The economic impact of Iowa’s wine industry has exploded in recent years, according to a new study.

Frank, Rimerman + Co., a California-based consulting firm, reported that the economic impact of Iowa’s wine and wine grapes industry was $420 million in 2012, an increase of around 80 percent from $234 million in 2008.

“The industry is at a critical juncture,” said Murli Dharmadhikari, the director of the Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute at Iowa State University. “Iowa-produced wines have captured 6 percent of the state’s wine market, and now Iowa has the potential to lead the region in wine production and sales.”

Dharmadhikari said Iowa was home to around 30 wineries and 500 acres of wine grapes a decade ago. Those numbers have jumped to 100 wineries covering 1,200 acres today.

The report estimated that roughly 358,000 people visited Iowa wineries in 2012, up 51 percent from about 237,000 winery visitors in 2008. Wine, grapes and related industries account for 2,678 jobs in Iowa, according to the study.

The retail value of Iowa wine sold was $15 million in 2012, the study says. But Dharmadhikari pointed out that wine-related tourism brings even greater value to the state. Tourism to wineries generated $41 million last year, according to the study. And wages and jobs related to the Iowa wine industry accounted for $83 million.

He said the industry’s growth has occurred in the state despite the fourth-highest wine excise tax in the United States.

Read more about Iowa agriculture at DesMoinesRegister.com/Agriculture.

Iowans asked to create habitats for beesand butterflies

Eleven organizations, including Blank Park Zoo and Iowa State University’s Reiman Gardens, are teaming up to encourage Iowans to plant habitats in yards, schools and businesses that support native pollinators like butterflies and bees.

The Plant.Grow.Fly initiative is providing a gardening how-to guide for Iowans to support natural pollinators at www.plantgrowfly.com.

“One-third of our global food supply depends on pollinators, and much of our world’s biodiversity relies on the services they provide,” said Jessie Lowry, Blank Park Zoo’s conservation coordinator. “Pollinators, like butterflies and bees, are declining at an alarming rate in our rapidly changing environment.”

The Plant.Grow.Fly project also is backed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Science Center of Iowa, Drake University, Polk County Conservation, Warren County Conservation, Madison County Conservation, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden and Des Moines Area Community College’s West Campus as well as a national program, Monarch Joint Venture.

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