Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
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Why is the theme of our 2019 conference "Cultivating Connections"?
Sometimes it feels like our world is losing the vital connections that sustain us -- connections between one another, between farms and communities, between soil and crops, ecosystems and more. At a time when more people are quick to seek out differences rather than common ground, we at Practical Farmers of Iowa cultivate a different ethos -- one based on welcoming everyone, listening respectfully and building community based on what we have in common.
We want to wish all of our supporters a happy holiday season from the staff at Practical Farmers of Iowa!
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Jan. 8:
Farminar
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Installing and Maintaining Prairie Strips
Jan. 15:
Farminar
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Diversifying Rations for Pastured Pigs
Jan. 17, 1 - 6:30 p.m. | Jan. 18, 8 - 11:30 a.m.
Jan. 18, 12:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Jan. 19, 7:30 a.m. - 5:10 p.m.
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Practical Farmers' first beginning farmer retreat was held at Pilgrim Heights Retreat Center in Montour, Iowa, in 2009. This year, the retreat's 11th, it returned to where it all began. On Nov. 30 – Dec. 1, 24 beginning and aspiring farmers gathered together to dedicate time to planning their farm businesses and network with others doing the same.
Click here to continue reading about this event
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We hosted our first Next Generation Summit in August. The aim of the event was to bring together aspiring farmers and farmland owners. Inside the brick walls of the former Maytag headquarters in Newton, 16 landowners came together with 19 aspiring farmers to set goals and network. Many met someone that day to help them reach those goals, and everyone left with the tools and confidence to do so in the future
.
Click here to continue reading about this event
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We are seeking experienced farmers who plan to hire an employee in 2019 to participate in our
Labor4Learning program
. The program is intended to be beneficial for both parties: aspiring farmers get a paid, on-farm job and additional training on how to run a farm business, and the experienced farmer gains an eager-to-learn employee.
Click here to continue reading about this program
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Going to the conference? Don't miss our annual meeting!
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Please join us at our annual meeting on Friday, Jan. 18, to hear a summary of our work in 2018, and our plans for 2019 and beyond. You'll learn about our activities and accomplishments in 2018 – a year in which we experienced substantial growth. PFI members will also elect board members for open seats on our board of directors.
If you are a member, please come and vote!
The 2019 annual meeting will be held at 4:45 p.m., during our annual conference at the Iowa State Center Scheman Building, in Ames.
Following the meeting, we will present PFI's 2019 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award. Michael Phillips, author of "Micorrhizal Planet," will then deliver the conference keynote.
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For vegetable growers, some crops can be more challenging to grow successfully than others.
At our
2019 annual conference
(Jan. 17-19 in Ames),
we've planned sessions focused on three of those crops
-- cauliflower, eggplant and storage onions -- that present unique challenges to vegetable farmers in Iowa and other parts of the Midwest.
These sessions are among a suite of offerings for horticulture farmers of all types spanning topics such as finances, farm labor, seed-saving, marketing, biodynamic production and more.
You'll learn from a mix of speakers representing a range of farm scales and enterprises, such as:
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Nathan Corymb,
of
Meadowlark Hearth Biodynamic Seed Initiative
in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Nathan and his wife, Beth, raise vegetable seed, and operate a year-round vegetable CSA and a micro grass-fed and grass-finished dairy on 500 acres. The land is certified organic and Demeter Certified Biodynamic.
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Scott Thellman,
president of
Juniper Hill Farms
, a first-generation farm in Douglas County, Kansas. The farm business consists of 65 acres of certified organic land and 1,100 acres of sustainably grown land, including 50 acres of conventional and organic vegetables. Other crops include hay, alfalfa, small grains and non-GMO row crops.
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What a year it's been at Practical Farmers of Iowa!
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This time of year gives us all an opportunity to reflect on our blessings.
We have so much to be grateful for here at Practical Farmers of Iowa!
We especially value all of our dedicated members who generously share what they know with others in an effort to improve Iowa agriculture.
As we approach year’s end, consider donating to help us fulfill our mission
of equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities!
Please consider donating today to ensure we have the resources we need to continue our work to foster an Iowa that reflects Practical Farmers’ values.
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Zach, Emily and Mitch Kennedy
of Atlantic and
Denise Schwab
of Vinton were featured in
Morning Ag Clips:
2018 Iowa BQA Awards.
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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.
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