A research project dedicated to listening to farmers and farming communities about agriculture, the environment, community and health
MHA’s New Report!
Midwest Healthy Ag (MHA) is a farmer-initiated research project dedicated to listening to farmers and farming communities about agriculture, the environment, climate, community, and health. Its objective is to help turn what we learn into community-led agriculture.
MHA has now finished the first phase of its study, tracing how the various kinds of agriculture practiced across the Midwest connect to local health, finances, COVID-19, and the climate.
In Across the Fence, our new report, we present the story of MHA, describe the nature of the farmer interviews we undertook across six Midwest states, and introduce some of the quantitative analysis we undertook.
We also review some of the first results we arrived upon about the ways rural communities responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, farmer attitudes about climate, the state of rural community health, and how farmers are approaching their finances.
Along the way we visit two of the dozen community focus groups MHA convened, explore some of the initiatives farmers have already started on their own, and meet a varietyof farmers that represent the future of Midwest agriculture.
What did we learn? A lot! We offer two critical observations here, but the report is full of
others.
First, rural life represents more than just agricultural productivity. It entails the people and communities—their needs and experiences—upon which agriculture depends. Such a scope represents a foundational part of developing a sustainable regional food system from farm to fork and back.
We also learned that Midwest agriculture isn’t just divided into two bins—“conventional” and “regenerative”. Across farms, counties, and the region, agriculture represents a continuum of practices and attitudes that serve as a rich multitude from which rural communities can draw new strategies in directing their food systems to healthier practices that also pay the bills.
We’d love to hear any feedback from you about the report or anything else. Just send us a message on our contact page.
Agriculture
To keep the Midwest an agricultural region from one generation to the next, farming must be sustainable. What does that involve? Can agriculture be profitable for the farmer, build healthy soil, grow healthy food, and reduce the chances of harming the environment? What practices are farmers and broader rural communities already engaging in while striking these many balances? What practices should be undertaken on-farm and across the larger community? Midwest Healthy Ag will be asking farmers and community groups across six Midwest states these and other questions.
Environment
The frequency and impact of changes in the weather are apparent across the Midwest. We’re witnessing increasing flash floods and droughts. Meanwhile, the water table appears in decline and runoff affects waterways far closer than the Gulf of Mexico. What are farmers doing in response? Some on-farm management practices have been shown to protect and enhance the natural environment on which agriculture depends. What would help farmers engage in such practices if they are unable to pursue them now? Midwest Healthy Ag will be asking farmers and rural communities what they imagine our environmental future could be.
Community & Health
Healthy agriculture isn't just about soils. A healthy ag extends off-farm into the greater community and back again. What control do local communities have over decisions that affect health and well-being? What foods are grown for local consumption? Does farming income circulate back into the local town economy? Can rural communities combine successful farming, access to good food, clean waterways, good healthcare, and active community life? What do farming communities view as agriculture’s role in supporting community health? Midwest Healthy Ag aims to listen and learn what rural communities view as their present circumstances and possible paths forward.