THE IOWA DISH

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Not to be overly sappy, but there is something awe-inspiring about this time of year, when Iowa farmers take to the fields to plant the first seeds of spring.

If you’re a parent who knows all too well how kids seem to grow out of their clothes overnight, you understand the importance of choosing foods that pack the most nutrition to help kids grow their minds and bodies.

We’re all getting used to wearing face masks while out of the house and trying our best to social distance, because we want to keep our families and communities safe during the pandemic.

Iowa farmers are making steady progress in planting more cover crops, reducing tillage, testing soil and adopting other practices that improve water quality and reduce soil loss.

Learn how Iowa farmers are working together and adopting innovative farming practices to achieve Iowa’s water quality goals.

While grocery shopping, you likely have noticed a few “antibiotic-free” or “raised without antibiotics” labels on poultry or meat in the grocery store.

From the Incredible Egg, www.incredibleegg.org

Recently, I was intrigued to learn about the 2020 winners of the Beazley Designs of the Year, considered the Oscars of the design world.

If you’re driving along Iowa’s highways and have a question or maybe a concern about something you see on a farm while you are out and about, now you can reach out to an expert.

A low, soggy patch in one of Ritch Berkland’s fields will soon be transformed into a shallow wetland growing a wide diversity of native grasses.

As a mom of a 2-year-old and a newborn, I recognize the importance diet plays in my children’s development.

With meat alternatives and other substitutes readily available at the grocery store, it can be confusing to determine what is healthy and what may be less so. Meat, however, is a healthy part of a balanced diet.

Iowa livestock farmers work day and night to make sure cattle and other farm animals are comfortable and well taken care of during the winter months.

From the Iowa Beef Industry Council

If there’s anything I’ve gained in 2020, it’s a greater appreciation for everyone – from farmers to food handlers to grocery store employees

As a mom, Kellie Blair says she understands why consumers today are more focused on sustainability and how their food choices impact our climate and the environment.

The holiday dinner table will likely look a lot different this season because of the pandemic.

A strong majority of Iowa grocery shoppers see real meat and dairy as healthy food options and say they would increase their consumption of animal proteins to strengthen their immune systems, according to the latest Iowa Farm Bureau Food and Farm Index®.

Milk is nature's original sports drink, providing the protein and vitamins your body needs. And thanks to advanced animal care and nutrition, cows are producing milk more efficiently than ever before!

U.S. cattle farmers continue to make progress in improving sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change.

From the National Turkey Federation (www.eatturkey.org)

I recently read a joke online about how when the temperatures dip below 70 degrees for the first time in the fall, then Iowans rush home to cook homemade chili.

We’re all cooking more at home this fall, and you can find some great money-saving deals at the meat counter right now to make your favorite comfort food dishes for cozy family meals.

It doesn’t get much better than stopping for a barbecue pork sandwich and a cold brew on a crisp fall day, while you’re on a drive to see the fall colors or to a football game.

Mark Jackson of Mahaska County was an early adopter of conservation practices to protect soil and water on his farm.

In uncertain times, America's farmers are persevering in growing the food, fuel, and fiber we need, and these former Hawkeyes want to share their appreciation.

A healthy diet — including fruits and vegetables, dairy and protein-rich meat and poultry — plays a vital role in helping our immune system work like it should, protecting our bodies from viruses and other germs that can make us sick, explains Rochelle Gilman, a registered dietitian with the Iowa Beef Industry Council.

From Rochelle Gilman, registered dietitian, Iowa Beef Industry Council

If there’s one thing I learned over these past historic months, it’s that we need to support the local businesses that we missed so much when they shut down.

Iowa growers and farmers markets are committed to providing safe, nutritious foods.

We’re all focused on staying healthy these days. Experts say a nutritious diet – including fruits and vegetables, dairy and protein-rich meat and poultry - plays a vital role in helping our immune system work like it should, protecting our bodies from viruses and other germs that can make us sick.

A recently released progress report on the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS) shows that Iowa farmers’ initiative and hard work has produced significant gains in water quality in the seven years since the strategy was adopted.

Iowa's farmers have reduced phosphorus loss by 22%. Now they're using the same approach (involving innovation and collaboration) for the state's nitrate goals.

