Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
Hundreds of farmers gathered at the FFA Enrichment Center on the campus of Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, on Tuesday for Practical Farmers of Iowa's annual Cover Crop Boot Camp.

Attendees had a chance to network and hear how their farming peers are using cover crops to reduce nitrogen and herbicide inputs, grow their own cover crop seed and integrate livestock with cover crops.

If you couldn't attend, or want to re-listen to a talk, recordings from the boot camp are now available to watch on our website.
Storytelling is back! Following lunch on Saturday, all conference attendees will come together to hear true stories from a selection of PFI farmers.

If you enjoy bending your ear toward a lively, soberingly powerful or particularly well-narrated farmer tale, this storytelling is just for you.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Cost: $20 for PFI members | $30 for non-PFI members

This series is for beginning farmers who have started to farm and are working to build their business plan.

Self-paced exercises will lead you through the process of using decision-making to build a farm plan. 

Sign up today before the Dec. 4 registration deadline!
Want to learn about this year’s on-farm research? We’ve scheduled public video meetings on three successive evenings to share research recaps and discuss results from our major farmer-led research areas. Click here for more information.

Field Crops – Tuesday, Dec. 7 | 7-8:30 p.m.

Horticulture – Wednesday, Dec. 8 | 7-8:30 p.m.

Livestock – Thursday, Dec. 9 | 7-8:30 p.m.
MEMBERSHIP
Practical Farmers of Iowa’s network – our membership, reach and staff members – doubled in size in fewer than 10 years. PFI’s growth over these years has been rapid, but it hasn’t been haphazard. Our member priorities continue to guide our vision: an Iowa with healthy soil, healthy food, clean air, clean water, resilient farms and vibrant communities.

With this network and program growth comes a need to invest in stronger organizational roots: software and processes that can handle the increased complexity and scale of the information we are housing.

As we finish 2021 and look ahead to 2022, we are asking for your financial help. We have a bold goal of raising $50,000 to support our ambitious plans and broaden our impact.

Thank you for being part of our generous community, and for your support.
IN THE NEWS
Members in the News
Suzan Erem of West Branch, IA, was featured in Fearless: SUZAN EREM: ‘I lost my voice before I ever had it.’

Caleb Akin of Cambridge, IA, and Noah Wendt of Huxley, IA, were featured in Agri-Pulse: Saving the planet by saving the soil: Can cover crops fulfill their promise?

Tom Pyfferoen of Pine Island, MN, and Sarah Carlson of Pleasant Hill, IA, were featured in Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network: PFI ‘Boot Camp’ explores use of cover crops to reduce nitrogen inputs.
PFI in the News
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.