October Beginning Farmer News Update

I hope the fall has been treating you well and you are finding the harvest bountiful. We are busy in the office, planning for some great events and workshops for the upcoming winter months. Annual conference presenters have been selected, farminar planning is underway and the beginning farmer retreat is being arranged. All of this programming is designed to help you as a beginning farmer start your farming operations in a sustainable and profitable way.

We create these events and workshops with the feedback you've provided. What will help you start the farm of your dreams? What resources do you need to be profitable? Help us answer these questions by completing our beginning farmer survey. Please take a few minutes to answer this quick survey.

Below we have some great opportunities including some land available to beginning farmers. You'll also find some helpful resources to utilize as you plan your next year. We look forward to hearing your feedback in our beginning farmer survey. 

Sincerely,

Greg Van Den Berghe
Beginning Farmer Manager
Opportunities 
Land available near Cambridge
Starting in March 2017 seven acres of organic certifiable land will be available for lease near Cambridge, currently in vegetable production. Adjacent to this plot is fifteen acres of pasture that could be available. This pasture is chemical-free and is surrounded by CRP ground and has a barn that could be leased. For more information contact Laura Lynn Boettger at [email protected] or (515) 290-7888.

Farmstead available near Storm Lake
A diversified  farm  family  is looking to sell as they near retirement. Their 11 acres includes a move-in ready home, 3.5 acres in CRP, 3.5 acres in hay ground and multiple buildings including a barn, three machine sheds, a hog house and a shop. For more information please contact Richard and Bonnie at [email protected] .

Acreage available in Warren County
Available for lease is a one-story, three-bedroom home on a two acre plot in rural Warren County. This property is ideal for fruit and vegetable production. Property contains a detached garage and several apples trees. Potentially available is an adjacent steel utility building. If you are interested, please email Mark Hill at [email protected].

Projects that are designed to help farms achieve  Animal Welfare Approved,  Certified Humane, or  Global Animal Partnership (GAP) steps 4 - 5 certification through on-farm improvements. The application deadline is November 21, 2016.

Professional educational leadership responsibilities focus on the development, delivery, and support for local horticultural clientele by answering homeowner questions and producer technical assistance. The Coordinator will assist with the technical development of growers and producers as well as regional food initiative supporting and developing a delivery system for local foods and small farms. This is a flexible 30-40 hour/week position. 

Take the Beginning Farmer Survey TODAY! 
Practical Farmers' Beginning Farmer programming is designed as a direct result of your needs and interests. 

Please, take a few minutes to fill out a short survey that will help us understand what activities you're engaged in, and how we can help you reach your farm goals. 

Resources
Saturday October 29
8:30am-4:30pm
Nebraska Hop Yards, Plattsmouth, NE 
Learn the basics of hop production. Some of the things covered include: introduction to hop pests, options for supporting your hops as they grow, harvest and drying methods and much more. 

Monday, November 14
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Luther College, Decorah, IA
Get to know other area local food farmers, make connections, find common interests, and create opportunities to learn and collaborate together! If you're a beginning local food farmer, an experienced farmer transitioning to a local or niche marketplace, or an experienced  local food farmer who wants to connect and learn new ideas, this network is for you! People of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels welcome. Please RSVP.

The Cornell Small Farms Program offers over twenty courses to help farmers improve their technical and business skills.   Join one of the upcoming online farming courses: Berry Production, Effective Marketing for the Busy Farmer, Improved Grazing Management, Soil Health, and Woodland Mushroom Cultivation. Most courses are six weeks long. Each week features an evening webinar and follow-up readings, videos, and activities. 

High Tunnels and Other Season Extension Techniques Publication
 Spurred by enthusiasm and growing markets for local agricultural products, farmers are increasing the availability of their crops beyond the traditional outdoor growing season. Find out how with SARE's High Tunnels and Other Season Extension Techniques, a collection of practical resources for experienced growers and those who are new to season extension.

Organic Vegetable Production Resource Available
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has released Crop Rotations, Composting and Cover Crops for Organic Vegetable Production, a 12-page publication available free online. The importance of crop rotation to the overall quality of an organic farming system is discussed in depth. The publication highlights the benefits of cover crops and also discusses organic no-till practices. It explains how the use of animal manure or compost provides additional nutrients.
In This Issue
Upcoming  PFI  Events
The Web of Life - Three Days with Fred Provenza
November 15 - 17, 2016
Winterset, IA

No fee for the event. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day; dinner (and lodging, for those who choose to stay overnight locally) will be on your own. Please RSVP for the meal count by Wednesday, November 9 to Lauren Zastrow at (515) 232-5661 or [email protected].

Find A Farmer
Are you a beginning farmer looking for farmland to start or expand your operation? Are you a landowner interested in selling or leasing your land to someone who shares your vision for the future? FindAFarmer.net was created by Practical Farmers of Iowa to help maintain family farms and vibrant rural communities by facilitating the transfer of land from one generation to the next.
Contact Us
Practical Farmers of Iowa
600 Fifth Street, Suite 100
Ames, IA 50010


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