He is the co-founder of the Community Food Security Coalition where he also worked as the Food Policy Council Program Director from 2005 to 2012.

He was a Kellogg Foundation Food and Society Fellow, a Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Visiting Scholar, and a member of the U.S. Delegation to the 2000 Rome Conference on Food Security.

As a writer on food issues, Mark's work has appeared in the Washington Post, The Nation, Sierra, Orion, and Yes!, to name a few.

Mark is the author of Food Town, USA (Island Press, 2019), Stand Together or Starve Alone (Praeger Press 2018), Closing the Food Gap (Beacon Press 2008), and Food Rebels, Guerilla Gardeners, and Smart Cookin’ Mamas (Beacon Press, 2010).

Through his own firm, Mark Winne Associates, Mark speaks, trains, and writes on topics related to community food systems, food policy, and food security.

He also serves as Senior Advisor to the Center for a Livable Future at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health.

The interview was conducted on Feb. 21, 2017.

Links this episode:

“Doing Food Policy Councils Right: A Guide to Development and Action”

Mark’s website

National Sustainable Agriculture Oral History Archive (video link)

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Bob Scowcroft’s story continues this week, and he is joined by Mark Lipson as well as host Ron Kroese.

Mark begins the conversation at the end of 1987, when Bob joined California Certified Organic Farmers as executive director. About 18 months into Bob’s tenure, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit the Santa Cruz area (right at the same time Mark set up a new computer and inserted a floppy disk), forcing the organization to relocate offices.

Then, both Mark and Bob were thrust into the state and national spotlight as two organic bills made their way through legislature in California and in Washington. They talk about teaming up with partners across the country on landmark legislation, and becoming spokespeople with the media on all things organic.

Bob chats about starting the Organic Farming Research Foundation, which Mark joins later, and what that meant to the organic industry.

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About Bob: He has successfully transitioned from a "retirement" state of mind into a more active composition of consultant, volunteer, and advocacy oriented activities. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Nell Newman Foundation and sits on 4 nonprofit advisory boards.

He previously served as executive director of the Organic Farming Research Foundation, based in Santa Cruz, California. It was co-founded by Bob and two certified organic farmers in 1990. In the nearly 20 years Bob directed OFRF, it awarded $2.4+ million in support of 320+ organic research and education projects. The results of which were shared with 15,000+ organic farmers and ranchers.

During Bob's tenure, OFRF had an active policy, research, and publishing program, and it disseminated information on all sectors of the organic product industry. Bob averaged 200 media interviews and over 15 conference presentations on organic annually.

He sat on 5 non-governmental organizations advisory boards. He resigned and retired from OFRF in 2010.

Prior to working for OFRF, he was the first full-time executive director of California Certified Organic Farmers (1987-1992); before that he served in the Friends of the Earth's San Francisco office as their national organizer with a primary focus on pesticide reduction and organic farming advocacy (1979-1985).

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About Mark: Mark is a 30-year pioneer and influential leader in the organic farming and food community in California and nationally. In 2016, he received the "Champion of Sustainable Agriculture Award" from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

He served a 4-year term as the Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Policy Advisor in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, from 2010 to 2014. At the U.S. Department of Agriculture, he led the department-wide Organic Working Group and co-led the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Task Force.

Since 1983, he has been a member in Molino Creek Farm, a cooperative multi-family organic farming community near Davenport, California, and the original home of the famed, dry-farmed tomatoes.

Mark currently serves as Director of Policy and Regulatory Engagement at the Heartland Health Research Alliance. He is a staff affiliate for Organic Agriculture Policy at the University of California at Santa Cruz, affiliated with the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems.

The interview was conducted on Dec. 15, 2016.

Liked this show? SUBSCRIBE to this podcast on Spotify, Audible, Apple, Google, and more. Catch past episodes, a transcript, and the video at http://www.cfra.org/SustainableAgPodcast and https://misa.umn.edu/publications/national-sustainable-agriculture-oral-history-archive