Research has shown that organic foods are just as safe and nutritious as conventionally grown foods

From the Iowa Beef Industry Council (www.iabeef.org)

Cows burp (and fart) methane gas. But U.S. cow herds contribute very little to global warming, and cutting beef would only reduce global GHG emissions by 0.36%.

Like many of you, I’m planning to spend more time at home this summer. One of the unexpected benefits is that I’m getting to know my neighbors and community better.

We all are more focused on our health right now so we can continue to care for our families, neighbors and communities.

A new wetland on Denny Lyle’s farm is expected to both solve an ongoing agronomic problem and produce long-term water quality benefits for decades to come. That’s exactly what the Keokuk County farmer was aiming for.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has resulted in an increase in food insecure Iowans across the state.

In uncertain times, America's farmers are persevering in growing the food, fuel, and fiber we need, and these former Hawkeyes want to share their appreciation.

To make your grocery shopping trip as efficient as possible, take some time to plan ahead, says Ruth Litchfield, professor of food science and human nutrition at Iowa State University.

From the Iowa Pork Producers Association

No question, our lives and routines have changed within the span of a few weeks, and perhaps nowhere is this more evident than how we choose to fill our grocery carts, fridges and pantries.

No question, our lives and routines have changed within the span of a few weeks, and perhaps nowhere is this more evident than how we choose to fill our grocery carts, fridges and pantries.

When we choose to buy real meat and poultry for our dinner table, we trust that farmers are doing whatever they can to ensure food safety and provide the best possible care for farm animals.

Maybe you’ve seen or heard about wellness centers that offer food sensitivity tests, which claim to diagnosis if your body is intolerant to certain foods, such as dairy or gluten.

Iowa's farmers have reduced phosphorus loss by 22%. Now they're using the same approach (involving innovation and collaboration) for the state's nitrate goals.

If it seems like more people – your son, your granddaughter, the neighbor kid down the block – have a food allergy, it isn’t your imagination.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray 12, 4-oz. ramekins (or use a muffin tin*) with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

USDA testing ensures that meat and poultry are free of antibiotic residue, and farmers cannot use medically important antibiotics to "fatten" livestock.

Now that football season is over, I’m always fascinated to discover what professional athletes do in the off-season

Iowa farmers, working with government agencies, ag retailers, Iowa State University (ISU) and others, have over time made significant strides in reducing the amount of phosphorus leaving fields and entering the state’s surface water.

Access to food developed through genetic modification is an urgent humanitarian issue, and those who oppose GMOs are guilty of crimes against humanity.

Livestock can convert inedible plant waste like corn stalk residue and soy hulls into protein-rich food for humans like meat and dairy through upcycling.

Maybe you’ve read or heard that 70% to 80% of the antibiotics sold in our country are given to farm animals. It’s a percentage that is often repeated by the media and by activist groups.

From Rochelle Gilman, registered dietitian, Iowa Beef Industry Council

A few days ago, I was chatting with a friend about our holiday plans. She told me that for Thanksgiving, everyone in her family was asked to bring a favorite holiday dish to share.

If you have considered cutting back on meat in your diet because of health concerns, now there’s good news for those of us who enjoy nutritious, protein-rich meat.

You can find it in gummy candies, bottled water, cosmetics and even beer. Many Iowa farmers are interested in growing it.

When we look back at the most impactful events of 2019, we can’t forget the historic, widespread flooding along the Missouri River in western Iowa and Nebraska this spring.

Did you know that updating Iowa's 100-year-old drainage system helps reduce fertilizer usage and allows crops to better absorb nutrients? When that water is channeled through new conservation structures, it leads to improved water quality for everyone.

Research doesn’t support claims that eliminating dairy, gluten, sugar or other foods can benefit a child’s behavior, says Dr. Ruth MacDonald, chair of the department of food science and human nutrition at Iowa State University.

From the Iowa Beef Industry Council (www.iabeef.org)

One of my daughter’s favorite books to read before bedtime is titled “The Happy Book and Other Feelings.” There’s a character in the book named Wet Hen, who wears a shower cap and bath towel, and she’s always angry about being soaking wet.

Get ready for a food safety pop quiz: Let’s say you’re planning to make chicken for dinner tonight.

One of the biggest challenges for busy parents is trying to encourage kids to choose healthy, nutritious foods.

