Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
Sam Bennett and his family hosted a field day yesterday on their farm in Gavla, Iowa. Sam talked about his transition to organic cropping systems and general cover cropping strategies.

We still have a bunch of field days remaining this summer! Attend a field day near you.
ON THE BLOG
A couple of weeks ago, Jude Becker of Dyersville, Iowa, shared his experience with raising hybrid rye and incorporating it into his swine rations.

After attending a PFI field day and learning about hybrid rye, he planted 20 acres in 2017 for harvest in 2018. It was the best small grains crop grown on his farm and he began to prioritize incorporating it in his operation.
NEWS
PFI has released a new cover crop app designed to help farmers easily locate cover crop seed, services and suppliers in time for fall 2021 planting decisions.

The app, Find Cover Crops, is free to download and use, and is available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The Find Cover Crops app lets users:

  • Search by location or GPS for at least 44 cover crop seed dealers, seed cleaning and custom spraying services in Iowa and surrounding states

  • Request services right from their phones or computer

  • Access advice and management recommendations

  • Precisely identify the boundaries of fields to be cover cropped

Content can also be accessed at a companion website.
The next generation coordinator will be pivotal to using the resources and network of PFI to support aspiring and beginning farmers of color.

As we expand this work, supporting farmers of color in their efforts to get started farming will be a central part of our focus as we seek to amplify our efforts to create inclusive and equitable farming opportunities.

Having the right equipment and systems to get your vegetable crops started, planted, ahead of the weeds and cleaned up for customers makes the job more enjoyable from start to finish.

During this event, T.D. demonstrated a few of his favorite and newest tools and equipment, and how he came to find his best uses for each of them for a variety of crops (and eggs!).
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, July 27 | 6:30-7:15 p.m.

At this “Live From the Farm” event, Roger will discuss combine settings and the conditions he looks for to harvest cereal rye and oats. We will also look at post-harvest handling, such as seed cleaning and storage of small grains.

Because the small-grain crops Roger raises are mostly sold as cover crop seed, he will discuss best practices for raising, harvesting and handling cover crop seed. If timing allows, we will view the cover crop drilling process.
There are no field days next week, but still plenty more to come! Check out the full list of upcoming field days.
RSVPs are required for all "Catching Up" events to ensure we maintain the small, conversational environment these events are designed for.

Anyone is welcome to RSVP for a "Catching Up" event! To learn more about a specific event or to RSVP, email the PFI staffer indicated, or call the PFI office at (515) 232-5661.
Infrastructure, Equipment and Regulations for Wine Making and Alcohol Sales
Wednesday, July 28 | 3-5 p.m.
Host: Preston & Amber Gable

Equipment and Infrastructure for High-Density Apple Production
Thursday, July 29 | 2-4 p.m.
Host: Mike Malik
Investigating Reduced-Till Vegetable Production at Middle Way Farm
Friday, July 30 | 3-5 p.m.
Host: Jordan Scheibel
10 a.m.-Noon | Iowa City, IA

Aug. 3: Live From the Farm - Expanding Agritourism on the Farm
5:30-6:15 p.m. | Online
Aug. 6: Field Day - Cover Crops From Start to Finish
4-6 p.m. | Latimer, IA
IN THE NEWS
Members in the News
Andrew, Melissa, Emma and Leonora Dunham of Grinnell, IA, are featured in a 30-minute film about climate change-related displacement. The episode is part of a four-part docuseries produced with Sesame Workshop exploring life through children's perspectives that's streaming HBO Max: Through Our Eyes -- Episode 2: Uprooted.

Patti Naylor of Churdan, IA, wrote an op-ed that was published in The Jefferson Herald: No Longer Enough to Tweak the Corn-Soybean Rotation
PFI in the News
Sarah Carlson, strategic initiatives director for PFI, was featured in two stories about a panel discussion on carbon 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.