Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Francis Thicke
Francis Thicke, an organic, grass-based dairy farmer near Fairfield, has formed an exploratory committee to consider a 2010 run for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.
Thicke, and his wife, Susan, process milk on their farm and market it locally through grocery stores and restaurants. The couple believes there could be a major economic impact in the state if more farmers would market locally. It could, according to Thicke, “create thousands of new jobs and help revitalize rural communities in Iowa, as well as provide Iowans with fresh, nutritious food.”
“Iowa’s investment in ethanol production has brought economic development to agriculture, and we need to protect that investment,” he said. “However, it is time to reassess, and consider how future investments in renewable energy can be better targeted to profit farmers and better protect our natural resource base.”
Thicke, who holds a doctorate degree in agronomy and soil fertility, served with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as national program leader for soil science. He primarily worked with the USDA Extension Service. He has also been a frequent speaker at conferences and workshops in Iowa and across the nation on topics ranging from local food systems and economic development to organic farming practices to sustainable farming.
He has also served on the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission and the Iowa Food Policy Council at the appointment of then Gov. Tom Vilsack, and on the Iowa Organic Standards Board at the appointment of then Gov. Terry Branstad. He currently serves on Iowa’s USDA Technical Committee.
If Thicke, a Democrat, decides to place his name on the 2010 ballot for Secretary of Agriculture, he could face incumbent Bill Northey, a Republican who farms near the Spirit Lake area. Northey has also been mentioned as a possible Republican challenger to Gov. Chet Culver.
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