Last Saturday, PFI's Green Iowa AmeriCorps member, Erin Carpenter, worked with the Iowa River Watershed Coalition to organize a water quality snapshot event on the Iowa River. Snapshot sampling is when multiple sites throughout a geographic area are tested within a short period of time to provide an overall picture of water quality.

Volunteers then dispersed to collect water samples and conduct field analysis in Hancock, Wright, Hardin and Marshall counties.

Snapshot monitoring events are an opportunity to raise awareness of pressing environmental issues. Data gathered from last Saturday's event, and others like it, provides information that can be used to help treat sources of pollution more accurately and measure the impact of water quality improvement efforts in Iowa.

You can now view the Spring 2023 magazine online.

Members: Check your mailbox for the printed publication. Or sign up to become a member here.

On the cover: One of Dayna Burtness’ Hampshire hogs enjoys hugs while feasting on Albert Lea Seed’s Big Rack Wildlife Mix.

Dayna and her husband, Nick Nguyen, raise pastured pigs at Nettle Valley Farm in Spring Grove, Minnesota, and use Holistic Management to guide their decisions.

PFI is currently hiring four positions designed to increase our impact and better serve our farming community.

Don't wait, apply today!

"For things like rye, there aren't a lot of resources as far as fertilizer goes," says Wade Dooley.

Watch the video to learn how Wade, Tim Sieren and David Weisberger are using on-farm research to adjust their fertility programs for small grains.

We hope to see you at our Spanish community socials! Meet other aspiring, beginner and experienced farmers near you.

Come to our first event on Saturday, May 20, at the Johnson County Historic Farm in Iowa City from noon to 2 p.m. hosted by Marcela Hurtado of Emprendimento Latino 5M who farms at the Global Food Project.

There's still time to RSVP for our first social of the year tomorrow, April 29, at Whiterock Conservancy.

Guests will enjoy hayrides (so long as the weather cooperates) and view unique examples of conservation practices across the landscape.

Please RSVP so we know you're coming. All PFI socials are free and open to the public.

April 29: PFI Social – Whiterock Conservancy

May 20: PFI Spanish Social – Johnson County Historic Farm

May 6: PFI Social – Devine-Johnson Family Farm

1-3 p.m. | Belle Plaine, MN

Coming in May: Field Day Season Stay tuned as we announce 40+ farmer-led field days.

Rob Stout of Washington, IA, was featured in a story on AgWeb: Eyes on Soil Health: Conservation practices help reduce erosion, boost organic matter

Nick Wallace of Keystone, IA, and Christa Hartsook of Ames, IA, were featured in the Des Moines Register: Nick Wallace wants to create Airbnb of agriculture with seated farm dinners across Iowa

Aaron Lehman of Polk City, IA, was featured in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier: Farmers optimistic about spring planting in Iowa

Doug Stonebreaker of Dubuque, IA, and Nick Wallace of Keystone, IA, were featured in the Telegraph Herald: Biz Buzz: Meat delivery business expands to Dubuque area

George Naylor of Churdan, IA, wrote an article that was published in The Natural Farmer: A Parity Farm Bill for a Future with Family Farms and Monarchs

Practical Farmers of Iowa was mentioned in Western Farmer-Stockman: A simple explanation: Communicating about ag

Have you been featured in the media? If you're a PFI member, tell us when and where to find a link to the article, and we'll feature you in a future issue of Practical News.

Contact: tamsyn.jones@practicalfarmers.org

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