Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
Four grazing groups that met during the month of May have brought together over 120 farmers to talk about livestock integration and forage-based farming systems.

Robert and April Alexander, who farm near Remsen, hosted the most recent gathering at their farm on Wednesday. They practice daily paddock moves and multi-species grazing with Belted Galloway cattle and Katahdin sheep.

The Alexanders will host a Practical Farmers field day on Aug. 14 where you can learn more about their rotational grazing and livestock management practices, as well as their efforts to improve soil health and on-farm research they're doing with PFI exploring cover crops in corn and soybeans.
NEWS
Two new videos in organic weed control series!
In this video, PFI farmers share their experience with when and how they use tine weeders in organic corn and soybean production to control weeds. They discuss both Treffler and Einbock tine weeders, the adjustments possible and the settings they use.
Deciding whether to replant corn or soybeans is a difficult decision. In this video, PFI farmers talk through their decision-making process when it comes to replanting.
This tutorial walks you through the steps for making connections on Find A Farmer, the free service connecting farmland owners with land seekers. Learn to create an effective profile and connect with other users.

Create a free account as a landowner or land seeker, build a profile that tells your story, search for a match and start an anonymous conversation.
Thank you to all who have supported our 2019 spring fundraiser! We are over halfway toward our goal of $30,000.

There is still time to help us reach this goal! Your donation will help us provide our members with farmer-led education on what they identify they need most. 
Sign up to receive our new quarterly
farm transfer e-newsletter
Practical Farmers is starting a new quarterly newsletter designed to share events, resources and information related specifically to farmland transition.

In this research, cooperators Mark Quee of West Branch and Carmen Black of Solon grazed their sheep on cover crops in the spring to see how that affected brassica crop yields in the fall.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Our main field day season includes  40-plus events across the state (and beyond) on topics spanning the agricultural spectrum --  from producing and managing a range of crops and livestock to land stewardship, local foods and more.

New this season: You can now RSVP for events online!  Take a look at the field days and other events we've planned, and sign up for the ones you're interested in! The first field days begin on June 4.
There are a couple more grazing groups getting together this spring! These groups will go on pasture walks and discuss spring grazing management, first cutting of hay, planting summer annuals and more. Meet and learn from fellow livestock farmers. Both of these events runs from 4:30-7 p.m. and will have a meal provided.
Thursday, May 30 | Oxford
Host: Doug Darrow
Sunday, June 9 | Charles City
Hosts: Wendy Johnson & Johnny Rafkin
May 30: Meet-up - Grazing Group
4:30 - 7 p.m. | Oxford

June 4: Field Day - Cover Crops
4:30 - 7 p.m. | La Porte City

June 4: Field Day - Heirloom Tomatoes, Food Forest
4 - 6 p.m. | Missouri Valley

June 5: Workshop - Livestock Parasites
5:30 - 8 p.m. | Ames

June 6: Field Day - Cover Crops
4 - 7 p.m. | Kewanee, IL

June 9: Meet-up - Grazing Group
4:30 - 7 p.m. | Charles City

June 11: Field Day - Organic Dairy Cattle
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Bloomfield

June 13: Field Day - Hybrid Rye
3 - 5:30 p.m. | West Union
June 14: Field Day - Pastured Pig Health
10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Elliott

June 18: Field Day - Small Grains
10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Dyersville

June 18: Field Day - On-Farm Habitat
5 - 8 p.m. | Lewis

June 19: Field Day - Grazing Native Perennials
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Peterson

June 20: Field Day - Diverse Rotations
5 - 8 p.m. | Keota

June 21: Field Day - Pumpkins and Produce
1 - 3 p.m. | Algona
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Dustin Gleason of Audubon was featured in Iowa Farmer Today: Tech tools aid partnership between vets, producers 

Terry Ward of LaPorte City, Steve Berger of Daytonville and Sarah Carlson of Pleasant Hill were featured in the The Gazette's Iowa Ideas magazine: For Iowa farmers, profiting from cover crops may unlock potential

Brian Corkill of Galva was featured in FarmWeekNow.com: 'The most challenging year' for cover crops
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.