During the concluding evening of our 2021 annual conference, we will hear live personal stories from a selection of PFI members. Some might be funny and others possibly sad, but all of them will be real. To curate this special experience, we need your help: For a night of PFI-member storytelling, who should be on stage? 

Think back to your interactions with PFI members over the years. Who made you laugh? Who made you think? Who do you always want to hear more from? Who has a powerful experience to share?

Squash vine borer can be a devastating pest to cucurbit crops and are difficult to control with organic methods.

In this trial, Julia Slocum and Mark Quee, who have both struggled with vine borers, undertook a trial comparing five methods of organic control.

Practical Farmers of Iowa is excited to announce we have been awarded a grant from USDA's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program to lead the Exploring, Establishing And Enhancing Farm Entrepreneurs Through Decision-Making, Farmer-To-Farmer Training And Networking Building project.

This project will guide and equip beginning farmers as they make the journey from aspiring to beginning to intermediate farmers. Through this project, PFI will provide business planning for decision-making, farmer-to-farmer training and farmer-to-farmer peer support tailored to help farmers explore, build and strengthen their farm businesses.

After serving as the strategic initiatives manager for the past three-and-a-half years, Alisha takes over as our new operations director.

Alisha will provide leadership on human resources, grant planning and management, office and administrative management and organization-wide performance.

Beginning farmers, don’t miss this opportunity to use the Savings Incentive Program to grow your farm. Applications are open will close on Monday, Oct. 12.

If accepted, you will spend the next two years working on building a successful farm with a group of other beginning farmers who are doing the same. You will graduate with a network of peers and mentors, the tools to use a business plan and a savings match of up to $2,400 for your farm. Be part of the 2022 SIP class!

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Check out our full slate of 2020 field days. Details and registration are now available.

Missed a virtual field day that you wanted to attend? There are a few ways to watch recordings:

Hosted by: Tom Wahl & Kathy Dice

The Farmland Owner Legacy Award is granted annually by Practical Farmers to landowners who use their land to help the next generation get started, advance land stewardship and promote long-term sustainability of farm businesses, environmental quality and rural communities.

Join us for this event honoring the 2020 recipients of the award. This year’s recipients are the Bouska sisters: Ann Novak, Carol Bouska, Sally McCoy and Peg Bouska.

On the heels of the derecho, PFI is organizing three high tunnel builds in the Cedar Rapids area from Oct. 10-12. These workshops will be two days each, with limited attendance (nine attendees at each site).

Adam Montri, high tunnel building master of Ten Hens Farm, will be leading the builds.

Martha McFarland of Fredericksburg was featured in The Gazette: Hawkeye Buffalo Ranch offers up-close prairie experience in Eastern Iowa

Practical Farmers of Iowa was mentioned in an article in Feed&Grain: Central Appeal: ADM builds largest U.S. flour mill in northern Illinois to realign its Midwestern milling business

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.

Contact: tamsyn@practicalfarmers.org