News

Diversifying the Corn Belt

Three years of research and hundreds of farmer surveys have led to a new policy brief aiming to diversify the Corn Belt. 

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) says in the I-states (Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa), 94% of crop production is currently dedicated to corn and soybeans.  Lauren Asprooth, food systems scientist with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and co-lead of Diversifying the Corn Belt: Policy Pathways for a Resilient Agricultural Future, says many farmers want that to change.

“Diversification is a really hot topic right now, and for good reason.”  She says, “Row crop farmers are just at a crossroads. Something needs to change with the way that input prices, commodity prices are, markets are changing.”

Brennan Radulski, postdoctoral researcher with the University of Vermont and other co-lead, tells Brownfield the project identifies 19 opportunities where federal and state governments can better support diversification.

“Tweaks and adaptations to crop insurance policies, changes to conservation incentives, help enable some of these diversified markets, help establish infrastructure, as well as institutional procurement of local diversified food products,” she says.

Asprooth says the project developed both short-term and long-term feasible policy solutions.

“What we’re suggesting is really that we need more policy that is reflecting the needs of diversified farmers and the abilities for farmers to diversify their systems,” she says.

Both researchers say policy opportunities can help remove structural and institutional barriers and further investment in diversified opportunities for farmers.

A free public webinar hosted Tuesday, April 14^th, by CAST and Diverse Corn Belt will dive further into the policy brief.

AUDIO: Laruen Asprooth & Brenna Radulski