Emphasis

Jason Parrott’s guests on Emphasis are Brian Riggs with the Fort Madison Area Arts Association, Jerry Johnson with the Art Guild of Burlington and Debra Scoggin-Myers of the Mabee Art Gallery in Canton, Missouri.

They discuss what is on display at their particular galleries and some of the exhibits lined up for later in the year.

This week on Emphasis, Rich Egger’s guest is Timothy Collins, Assistant Director, Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs. They talk about sustainability and the upcoming series of Sustainability Brownbaggers at Western Illinois University.

People pay extra to buy food with the official USDA organic label on it. In order for those green beans or that gallon of milk to get that label, the farmer that produced has to be certified with the USDA.

In order to get that certification the farmer has to provide a large amount of documentation, including disclosing everything that’s put on their fields and a comprehensive farm plan.

Organic certification make more sense for some farmers than others.

This week’s guests on Emphasis are State Rep. Dave Heaton (R-Mount Pleasant) and State Rep. Jerry Kearns (D-Keokuk).

They talk to Public Radio’s Jason Parrott about the Iowa Legislature’s 2013 session.