Photo: Andy Peterson
(Fayette County, IA) -- A northeast Iowa farmer's efforts to reduce soil erosion and improve water have proven helpful to a northeast Iowa brewery (Pulpit Rock Brewery, Decorah, IA). Loren Steinlage grows small grain Cover Crops (cereal rye and barley) which are malted locally and made into corn beer.
Steinlage says it's the 4th different brew made with grains from his farm. The 5th will be released next week when RAGBRAI comes through Fayette.
He says high quality water is key to the process, so his agricultural practices aimed at reducing erosion and improving water quality come full circle.