The Monthly Feedstuff - The benefits of regenerative grazing + Apply for PFI's Savings Incentive Program

Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.

This article entitled, “Accelerating regenerative grazing to tackle farm, environmental, and societal challenges in the upper Midwest” in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, is a comprehensive look at the benefits and challenges of regenerative grazing.

Touching on a wide range of topics, the article starts with making a practical case for regenerative grazing before moving on to analyze the status of, and solutions to those issues. The article highlights the areas of technical assistance, land access, finances and many other factors that contribute to the successes or barriers of the practice.

Be sure to make it to this upcoming field day on regenerative grazing! Here’s a great recap of a field day from 2018 with Andy Welch on regenerative grazing.

PROGRAM UPDATES

Apply for PFI's Savings Incentive Program

When starting a farm, you are in charge of everything, from production to business management. The Savings Incentive Program is a two-year program that helps novice farmers create successful business plans.

Over the two-year program, you will save up to $2,400 into your farm savings account. After completing the program, PFI will match your savings dollar for dollar.

This program is ideal for aspiring and beginning farmers who are planning to get started farming, or have been farming for fewer than seven years.

Questions? Contact Greg Padget at greg.padget@practicalfarmers.org

Applications are open for PFI's

Farm Business Coaching Program

The Farm Business Coaching Program is ideal for those with 5+ years of farming experience who are looking to grow their farm business. The program includes a current business assessment, and growth opportunity coaching.

Applications are open until Oct. 9.

Questions? Contact Greg Padget at (515) 232-5661 or greg.padget@practicalfarmers.org.

BEYOND THE GATE

New certification from A Greener World

The non-profit organization A Greener World, has released a new certification for products produced using regenerative agriculture.

AGW works with farmers to create a farm-specific management plan, which accommodates regional, local, and place-specific management needs.

You can find out more from these FAQs.

Iowa Local Food Purchasing Assistance

Program now accepting vendors

The Iowa Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program will buy local food from Iowa’s producers for distribution to Iowans in under-resourced communities.

If you produce local food, including meat, in Iowa and are interested in selling your products into the Iowa LFPA Program, follow this link to learn more and apply for this program.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Field day: Regenerative Grazing with Mobile Infrastructure and Livestock Guardian Dogs

Oct. 5 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Wilton, IA

Join us for a field day with JR Jenkins of Pleasant Prairie Stock Farm, to learn about rotationally grazing cattle and sheep on pasture and cover crops.

JR solely grazes on leased land. He also breeds and trains livestock guardian dogs, direct-markets 100% grass-fed beef and lamb and owns a custom fence company.

We’ll enjoy a potluck lunch with burgers from JR’s beef at his cousin’s wedding barn, where we’ll also discuss agritourism.

Field day: Creating a Diverse Silvopasture Farm on Former Row Crop Ground

Oct. 8 | 2-4 p.m. | Clemons, IA

Join us for a field day where Tim Swinton will share how he’s turning his 11 acres of former row crop farmland into a highly diverse farm that encompasses a variety of food crops and conservation practices.

Newly established tree and shrub species, such as chestnut, apple, pear, honeyberry, black currant and oak, will create a functional silvopasture system to support fruit and nut production and provide grazing space for goats.

A representative from the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust will share how SILT’s landowner consultation program can help other landowners like Tim explore their land’s potential, and provide tangible ideas for tapping into that potential.