Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
Farmers gathered in Springfield, Illinois, March 4-5 for the 2020 small grains conference. In the photo above, Jennifer Blesh caps the conference with a talk discussing her on-farm research and how an ecological approach to agriculture can help transform cropping systems to be more resilient.

Breakout sessions included topics on integrating animals with a small grains operation, marketing small grains, the agronomy behind successfully raising small grains and more.
NEWS
Illinois farmer Monte Bottens shared his work on integrating livestock back onto the landscape on his farm and beyond on Tuesday's farminar.
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Monte and his team at Project MOO develop tools, systems, management and marketing to support profitable stacked grazing enterprises.⁠

The practice of managed grazing – also referred to through terms such as rotational grazing, prescribed grazing or adaptive grazing management – keeps livestock on the move and never in one place for too long.

After our visual rebrand last fall, we're excited to have new offerings for sale at our events and in our online store.

Browse through new water bottles, coffee mugs, hats, hoodies, T-shirts and more. Represent PFI wherever you go!
UPCOMING EVENTS
In this farminar, Doug Thesenvitz (Thompson Law) and Amy Williams (Cornerstone Private Asset Trust Company) explain what a trust is, how trusts work and how they can be used to create a legacy plan that transitions assets to the next generation in a smart and protective manner.

Facilitated by financial planners from Syverson Strege, these workshops will discuss retirement planning and implementation strategies and will lay out a roadmap to retirement as part of a larger farm transfer or estate plan.
March 20 | Ottumwa | RSVP

March 25 | Coon Rapids | RSVP
April 1 | Cedar Falls | RSVP

April 9 | Humboldt | RSVP
We are hosting three visioning sessions on Monday, March 23. These valuable face-to-face discussions will inform our strategic plan for the next three years.

These listening sessions will start with coffee and refreshments, followed by facilitated conversations to inform PFI's focus and direction. Attendance is free! Join the conversation to help guide our work.
Mar. 10: Farminar - Farm Trusts
7 p.m. | Online

Mar. 17: Farminar - Pork Marketing
7 p.m. | Online

Mar. 20: Workshop - Farm Retirement
10 a.m. - Noon | Ottumwa

Mar. 23: Listening Session - Strategic Planning
10 a.m. - Noon | Ames

Mar. 23: Listening Session - Strategic Planning
3:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Cedar Rapids
Mar. 23: Listening Session - Strategic Planning
3:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Avoca

Mar. 25: Workshop - Farm Retirement
10 a.m. - Noon | Coon Rapids


Apr. 1: Workshop - Farm Retirement
10 a.m. - Noon | Cedar Falls
IN THE NEWS
Members in the News
Kate Edwards of Solon, Bryant Mann and Carly McAndrews of Cedar Rapids, Fred Kirschenmann of Ames and Susan Jutz of Kearney, NE, were featured in Civil Eats: In the Upper Midwest, Cracking the Code for Farmland Access

Rick and Jane Juchems of Plainfield were featured in Wallaces Farmer: Juchems show passion for farming and the land

Paul Johnson of Decorah wrote an article that was featured on the blog Bleeding Heartland: This Old House

Ron Rosmann and Maria Vakulskas Rosmann of Harlan; Daniel Rosmann and Ellen Walsh-Rosmann of Harlan; David Rosmann and Rebecka Tompkins-Rosmann of Avoca; Mark Rosmann, presently of India; and Sharon Thompson of Boone were featured in Wallaces Farmer: Rosmanns share lifetime of learning with others
PFI in the News
Practical Farmers of Iowa was mentioned on Iowa Public Radio: A Decade-Long Study Finds Cover Crops Help Farmers Improve Soil
Have you been featured in the media? Tell us when and where to find a link to the article, and we'll feature you in a future issue of Practical News.