From Mexico to Iowa: New Immigrant Farmers' Pathways and Potentials

Hannah Lewis

Community Development, 2009, vol. 40, issue 2, 139-153

Abstract: Iowa needs new farmers as the current generation retires. Moreover, Iowa needs farmers to grow vegetables and livestock to satisfy a growing demand for locally grown foods. This study applies the Sustainable Livelihoods framework to the experiences of four Mexican immigrant owner-operators to analyze why and how they farm. All four grew up in farming families where they gained agricultural knowledge they are able to apply today to their part-time operations of 10 to 20 acres. Each wishes to build the capacity of his farm and yet is not linked to the organizations in Iowa (such as USDA agencies, Extension, and agricultural NGOs) that could assist in that process. These agricultural service providers and the farmers themselves could cultivate bridging social capital between them to accelerate the development of these nontraditional farmers, and ultimately, to expand livelihood options for meatpacking workers and grow new farmers for Iowa.

Date: 2009
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DOI: 10.1080/15575330903011058

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