Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
We’ve all shared in the past year’s long, strange and challenging journey of isolation, distance and sacrifice, with gatherings postponed, rituals upended and connection confined to screens.

As we start to see light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, Practical Farmers is planning a series of small, energizing, in-person "Catching Up" gatherings on farms across Iowa this summer.

The line-up will expand on a rolling basis throughout the summer as more pop-up, local events are organized.

To keep these gatherings small (and safe, with COVID-19 still around!) – and to help connect people to the events and topics they’re most interested in – attendance is by invitation only.

To help us plan and connect people with the events they're most interested in, we've created a form where you can let us know your topic interests and availability.

Click below to access that form, and to read more about how our Catching Up event series will work.
NEWS
Doug Alert and Margaret Smith of Hampton, Iowa, typically co-seed oats with a red clover cover underseeding in their organic production system.

Concerned about weed control, they were curious to learn if tine weeding the oats early would have any effect on oat yield, intercropped red clover and weed pressure.

Cooperators Kate Edwards, Bonnie Riggan, Hannah Breckbill and Emily Fagan wanted to determine which spinach variety (Bloomsdale, Kolibri or Space) grew the best on their farms.

Cooperators looked for the variety with the highest yield, least bolting, a good flavor and most loft or fill in the bag.

Are you looking to get paid, on-the-job training with experienced farmers in Iowa?

The Labor4Learning program is designed for beginning farmers seeking employment and additional training in farm management and production skills.

UPCOMING EVENTS
We have no upcoming events at this time. Be sure to check out the recorded farminars from this winter and recordings from the 2021 virtual annual conference.
IN THE NEWS
Members in the News
Nathan Anderson of Aurelia, IA, and Joe McGovern, who works with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation based in Des Moines, IA, were mentioned in Dickinson County News: Okoboji Blue Water Festival returns for 2021

Mary Swander of Kalona, IA, was featured in the Iowa City Press Citizen: Kalona's Mary Swander promotes sustainable farming and art through nonprofit AgArts

Jon and Jared Luhman of Goodhue, MN, were featured in Country Folks: Contract grazing tips
PFI in the News
Lydia English, strategic initiatives coordinator with PFI, was featured on YourFortDodge.com: Small Grains Cost Share

Sarah Carlson, strategic initiatives manager with PFI, was featured on Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network: Practical Farmers of Iowa partners with Smithfield Grain
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.