Small Grains News & Updates
Season's Greetings,

We decided to put on our fancy pants and get a jump start on our new year's resolutions by putting together this slick email template for our small grains communications. Read on for the latest small grains blogs, resources and program updates!

Happy Holidays,
Sarah and Alisha
December Call Notes and Blog Available Now
In December we welcomed Randy and Willie Hughes from Southern Wisconsin to talk about how they adjust their nitrogen plan for corn following a legume cover crop. The blog of the Dec call is now available on the PFI website or click here for the full notes from the call.

For cost share participants: 
If you are participating in the 2018 cost share and were on the call December 1 - please send Alisha ( alisha@practicalfarmers.org ) the phone number you called in from that day so she can record your participation.
Feb 2 Call On Frost Seeding Legumes
The call will take place on Friday, February 2 at 12:00 - 1:00 PM. To call in dial 641-715-3620 and enter the passcode 357330#. Feel free to invite others and share these call in details.
Bin Still Full of Small Grains? Let Us Help
If you still have unsold small grains from your 2017 harvest, we'd like to try listing the grain on the  internet hay exchange  - which is a national e-marketplace well-known for hay and straw sales but little known for the grain option, kind of like craigslist, for people selling and seeking hay, straw, and grain.  We are looking for 5 farmers who still have small grains (barley, oats, rye, triticale, or wheat) to sell and would be interested in listing their grain on the online exchange and giving PFI feedback on how it went .

Send Alisha an email ( alisha@practicalfarmers.org ) or give the office a call if you'd be interested in participating.

2018 COST SHARE
A CRES ARE STILL AVAILABLE, BUT DWINDLING
We have about 500 acres left to distribute in cost share for 2018. If you are planning to plant spring small grains (oats, spring wheat, spring barley) and are interested in cost share, you can read more about the program on our website: practicalfarmers.org/small-grains-cornbelt .
DON'T FORGET TO JOIN PRACTICAL FARMERS
If you are in the 2018 cost share program, one of the requirements is that you join Practical Farmers of Iowa. You can do so online at: practicalfarmers.org/join-or-renew or by calling our office (515) 232-5661 and speaking with Debra.
EVENTS
January 19-20 | Ames

S mall Grains Shared Learning Call
February 2 | Frost Seeding Legumes

S mall Grains Shared Learning Call
March 2 | Topic TBD
IN THE FIELD
Time to Think about Spring Variety Selection
Planting season is fast approaching. It's time to start thinking about selecting and ordering your seed. Still unsure which small grain is right for you? Here are some resources:

  1. The variety selection episode of our rotationally raised video series.
  2. The blog from January 2017's shared learning call with seed dealer Mac Ehrhardt.
  3. The 2017 oat variety trial results.
Looking for more? Contact us today!
Alisha Bower
Midwest Cover Crop Associate
(515) 232-5661
Sarah Carlson
Midwest Cover Crop Director
(515) 232-5661