Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
Solon farmer
Carmen Black (left)
and Rodale Institute scientist
Kristine Lang, of Brandon, are the newest additions to Practical Farmers of Iowa's board of directors.
They were among five individuals elected in January by Practical Farmers members to join or renew their tenure on the 12-person board of directors.
Farmer-led research has been at the core of our work since 1987. It’s continued and thrived since, with 14 Master Researchers, 241 total Cooperators and 1,443 trials.
Cover crops can offer a host of benefits for producers. In this week's farminar,
Sam Bennett and
Gina Nichols focused on cereal rye’s ability to suppress weeds in corn and soybean systems.
This was the second year of on-farm research trials that evaluate planting corn in 60-inch row-widths for the purpose of improving the success of interseeding cover crops in the corn in early summer, while maintaining corn grain yield.
Emily Fagan of Decorah,
Sam Bennett of Galva and
Dave Schmidt of Exira each presented on the research they conducted in the Cooperators' Program in 2019.
Click one of the links below to watch!
Do you know an exemplary farmland owner who has built constructive relationships with farm tenants, stewarded land on behalf of rural communities or the broader landscape or helped extend opportunities to beginning farmers?
Nominate that person for our Farmland Owner Legacy Award by Friday, Feb. 28! You may submit as many nominations as you like.
Please nominate non-operator landowners who have had a positive impact on the agricultural landscape, rural communities or opportunities for beginning farmers.
Learn about how the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program can provide landowners with technical assistance and funding for rusty patch bumblebees and Topeka shiner habitat conservation.
After a break next week, fruit and vegetable farmer meet-ups start back up on Feb. 25! These events are free and open to all fruit, vegetable and flower growers.
You don’t have to be a PFI member to attend!
Double-header oat meet-ups in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota on Feb. 21
Talk oat production with other farmers and learn about the Oatly program, which offers oat contracts with Grain Millers and PFI's cost-share to establish a cover crop following oat harvest.
PFI staff have been reaching out to our members this week who have yet to respond to our 2020 member survey. If you are a current member, and have not been contacted to take the survey, please email
steve@practicalfarmers.org.
This information helps to keep us member-led, so please lend your voice. We only collect this information every three years. We appreciate your time and your input!
