The annual Des Moines Register’s Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) is just around the corner and this year riders can learn about Iowa agriculture through a series of podcasts, coined “Iowa Agcasts“.

“The beauty and fertility of Iowa’s land is very evident this time of year and these podcasts will highlight the importance and diversity of Iowa agriculture as riders travel across the state,” said Iowa Secretary of Ag Bill Northey. “Agriculture is so important to our state and we hope RAGBRAI participants and others will listen to these podcasts and learn more about all that is happening on the farms across Iowa.”

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, together with many partners, created one podcast for each leg of the ride.  Each podcast has an interview of one or two local individuals involved in agriculture and soil and water conservation.

The podcasts are unique in that they show the diversity of Iowa’s agriculture.  Listeners meet a farmer who sells at his local farmer’s market, another who farms organic and even hear from a family-owned winery.  Other stories come from beekeepers to coal mine experts, all with roots deep in Iowa’s landscape. Urban conservation is even discussed as the riders reach Des Moines half way through the week.

“Agriculture is a very big part of what we do. You see it spatially out there as you look across the landscape and economically as well. It’s one of the biggest industries in the state and if you include not only the actual farming but the folks that produce things for farmers or process the crops, somewhere around 25-30% of the economic activity in Iowa is based in agriculture,” Northey states in his introductory podcast.