Iowa State University should search for a permanent leader for its Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, the Iowa Farmers Union said today.

The center has had three interim directors since the dismissal of Fred Kirschenmann in 2005.

Mark Honeyman, an Iowa State animal sciences professor, was named interim director last month, replacing Lois Wright Morton, who had served in the position since July 1, 2010. Morton left the center to lead a regional research project on climate and agriculture.

The Farmers Union praised Honeyman and Morton, but said in a news release that  the constant change in leadership “has eroded the ability of the center to serve its law-given mandates.”

It called on Iowa State to begin a “credible national search” for a permanent director.

The Leopold Center also lost its assistant director when Richard Pirog, a 21-year staff member, resigned in February to lead Michigan State University’s new Center for Sustainable Food Systems.

“The unique and productive work of the Leopold Center can only be conducted in an atmosphere of organizational strength and purpose. We fear that environment has eroded and steps must be taken to stabilize the leadership positions within the Leopold Center,” said Chris Petersen, Farmers Union board president. “To remedy this, the Iowa Farmers Union board and staff support the transfer of supervision of the Leopold Center to a higher level of administration.”