For the sixth consecutive year, the Iowa Farm Bureau Food and Farm Index® finds that Iowans have a strong affinity for meat and dairy products with more than nine in 10 (99 percent) saying their households eat meat, eggs or dairy at least weekly.

2019 Conservation Farmer of the Year Jarad Weber is deeply invested in his land. It's his livelihood, and he wants to keep the soil where it belongs.

Meat and dairy consumption isn’t linked to the rise in childhood obesity, says Ruth MacDonald with Iowa State University’s Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.

From the Iowa Pork Producers Association (www.iowapork.org)

It’s hard to believe we’re only a few days away from the start of the Iowa State Fair, football season and the first day of school.

If you’re like most Iowans, you don’t leave the grocery store without a gallon of milk in your cart.

For many busy families, a favorite on-the-go healthy breakfast is whole grain cereal.

The Iowa State Fair is the place to feed our love of high-quality, Iowa-raised meats and to recognize the Iowa farm families who work year-round to provide nutritious, safe and protein-rich food for all.

We love our crops in Iowa; we're number one in corn and soybeans, after all. But we're also a top meat-producing state, and that's good for the economy and consumers. We explore why meat is an essential part of your diet.

If reducing your exposure to trace amounts of pesticides is important to you, then organic foods may be an option, says Joel Coats, a professor of entomology and expert on toxicology at Iowa State University.

From the Iowa Pork Producers Association, www.iowapork.org

I know it’s officially summertime when RVs roll through town on their way to Saylorville Lake; cyclists return to the nearby High Trestle Trail; and our neighborhood ice cream shop, the Filling Station in Madrid, opens for the season.

There’s nothing better in the summer than a Prime steak or an all-beef burger on the grill.

Enjoying the view from the indoor patio at the Oskaloosa Public Golf Course, Wood Iron Grille diners bask in the atmosphere and the culinary experience, including Iowa’s 2019 Best Burger.

A gentle breeze caresses a warm summer night. The sky fills with pigment-rich hues as the sun sets over the Iowa cornfield. The crack of a bat against a ball echoes through the prairie stillness.

From cover crops to terraces, Iowa farmers use many techniques to protect the water and soil, and Iowa is the only state to thoroughly track those practices.

Grass-fed cattle have higher methane emissions than cattle fed on grain or corn, but most cattle only eat corn or grain in the last few weeks before market.

Recipe from Wisconsin Cheese, www.wisconsincheese.com

Like many Iowans, I’m looking forward to spending more time outside as the weather warms up this spring. Most days, you can find me either walking or biking on the High Trestle Trail in central Iowa.

As if nutrition advice isn’t confusing enough, there’s a new dietary trend that focuses more on the health of our planet than on the health of our bodies.

One of Iowans’ favorite signs of spring, iconic monarch butterfly, is also showing early signs of growth and recovery.

Just like how we need to fuel up our cars with gas and our bodies with caffeine before hitting the road, monarch butterflies need a place to refuel before embarking on their cross-continent journey.

Fruits and veggies are important, but if you skip out on meat you're missing essential amino acids and not getting complete, high-quality protein in your diet.

From www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

What’s your favorite treat to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Sure, you could give your sweetheart flowers, chocolate-covered strawberries or, better yet, a spring break trip to Hawaii. (We can all dream about tropical weather, right?)

If you’ve been watching what you eat over worries about cholesterol and heart health, you don’t have to only eat boneless, skinless chicken breast, nutrition experts say.

If you’ve struggled with a sinus infection or bronchitis this cold and flu season, then you may have gone to the doctor and received a prescription for antibiotics so you can feel better.

A small-town grocery store is more than a place to buy food. It’s where people gather, share the news of the day and revel in being part of a community.

Learn more about the Iowa Farm Animal Care Coalition, which was created to answer the questions farmers and consumers have about livestock care.

When shopping at the meat counter, you might notice some meat and poultry products labeled “antibiotic-free” or “raised without antibiotics.”

From www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

I must admit, I caught the holiday spirit a little early this year. I started listening to Christmas music the morning after Halloween, and my freezer is filling up with holiday cookies I’m baking ahead of time.

If you’re hosting a holiday dinner this year, or if you’re bringing a favorite side dish to the festivities, it is only natural to want the meal to turn out as near to perfect as possible.

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