Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
For photo of the week, we're throwing it back to a 2006 "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" tour from the 2006 field day season. This photo is from the first stop at Francis Thicke's Radiance Dairy near Fairfield. Francis discussed his certified organic dairy's process for preparing bottled milk, cream, cheese and more for sales through local grocery stores.

Whether it's 2006 or 2020, it's always a good time to buy fresh and local. Head to our local foods page to find delicious, healthy food near you.
#PracticalResilience
Row crop farmers are feeling the effects of meat processing plants shutting down.

Rob Stout, Sam Bennett, Mike Helland and Neil Hamilton discuss the challenge corn and soybean growers are facing amid demand and price decreases, and their plans for staying resilient in the coming months.
Emma and Marcus Johnson of Buffalo Ridge Orchard and Liz Kolbe, PFI's horticulture and habitat programs manager, were featured in an article about the growth of online platforms for selling farm products and the increase in demand for local food products.

Decorah-area farmers Hannah Breckbill and Emily Fagan were featured in an article about the resilience of their farm.

“As a small, local farmer, long-term resilience is my ultimate aim,” says Hannah in the article.

NEWS
From the spring magazine:
James Frantzen is one of many trainer farms in our Labor4Learning program this summer.

"Frantzen Farm is a diversified and energetic organic crop and livestock (beef and pork) farm on 300 acres. We are in need of additional help, but could use the additional help in an educational forum such as Labor4Learning. We have multiple generations worth of farming knowledge and experience to offer to an individual who would be willing to learn." - James Frantzen
UPCOMING EVENTS
Please join us during a one-hour virtual meet-up to talk about the ongoing changes and challenges specific to your farms and markets due to COVID-19.

We’ll be holding these every Friday at 1 p.m. through June 12.

Our intention is to provide a place for producers to share their insights, struggles, ideas and strategies to manage current and anticipated changes related to consumer demand, market access, labor and enhanced measures for food safety.

May 15:  Meet-Up -  Strange Times
1 p.m. | Online

May 22:  Meet-Up -  Strange Times
1 p.m. | Online

May 29:  Meet-Up -  Strange Times
1 p.m. | Online
June 5:  Meet-Up -  Strange Times
1 p.m. | Online

June 12:  Meet-Up -  Strange Times
1 p.m. | Online
IN THE NEWS
Members in the News
Jeff Hafner of Panora was featured on Iowa Ingredient on Iowa PBS: Making Flour

Ron Rosmann of Harlan wrote an op-ed featured in Illinois Farmer Today: Too many hogs for our own good?

Rob Stout of Washington, Sam Bennett of Galva, Mike Helland of Huxley and Neil Hamilton of Waukee were featured on PBS NewsHour Weekend: Meat plant closures trickle down to grain production

Emma and Marcus Johnson of Central City and Liz Kolbe of Ames were featured in Little Village Magazine: As large-scale agriculture struggles, small farmers are getting creative to meet increased demand

Emily Fagan and Hannah Breckbill of Decorah and Teresa Wiemerslage of Dorchester were featured in the Driftless Journal: Local growers and producers continue to provide sustenance for their communities
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.