Iowa farmers become certified to send products overseas

Eight Iowa farmers are the first in the state to be approved for a system that guarantees the quality of the products they produce. Lee County Extension Director Lee Dodds helped the farmers become certified under the International Organization for Standardization or I-S-O. Dodds says it’s really a pretty standard quality management system that could be used in a factory or on the farm.Dodds says the I-S-O certification isn’t linked to recent problems with the genetically modified “StarLink” corn.Dodds says the farmers have to keep track of everything that happens to their crops.He doesn’t believe this system will become standard among all farmers. Dodds says it’s designed more for farmers who’re raising niche products.Dodds says another group of 10 farmers is currently working on becoming certified in 2001.