Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
Farmers took a daylong deep-dive into cover crop science and ways to hone their cover crop message at the cover crop boot camp on Thursday in Ames.

Attendees took home new ideas about cover crops for their farm and ways to speak about cover crops with other farmers and neighbors.
ON THE BLOG
PFI has organized oat variety trials at several locations across Iowa the past five years.

Wayne Koehler has hosted the on-farm location of the oat trial for two out of the past five years. In this blog, Wayne discusses results and strategies for using variety trial information to select the right variety for your farm.
NEWS
Our winter magazine is on the way, and the digital version will be available soon!

On the cover of this issue, guests walk through Jenny Quiner’s high tunnel during
the field day she hosted at Dogpatch Urban Farms in Des Moines on Nov. 10. See more photos from the last half of our 2019 field day season inside.

You'll also find informative stories about why some members are using cover crops, how conservation easements can help in farm transfer, managing weeds in vegetable productio n – and more.
Get started with a couple of the articles in this issue!
We are seeking experienced farmers who plan to hire an employee in 2020 to participate in our Labor4Learning program.

The program is intended to be beneficial for both parties: aspiring farmers get a paid, on-farm job and additional training on how to run a farm business, and the experienced farmer gains an eager-to-learn employee.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Jan. 16-17: Conference - Short Courses | Ames
Jan 17-18: Conference - PFI Annual Conference 2020 | Ames
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
These sessions are among a suite of offerings for horticulture farmers of all types spanning topics such as finances, weed control, farm labor, seed-saving, marketing, beneficial insects and more.
You’re invited to our potluck — new location!
We are continuing this favorite conference tradition, with a few changes! This year, our potluck will be held at CityChurch of Ames-Des Moines, located at 2400 Oakwood Road in Ames. This venue is easy to find and close to the conference hotels.

Also new this year: this event will offer a fully catered meal. But since we still want to honor the potluck tradition, if you would like, you can bring an appetizer or dessert to share. Practical Farmers will provide water and tableware. A free-will donation is appreciated.
MEMBERSHIP
We are halfway to our fall donation goal of $25,00 0 – and y ou can help us reach it!

Our vision is one of hope: an Iowa with healthy soil, healthy food, clean air, clean water, resilient farms and vibrant communities. Donations give us the resources needed to equip Iowa farmers to work toward this vision.
PFI Members: Please take the 2020 member survey!
To prepare for our next strategic plan, we are now actively seeking responses to our next member survey. If you are a PFI member, you will have received an email about this. Please, please, please take time to fill out this vital fact-finder.

This survey helps us see how well our current efforts are or aren’t working, and provides information to inform our future work.
IN THE NEWS
Members in the News
Ruth Rabinowitz of Santa Cruz, CA was featured in Successful Farming: Owning Farmland is an Attractive Strategy for Investors
Matt Russell of Lacona was interviewed on Soil4Climate: Standing with Farmers of Fix Climate
PFI in the News
PFI was not featured in the news this week.

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.