Practical Farmers of Iowa is pleased to announce that Dean and Judy Henry are the recipients of our 2023 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award!

We give the award to an individual or couple that has shown exemplary commitment to sustainable agriculture, generously shared their knowledge with others and been influential in efforts to foster vibrant communities, diverse farms and healthy food.

For more than 50 years, Dean and Judy, along with their son Mike, have raised a variety of orchard fruits, berries and other horticultural crops, both familiar and less common, on their 140-acre farm south of Nevada, where they have introduced generations of Iowans to community-focused agriculture, locally raised produce and land stewardship.



Come see the Henrys accept their award at our annual conference on Friday, Jan. 20!

ON THE BLOG

December shared learning call recap blog

On Keith Gorham’s Illinois farm, small grains are a key component in his livestock rations that help him achieve his regenerative agriculture goals of cutting inputs and improving profitability.

Corn and soybeans are the dominant feed source for cattle and hog operations, but Keith makes room for small grains like cereal rye and triticale/peas. “Our goal is a whole farm, holistic type of approach," says Keith.

Read more about Keith's holistic operation in our Dec. shared learning call recap blog.

New blog: "Nature's Classroom – Central College Students Gain New Understanding in On-Farm Habitat Practices"

Students from Central College in Pella, Iowa, were given a hands-on learning experience in working lands habitat conservation in early November.

PFI members Curt and Randy Van Kooten were generous enough to share their farm with Russell Benedict’s conservation biology class to show them the conservation practices they've implemented on their farm.

Read about the Van Kootens' habitat conservation practices and what these students learned.

PFI's annual conference is only 27 days away!

PFI's annual conference is Jan. 19-21 in Ames, IA, at the Sheman Building.

Our conference experience includes a wide range of farmer-led educational content with 50+ sessions, 80+ exhibitors and many fun activities including the return of the PFI dinner and potluck!

Pre-registration for the conference ends on Jan. 12. Sign up now to get the lowest rate!

Need help registering? Call our office: 515-232-5661

January small grains shared learning call

Jan. 6 | Noon-1 p.m. | Online or call-in

In our January shared learning call, Wisconsin farmer Scott Schultz will talk about his operation that involves frost-seeding red clover ahead of wheat, and his use of medium red clover and diverse covers as a feed source.

Scott and his family farm on 200 acres. Their crop rotation consists of corn, soybeans and wheat with diverse cover crop mixes between each cash crop, including rye, oats, vetch and red clover. Scott also raises 30 beef cows in his cow-calf operation that he will graze on cover crops, as well as bale covers, like his clover, for feed. 

Sign up to learn more about Scott’s operation and the role red clover plays on his farm in our January shared learning call.

Check out the lineup of farmer-speakers for our 2023 farminar series

Farminars are PFI's version of a webinar. Join us on Tuesdays from Noon-1:30 p.m. Central time, starting Jan. 10 through late March.

For our 2023 farminar series, we'll discuss state-funded cost-share programs, creating healthy spaces for pollinators, Tribal food sovereignty, cover crops, pricing pastured poultry and more.

Continue learning and connecting with other farmers from the comfort of your home this winter.

Register to hear our farmer-speakers this winter!

Sign up to be a trainer in our Labor4Learning program

Do you remember your mentors when you first started farming? Maybe you didn't have a mentor and had to learn some things the hard way.

PFI is calling on experienced farmers from a diversity of enterprises to help train the next generation of farmers.

Sharing your knowledge will help beginning and aspiring farmers learn what it takes to run a farm, better understand their markets and ensure their success overall.

Sign up to be a Labor4Learning trainer.

MEMBERSHIP

Help us reach our 2022 fundraising goal!

We have a bold goal of raising $55,000 to support our ambitious plans and continue our farmer-to-farmer approach for the benefit of our farms, food and communities.

By donating to Practical Farmers today, you enable us to continue our work of fostering grassroots networking among farmers in support of a sustainable agricultural landscape in Iowa and beyond.

Your gift to our 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is tax-deductible.

Members in the News

Paul Rasch and Sarah Goering of Solon, IA, were mentioned in Little Village: Best of the CRANDIC: Wilson's Orchard and Farm is welcomed into a new agrihood

Jeff and Earl Hafner of Panora, IA, and Amanda Kanehl of Panora, IA, were featured on Green Iowa AmeriCorps' Blog: Exploring Iowa Aquaponics with Early Morning Harvest

Nick Wallace of Keystone, IA, was featured in AZ Big Media: 18 ways to tackle the feeling of being overwhelmed at work

Have you been featured in the media? If you're a PFI member, tell us when and where to find a link to the article, and we'll feature you in a future issue of Practical News.

Contact: rachel.burke@practicalfarmers.org

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