Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
You may have noticed green cover crop fields this spring before, during or even after planting – Cover crops can be a powerful strategy for landowners to improve soil health and protect the land. If you’re curious about cover crops and what they can do for your land, PFI has a plethora of resources that can help. Check out some resources from PFI:

Planning to plant cover crops in Fall 2020? PFI can help through our cover crop cost-share program . Note that PFI’s cost share program can be stacked with private cost share, so visit our website to learn more today! Both landowners and producers are eligible for the program.

In March, Mike and Mark Jackson hosted a virtual cover crop field day; view the archived footage of this field day and learn how Mike and Mark use cover crops on their farm.

Clear Goals are Key to Cover Crop Success -- We spoke with PFI farmers Sam Ose, Steve Saltzman, Levi Lyle, Gary Johnson and Cody Glasnapp who shared their stories about the use of cover crops on their farms and why they decided to implement the practice.
Headline News
Practical Farmers of Iowa’s annual field day season began on May 30th with a session on mechanical weed control. In an effort to provide the best learning opportunities to farmers and friends, we have decided to move our field days online this year . Some will be hosted on Facebook Live, while others will be on the Zoom platform.

Please check out our website for more details and access to the dates, times, and links to our 60 plus field days.
Hosted by: Tom Wind
June 11 | 2:15 – 3:15 p.m.

Hosted by: Tim Youngquist and Eric Hoien
June 18 | 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. (Management & Prescribed Fire)
July 31 | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. (Working with Tenants & Environmental Benefits)

Hosted by: Jake and Doug De Bruin
June 29 | 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Hosted by: Regina Frahm, Martha McFarland and Kim Andersen
June 30 | 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Hosted by: Matt Roberts, Karl Knudson, and Dale Nimrod
July 14 | 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Hosted by: Jeff Pudenz and Darrick Weissenfluh
July 28 | 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. (Oxbows)
August 4 | 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. (Beaver Habitat)
August 11 | 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. (Long-Term Habitat Management)
Resources for Landowners
S ession recordings from PFI's annual conference
Session recordings from our annual conference in January are making their way onto the PFI website. Check out Blain Hjertaas’s session on farm transfer and diversification in southeast Saskatchewan, Canada.

You can also check out this session from Jeff Pudenz highlighting Jeff’s experiences working with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to restore rare and declining habitats on his farm. Session recordings are being uploaded all the time so check back frequently for new content.
Combining livestock and cover crops can be a winning formula for landowners and tenants alike. Review this research report to learn about the economic impacts of grazing cover crops. Another resource about livestock and cover crops in a changing climate is this farminar (farm webinar) from Monte Bottens of Cambridge, IL.
You can also read this article featuring three PFI members who worked with their landlord to link livestock to the land and graze cover crops on rented row-crop acres, resulting in benefits for both parties.
Check out this article featuring PFI member, landowner and 2019 Farmland Legacy Award winner Lee Tesdell.

Learn more about how Lee worked with his tenants to add more conservation practices to his family’s century farm.
Read this article to learn more about how PFI member, farmer and landowner Rob Stout has made use of the federal cost share programs to increase conservation on his farm. 
N on-PFI resources
Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever recently announced a Soil Health and Habitat Program for landowners and farmers in the Prairie Pothole (north central) region of Iowa--visit PF/QF’s website to learn more. 
Poll
Do you currently have a written lease for your farmland?
Yes
No, we have an oral lease (verbal agreement)
No, we currently don't rent out the land we own
Not sure
Please share this newsletter with your friends and let us know what type of content and programming we can provide to best help server you!
Looking for more? Contact us!
Jorgen Rose
Habitat & Farm Transfer Coordinator
jorgen@practicalfarmers.org