Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
|
|
If you are a Practical Farmers of Iowa member, you should have received your spring issue of our quarterly magazine, "the Practical Farmer," in the mail. If you wish to receive our magazine in the mail
join PFI today and you'll automatically receive all future issues.
You'll find searchable, online versions of all articles and news items, and clickable photos that you can enlarge. We've also added relevant related content with some articles, such as videos and direct links to other resources.
|
|
These groups will go on pasture walks, discuss spring grazing management, first cutting of hay, planting summer annuals and more. Meet and learn from fellow livestock farmers. Each of these events runs from 4:30-7 p.m. and will have a meal provided.
|
|
|
|
We have 105 entries in our local food directory from farms across the state and 11 member organizations that offer local foods.
Don't see your farm listed but want to be included?
You must be a member of PFI to be listed. If you are a member and want to be included in the directory, contact
Jason Tetrick at
jason@practicalfarmers.org
|
|
Do you or someone you know have journalism or communications experience that could help farmers tell their stories?
This new, full-time position will work with PFI staff, members and partners to grow the impact of our members’ voices in their communities and in the media by coaching them on speaking and media interviews, and coordinating speaking appearances at events and in the media.
|
|
PFI is hosting several Land and Water Steward positions this summer with Green Iowa AmeriCorps in partnership with University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Energy and Environmental Education.
|
|
Together with breeders and seed retailers, Practical Farmers of Iowa launched the U.S. Testing Network (USTN) in 2009 to rebuild the dwindling selection of non-GMO and organic seed corn.
PFI coordinates the yield trials for non-GMO and organic corn hybrids and now offers public data from the tests for farmers to use in fact-based decision-making.
|
|
|
As part of the Labor4Learning program, experienced fruit and vegetable farmers
Rob and Tammy Faux, of Genuine Faux Farm near Tripoli, are willing to hire an aspiring farmer, and provide additional training in the skills to run a farm.
"One thing that has changed for the better since we started farming in 2004 are the number of opportunities for persons interested in farming professions to explore and learn before taking the plunge into their own endeavors," Rob says.
"Practical Farmers of Iowa has been a leader in this area, providing multiple services for new and aspiring growers in the state.
We are pleased to offer someone an opportunity to learn what it is like to work on a small, diversified farm through the Labor4Learning Program."
|
|
New to PFI's cost-share programs are:
- The ability to stack funds: Private cost-share dollars (ADM/Unilever or Cargill/PepsiCo) can be stacked with public funds from entities like the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, crop insurance and others.
- Our "40 x 40" option: If you are brand-new to cover crops, you may be eligible to receive $40 per acre on up to 40 acres of cover-cropped ground.
- Support for current cover crop users: If you have been using cover crops, you may be able to receive $10 per acre on up to 160 acres of cover crops, or 10% of your farmed acres, whichever is larger.
- A cover crop seed and planting discount for first-time customers to Iowa Cover Crop and its dealer network (if you sign up by July 1).
|
|
If you're someone who plans to farm in the future, or has farmed on your own for 10 years or less, we need you to help guide our programming. Thank you to everyone who has shared with us already, but we need more voices!
|
|
Community support day at Whole Foods Market
|
|
Practical Farmers of Iowa has been chosen by Whole Foods as a recipient of its Community Giving Days!
This program helps beginning farmers by matching them with mentors, networking opportunities and business planning support. While in SIP, participants are encouraged to save money for their current or future farm businesses. The "incentive" part of the program is a dollar-for-dollar match that PFI provides on money participants save while in the program.
Money raised at Whole Foods on April 18 will help us fund these savings matches, which beginning farmers use to buy essential equipment to better their farming operations.
|
|
"Map of My Kingdom" is a PFI-commissioned play that explores some of the thorny issues surrounding farmland transfer decisions. PFI and Center for Rural Affairs partnered to bring several performances of the play to communities across Iowa.
The final performance scheduled for this spring is
Saturday, April 13 at 2 p.m., at Grout Museum of History and Science. Admission is free, but theater seating is limited.
|
|
|
2 p.m. | Waterloo
April 18:
Whole Foods Community Giving Day
May 9:
Grazing Group -
Lamoni
May 16:
Grazing Group -
Lockridge
|
|
May 22:
Grazing Group -
Remsen
May 23:
Grazing Group -
Maxwell
May 30:
Grazing Group -
Oxford
June 9:
Grazing Group -
Charles City
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
