Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
Left to right: Doug Lundgren, Jim Penny, Dave Struthers
Meet the farmers: Practical farmers at the
Farm Progress Show! 
We enjoyed the company of 20 different farmers volunteering in the PFI booth during the Farm Progress Show. Here’s a little bit about the Thursday morning crew: 
 
Dave Struthers of Collins, Iowa, raises corn, soybeans and alfalfa on his family operation with his parents, brother and nephew. They also operate a cow-calf operation and an independent feeder to finish pig operation. 
 
Something Dave is interested in learning about: Relay cropping rye and soybeans for on-farm use. 
 
Doug Lundgren of Stanton, Iowa, raises conventional corn and soybeans. 
 
Something Doug is interested in learning about: Managing his nutrition program to apply fertilizer at planting. 
 
Jim Penny of Ames, Iowa, is a retired Key Co-op manager and was a former board member of the Leopold Center for 10 years. He and his son have 40 acres of corn, including some short corn, and 2 acres of alfalfa planted in a waterway.

Something Jim is interested in learning about: Management of wetlands and bioreactors. 

Thank you to Dave, Doug and Jim for representing Practical Farmers at the Farm Progress Show, and thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello to farmers and staff!
PROGRAM UPDATES
Love talking with other farmers about cover crops? Interested in helping PFI grow our network? Do we have the job for you!

We’re hiring a field crops viability coordinator to lead recruitment and engagement for our cover crop, small grain and fertilizer cost-share programs. Applications are due September 16th!

Don’t miss out on PFI’s cover crop cost-share program this fall!

Seed and application prices are rising. Let us help foot the bill. Our privately funded program can be stacked with any federally or state-funded cost-share to help put more money back in your pocket. 

Green manure crops – like clover and other legumes – add nitrogen to the soil, allowing farmers to save on fertilizer costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In this animated video, learn how green manure crops add nitrogen to the soil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and how they fit onto Corn Belt farms.
IN THE FIELD
The Cooperators’ Program has several years of cover crop variety trial data at the ready! 

Establishment is compared in corn and soybeans for brassicas, grass and legumes. Species include winter wheat, hairy vetch, rapeseed and more!
Key findings from this 2020 Cooperators’ Program Report on winter camelina as a cover crop ahead of corn and soybeans show the cover had no effect on yields. 

Three farms were involved in the trial and the winter camelina overwintered at two and winter-killed at the third.
Additional resources
UPCOMING EVENTS
All events below are listed in central daylight time.
Hosted by: Tim Dotterer | Practical Farmers of Iowa
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Bloomfield, IA
FREE

Sept. 14: Field Day - On-Farm Cover Crop Research Trials
Hosted by: Will and Cassie Cannon | Practical Farmers of Iowa
Noon-2:30 p.m. | Prairie City, IA
FREE
September 21: Field Day - Cover Crop and Water Quality Field Day
Hosted by: USDA NRCS & Iowa Learning Farms
5-7 p.m. | Center Junction, IA
FREE

September 28: Virtual Event - Cover Crop Specialist Call
Hosted by: Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership
9-10 a.m. | Online
FREE
Want to host a cover crop meet up? Are you planning or hosting a cover crop event? Contact taylor@practicalfarmers.org to plan something or to promote your event.
COVER CROP POLL
Send us your cover crop poll ideas! We want to know what YOU want to know. Reply to this email with your ideas for the next poll.
Which of these session topics for the PFI Annual Conference sound the most interesting to you?
Flame weeding
Cover crops and herbicide carryover
On-farm composting
Cover crop seeding and equipment
Previous poll results:
How do you plan to seed your cover crops this fall?

  • Drill following harvest - 58.3%
  • Broadcast following harvest - 20.8%
  • Interseed into standing crop - 12.5%
  • Differ by the field/crop - 8.3%
CONTACT OUR COVER CROPS TEAM
Lydia English
Field Crops Viability Manager
(515) 232-5661
Chris Wilbeck
Independent Contractor
(515) 232-5661
Rebecca Clay
Field Crops Viability Coordinator
(515) 232-5661
Taylor Hintch
Field Crops Education Coordinator
(515)-232-5661