Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
Farmers Building Community Together
At Practical Farmers of Iowa, we strive to build community within our network. We want people to form personal and business relationships through PFI that offer vital support, information and resources.
As you read through our 2018 annual report you will see the members who are making a difference in their communities. You can read about Donna Warhover sharing how she has learned from others as she's built her farming business and now she shows others how to do the same. You can also see how beginning farmer Carmen Black is partnering with other farmers to conduct on-farm research to better improve her farming operation. Check these stories and more in our annual report .
Beginning farmers have many opportunities to learn from others in the Practical Farmers network. You will see 13 available positions in our Labor4Learning program. Here aspiring farmers get to work along side experienced farmers and dig deeper into what it takes to run a farm.
Field days are the perfect opportunity to learn from other farms and see how they are doing different practices and using tools on their farm. This summer you will find 42 different field days hosted by farmers. New this summer we will be hosting a bus tour of three Labor4Learning training farms for beginning and aspiring farmers. Clear your calendar on July 2 to attend. Watch for details and RSVP when our field day guide is released later this month.
Latest from Practical Farmers
Celebrate the start of the 2019 growing season with other beginning farmers during an afternoon of good food and networking  in West Des Moines . Make new friends and connect with old ones while learning about each other’s spring projects, plans for the year and improvements from last year.
May 9 |   Lamoni

May 16 |   Lockridge

May 22 |   Remsen
May 23 |  Maxwell

May 30 |   Oxford

June 9 |   Charles City
We’ll get together to go on pasture walks, discuss spring grazing management on lush pastures, first cut 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.
Check out these resources for beginning farmers
We have recently updated our collection of business, financial, production, and technical assistance resources to help aspiring and beginning farmers further their business goals. You can access them by clicking on the icons below.
We will continue to build this list and add new resources as they are available. If you see any resources missing that you find helpful please share them with us. You can send them to Greg Padget at greg@practicalfarmers.org .
USDA’s Farm Service Agency announced that organic producers and handlers can apply for federal funds to assist with the cost of receiving and maintaining organic certification through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). Applications for fiscal 2019 funding are due Oct. 31, 2019.

The Farm Employment FAQ provides answers to frequently asked questions about the rights and responsibilities for Iowa farm workers and farm employers.

In this video, several PFI farmers share knowledge on preplant tillage and planting of organic field crops. They talk about what tillage equipment to use, how they decide which passes to make and when to make those passes, including how to prepare fields coming out of corn, soybeans, or alfalfa and green manures like clover or cover crop mixes.

In this introduction to “Rotationally Raised,” learn from members of Practical Farmers of Iowa about the history of small grains production in the state and about some of the benefits of diversified crop rotation for strengthening farms and communities.
Beginning Farmer Poll
Do you have someone you consider a farming mentor?
Yes, we still keep in touch
Yes, I used to, but we don't keep in touch any longer
No, but I would like to find a mentor
No, I have things covered
Upcoming PFI Events
May 9:   Grazing Group - Lamoni
4:30 - 7 p.m. RSVP

May 16:   Grazing Group - Lockridge
4:30 - 7 p.m. |   RSVP

May 22:  Grazing Group - Remsen
4:30 - 7 p.m. |  RSVP
May 23:   Grazing Group - Maxwell
4:30 - 7 p.m. |  RSVP

May 30:   Grazing Group - Oxford
4:30 - 7 p.m. |  RSVP

June 9:   Grazing Group - Charles City
4:30 - 7 p.m. | RSVP
Programs Designed for Beginning Farmers
Labor4Learning helps beginning farmers get paid on-the-job training with experienced farmers, and pays experienced farmers for their time and effort.

Savings Incentive Program is a 2-year program that pairs beginning and aspiring farmers with experienced farmer mentors; provides targeted learning and peer networking opportunities; offers business planning support and guidance. All this while you save money and then we match is dollar for dollar up to $2,400, to use toward the purchase of a farm asset. 

Find A Farmer allows for a comfortable place to start anonymous conversations with land-seekers or landowners about land access. Search for users in a particular area that fit your specifications and begin the discussion.

Find A Farmer is FREE and available for anyone with internet access! No membership is required.
 
Looking for more? Contact us today!
Greg Padget
Next Generation Director
(515) 232-5661
Steve Carlson 
Next Generation Coordinator
(515) 232-5661