Sustainable Iowa Land Trust

TO PERMANENTLY PROTECT IOWA LAND TO GROW HEALTHY FOOD.

LAND PROTECTION: SILT REPRESENTATIVES WORK WITH LANDOWNERS INSPIRED BY OUR MISSION TO DOCUMENT THE AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES ON THEIR LAND, ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND FURTHER EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL FOR PERMANENT PROTECTION WITHIN THE STATED GOALS OF THE LANDOWNER. PROTECTION THEN INCLUDES PERFORMING FURTHER DUE DILIGENCE REGARDING TITLE, ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS, AND SUITABILITY TO SILT'S MISSION AND CAPACITY. SILT STAFF ALSO PERFORM THE CLOSING AND RECORD THE DEED OR EASEMENT. THIS PROGRAM'S REACH HAS EXTENDED INTO INFORMALLY HELPING LANDOWNERS FIND BEGINNING FARMERS FOR THEIR LAND IF THEY'VE PROTECTED IT WITH SILT. IN 7 YEARS, SILT HAS PROTECTED MORE THAN 1,100 ACRES ON 14 FARMS ACROSS THE STATE AND ASSISTED 30 FARMERS IN STAYING OR GETTING ON AFFORDABLE LAND.

GENERAL OUTREACH: GENERAL OUTREACH INCLUDES EXHIBITING AT CONFERENCES LIKELY TO DRAW OUR INTENDED AUDIENCE, PUBLISHING AND MAILING AN ANNUAL REPORT, HOSTING GATHERINGS TO UPDATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON SILT'S PROGRESS, SENDING MONTHLY EMAIL UPDATES, MAINTAINING A VIBRANT USER-FRIENDLY WEBSITE AND ACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA AND PITCHING NEWS ARTICLES TO NICHE AND MASS PUBLICATIONS. DUE TO ONGOING COVID ISSUES, OUR WORK REMAINS PRIMARILY ONLINE OR ON-FARM. OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS FEATURED AMONG ONLY SIX WOMEN IN THE FEARLESS EDITION OF THE BUSINESS RECORD PUBLISHED IN THE DES MOINES METRO AREA. A YOUNG FARMER WHO WAS ALSO A BOARD MEMBER WAS PUBLISHED IN A FEATURED OPINION PIECE IN THE STATE'S SECOND-LARGEST NEWSPAPER DUE TO OUR OUTREACH AND YOUNG FARMERS WHO PURCHASED A SILT-PROTECTED PROPERTY WERE FEATURED IN THE STATE'S LARGEST PAPER. WE ALSO INITIATED A CORPORATE PARTNERS CAMPAIGN TO ALLOW LOCAL BUSINESSES TO CO-BRAND WITH OUR MISSION AND EXPAND OUR REACH.

LANDOWNER OUTREACH: SILT EDUCATES LANDOWNERS ACROSS IOWA ABOUT THEIR OPTION TO PERMANENTLY PROTECT THEIR LAND TO GROW HEALTHY FOOD. SILT HOSTS FIELD DAYS ON SILT OR SILT-LIKE FARMS. THESE "SHOWCASE DAYS'' INCLUDE A FARM TOUR AND PRESENTATIONS ON THE LEGAL OPTIONS FOR PERMANENTLY PROTECTING LAND. OUR LANDOWNER OUTREACH INCLUDES FREE LAND CONSULTATIONS TO DISCUSS WHAT TABLE FOODS WILL GROW BEST ON PARTICULAR PARCELS AND A NEWLY-PUBLISHED LANDOWNERS GUIDE TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD CROPS. THIS PIVOTAL PROGRAM RECEIVED A BIG BOOST IN LATE 2018 FROM A 5-YEAR $251,000 GRANT TO SUPPORT A FULL-TIME FARM SPECIALIST, A $34,000 SARE GRANT IN 2019, AND A $99,000 CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANT FOR CASHFLOWING AGROFORESTRY WE RECEIVED IN 2020 THAT RESULTED IN AN ONLINE CALCULATOR FOR LANDOWNERS TO ESTIMATE THE IMPACT OF CONSERVATION TAX INCENTIVES ON THE CASHFLOW OF AN AGROFORESTRY PROJECT. IN 2021, WE RECEIVED A $175,000 USDA FARMERS MARKET PROMOTION PROGRAM GRANT TO SUPPORT SMALL FARM SUMMER OPEN HOUSES ON SILT FARMS FOR THE NEXT 3 YEARS. THESE ARE DESIGNED TO INCREASE A FARM'S RETAIL SALES TO NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS WITH FARM EVENTS THAT INCLUDE LIVE MUSIC, COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, AND OUR LANDOWNER SEMINARS.