• FrancisThicke
• Press Release
• September 10, 2009

THICKE ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR IOWA SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

by FrancisThicke

Francis Thicke (Tic-kee) today announced that he is running as a Democrat for the office of Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in the 2010 election. “I am running for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture because I think we currently lack the statewide vision and leadership needed to prepare us to meet the challenges and opportunities of agriculture in the 21st Century,” Thicke said.

It has been estimated that more than 80% of the $8 billion worth of food we consume annually in Iowa comes from out of state. “We could grow much of that food right here in Iowa. That presents a tremendous rural economic development opportunity,” said Thicke. According to an analysis by ISU economist Dave Swenson, if Iowan’s ate the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and Iowa farmers supplied that produce for just three months of the year, the production and marketing of those additional crops would add $300 million and 4,000 jobs to Iowa’s economy.

The Governor of Illinois recently signed a bill that sets a goal of 20% of all food purchased by state-owned facilities (e.g., universities and prisons) and 10% of all food purchased by state-funded facilities (e.g., schools and hospitals) be produced in Illinois. The new law also creates a Local Food Council to help meet those goals. “As Secretary of Agriculture, I would work to revive Iowa’s Food Policy Council, and I would urge the Iowa Legislature to consider legislation similar to the bill passed in Illinois,” Thicke said.

Iowa agriculture faces two looming challenges: escalating energy costs and increasing weather extremes due to climate change. “We need to move towards making our farming systems more energy-efficient, resilient and sustainable,” said Thicke. “We need more perennial and cover crops in our farming systems to protect our soil and water resources.” One way to help accomplish this is to focus future biofuels development efforts on the use of perennial, sustainable cropping systems.

The exuberance and incentives for ethanol production in recent years has resulted in Iowa becoming overbuilt with corn ethanol plants. As a result of this imbalance, Iowa ethanol plants are struggling to remain afloat, and livestock producers are concerned that too much of the corn supply is being diverted to ethanol production. Thicke called for a moratorium on state subsidies and tax incentives for building new corn ethanol plants. Instead, he called for focusing Iowa’s energy development resources, such as the Iowa Power Fund, on biofuel production systems that use perennial crops and that can operate at the local or farm scale. One promising possibility is high temperature pyrolysis of cellulosic plant materials.

Thicke also called for reducing barriers to, and providing incentives for, farm-scale wind turbines, as some other states have done. That would help farmers cope with rising electrical rates and would provide distributed electricity production for the benefit all Iowans.

Thicke addressed the conflict between Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) and residents of farm and rural communities. He called for the Iowa Legislature to reinstate local control, so county governments would again have a measure of control over where CAFOs are sited within their jurisdiction.

He also called for strengthening of some state-level regulations of CAFOs, including the Master Matrix system, increasing the separation distances of CAFOs from rural residences and other sensitive areas, and lowering the number of animal units that require a CAFO construction permit. Thicke pointed out that there are alternative ways of raising livestock that are environmentally sound, profitable, and do not interfere with the quality of life of rural residents.

Francis Thicke and his wife, Susan, are owners and operators of a grass-based, organic dairy near Fairfield. They process their milk on the farm and market it locally through grocery stores and restaurants. The Thickes’ farm has gained a reputation for its innovations. As a result, they host many tour groups on their farm each year, including classes from schools and universities. They welcome members of the press to arrange for a private tour of the farm (641-472-8554).

Thicke grew up on a farm and has been a full-time farmer for over 25 years.

Thicke has a Ph.D. in agronomy/soil fertility and previously served at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C as National Program Leader for Soil Science for the USDA-Extension Service. He has served on the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission and the Iowa Food Policy Council at the appointment of Governor Tom Vilsack. He has also served in leadership roles in many other organizations in Iowa and nationally, and has received a number of awards for his work over the years.

Tags: 21st century challenges Bill Northey CAFO's corn fed cows Democratic Candidate economic opportunity farm scale wind energy food capital of the world food shortages food subsidies Francis Thicke grass fed cows grass fed dairy iowa exports iowa food iowa imports Iowa Secretary of Agriculture local food production money for farmers rural development sustainable development Tom v Tom Vilsack USDA candidate USDA employee wind energy production