Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
After much planning, we are excited to announce our roster of 2019 field days!

Our main field day season include s 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.

Field days are a foundation of our work to connect farmers and their supporters, and to create opportunities for our friends to share in PFI’s vision.

At PFI, we have a unique learning model: Our field days (and other events!) are led by our farmer members. We know farmers are the experts on their farming systems, challenges and solutions -- and we are thankful so many believe in sharing their knowledge, discoveries, mistakes and successes to benefit everyone.

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!

We are excited to see many of you as this season gets underway!
ON THE BLOG
With the wet and cold weather, it’s been hard to get into the field to plant.

Under the circumstances, reducing tillage via strip-till or no-till practices deserves another look as a way to improve soil health to promote water infiltration and prevent erosion at the field level, and also keep input costs low and support farmer health and well-being.
NEWS
Please donate to help us cultivate connections to build our supportive learning community, to help increase conservation on Iowa’s landscape, to improve the viability of our farms and rural communities and to help support beginning farmers and farm transfer.

Our goal is to raise $30,000 in this year's spring fundraiser. Your donation toward this goal will help us provide our members with farmer-led education on what they say they need most!
Paul and Nancy Ackley are looking for an aspiring farmer to work and learn part-time on their Taylor County farm through PFI's Labor4Learning program.

“We believe strongly in building and maintaining soil health,” Paul says. “Diversifying with wheat, livestock and cover crops are important components to that.

"We are happy to support the next generation of Iowa farmers and to employ an aspiring farmer looking for experience on a diversified crop and livestock farm.”
UPCOMING EVENTS
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.
There are still four 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. Each of these events runs from 4:30-7 p.m. and will have a meal provided.
Wednesday, May 22 | Remsen
Host: Robert Alexander
Thursday, May 30 | Oxford
Host: Doug Darrow
Thursday, May 23 | Maxwell
Host: Bruce Carney
Sunday, June 9 | Charles City
Hosts: Wendy Johnson & Johnny Rafkin
May 18: Social - Beginning Farmers
4 - 6 p.m. | West Des Moines

May 22: Meet-up - Grazing Group
4:30 - 7 p.m. | Remsen

May 23: Meet-up - Grazing Group
4:30 - 7 p.m. | Maxwell

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
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Michael Rosmann of Harlan was featured in the Chicago Tribune: Farmers wash up 'in a fragile place' after historic Midwest floods

Matt Liebman of Ames was featured in Knowable Magazine: A middle path to sustainable farming
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.