Greetings,

Pre-register for Small Grains Conference by February 28 to save your seat! We have an action packed program planned with twelve break out sessions, two plenary presentations and a reception hosted by our seventeen conference sponsors -- all listed on our small grains conference page. Come join the fun - register today (before you forget!).

Have you bought your clover seed yet? Frost-seeding windows will be upon us soon!

Cheers,

Alisha
March 6 Call will be on the Role of Small Grains in Transition to Organic
The Anheuser Busch ad about transitioning farmers to organic made quite a splash at the Super Bowl, but it was more geared towards consumers than to farmers who are interested in transitioning to organic . On March 6th, our shared learning call will dig a little deeper with Mallory Krieger of the Organic Agronomy Training Series (OATS) which is involved in the program. Mallory will walk us through the parts of the program including funds for transitioning farmers that are open growers of any crop in any region.
If you're thinking about organic transition you probably have a lot of questions from weed management to crop rotation to finances. Veteran organic farmer and long-time PFI member Vic Madsen, who farms near Audubon, IA will also join our call to discuss his experience using small grain crops in the transition years to navigate this tricky time.

The call will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, March 6. To join dial 605-313-5784 and enter passcode 239000# when prompted.
Blog Online from Call on Small-Grain Fertility
Understanding small grain fertility needs and providing the necessary nutrients at the right time of the year is important to achieving a profitable small grain crop. We've published a blog recap of our call with Dr. Dave Franzen , the Extension Soil Specialist at North Dakota State University. The blog features strategies and tips for appropriate management of N, P, K, S and other nutrient needs for small grains crops.
Oatly Program Seeks More Oat Growers in N. Iowa and S. Minnesota
Oatly is increasing growers/acres in their program to source US grown oats in 2020 from farmers using cover crops and extended rotation best practices.  Participating farmers would receive forward contracts on their oats and cost share through PFI at $25/acre. Farmers are required to frost seed a clover or other legume cover crop into their oats or apply for a livestock exception to plant a diverse summer mix if livestock will graze the field. Program participation also includes guaranteed contract offers for three years (2020-2022) and assistance from Grain Millers in marketing oats that don't make grade.

If you're interested in participating contact Alisha Bower at  alisha@practicalfarmers.org or (515) 232-5661 to talk through program requirements and eligibility.
Smithfield Bids for Wheat and Oats in Southern Iowa
Farmers in Southern Iowa will now have a new market option for wheat and oats. In partnership with Practical Farmers,  Smithfield grain elevators in Allerton and Davis City, Iowa will be offering contracting options for wheat and oats.These contracts can be paired with PFI's 2020 cost share program as long as the small grain crop is followed by a cover crop that contains at least one legume species. Learn more about the program here.

Questions? Contact Alisha Bower at (515) 232-5661 or alisha@practicalfarmers.org
EVENTS
February
February 21, 2020 | Benson, MN

February 21, 2020 | 3-5 PM | Hayward, MN

March
March 4-5, 2020 | Springfield, IL

March 10, 2020 | Nora Springs, IA
IN THE FIELD
Spring Small Grain Variety Selection
Still unsure which small grain is right for you? Here are some resources:
Small Grain Marketing
Winter is the time to secure contracts for your next year's small grains. This requires a bit of leg work since many buyers don't list their bid prices online. Here are some resources we've produced to help navigate the process of scoping out markets for your small grains:
Apply for Cost Share Assistance

Winter is a great time to look into programs that support growing small grains in extended rotations. Here are some resources:
Looking for more? Contact us today!
Alisha Bower
Strategic Initiatives Manager
(515) 232-5661
Sarah Carlson
Strategic Initiatives Director
(515) 232-5661
Celize Christy
Swine and Poultry Coordinator
515-232-5661