Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities. | |
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Decreasing dependence on purchased inputs has been a tenet of PFI farmers since our inception. For years, we’ve been looking for ways to diversify our farms by adding other crops and cover crops to our rotations. Not only does diversifying help cut down the need for purchased inputs, growing green manure crops reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
This style of farming is being recognized as “climate-smart” agriculture – full of farming solutions that make farms more resilient to climate change and less reliant on purchased inputs. Learn more in this animated video about how green manure crops fix nitrogen and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
More people in the agricultural industry – including companies throughout the agricultural supply chain – are adding fertilizer reduction as a key part of their climate plans. To that end, we’ll soon be announcing a new program focused specifically on reducing fertilizer by including green manure crops to rotations. Stay tuned for more details!
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Fall-seeded small grains work a double-shift: They keep living roots in the soil through the winter and provide a crop the following summer.
On the August shared learning call, we heard from Kevin Wagner about his fall seeding practices for a variety of winter small grains.
Missed the call? See the highlights in this new blog.
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To better understand the challenges and successes row crop producers face every day, guest blog author Ellie Ellis, a doctoral student at Colorado State University, set out to experience the heartland of American agriculture.
In her reflection blog, she shares what she learned from PFI farmers implementing conservation practices on their farms.
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PFI has two open positions, one in the communications department as the digital marketing manager, and the other in the farm viability department as the field crops viability coordinator.
These positions include full health care benefits, as well as the opportunity to work in a collaborative environment where trust and transparency are highly valued.
Read more about these job openings on our employment page.
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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.
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.
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Farm Business Coaching is a 14-month program aimed at helping you strengthen your established business through in-depth expert consultations. The process begins with a farm business assessment to identify areas of opportunity.
This program is designed for farm businesses that directly market their products, including those that sell produce or meat products directly to consumers or to wholesale markets.
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PFI gives this award annually to a person who has been influential in creating healthy soil, healthy food, clean air, clean water, resilient farms and vibrant communities.
The recipient will be recognized at Practical Farmers' annual conference next January in Ames, Iowa.
To nominate someone, please fill out this simple form and submit it by the end of the day on Sunday, Sept. 4. You can view past recipients here.
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Saturday, Aug. 27 | 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. | Northfield, MN
Come learn from Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquín and Wil Crombie.
They will share how chickens in the “Tree-Range” system are raised in a coop and paddock system that integrates trees and perennial crops.
Content will be delivered in Spanish and English. Please note that registration is required.
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Aug. 27 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Cherokee, IA
Join Nathan and Sarah Anderson of Bobolink Prairie Farms to learn how practices like prairie strips can benefit water quality and wildlife, while tools like precision agriculture technologies can help you integrate conservation while improving your bottom line.
Nathan and Sarah raise corn, soybeans, cattle, small grains, hay and wildlife on their northwest Iowa family farm. Join us!
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Tuesday, Aug. 30-Thursday, Sept. 1| 8 a.m.-4 p.m. | Boone, IA
Hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of farmers from across the country gather at the Farm Progress Show to learn about the latest agricultural equipment, supplies, services and information.
PFI staff and farmers will be at booth #9515 in the Varied Industries tent for the duration of the event.
Find our booth to join conversations, ask questions and share practical advice on topics such as cover crops, small grains, grazing and more.
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Friday, Sept. 2 | Noon-1 p.m. | Online or call in
Winter barley, a fall-seeded small grain, has potential as a stand-alone grain crop, a soybean double-crop or as a forage.
Kevin Smith is the principal investigator at his lab in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota. His lab is known for its work on barley breeding and genetics.
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Chris Wilson, of Wilson Organic Farms, is an organic dairy farmer near Cuba City, Wisconsin, who raises 400 cows alongside 3,500 acres of crops and pasture. On their 2,600 acres of crop ground, they raise corn, soybeans, wheat (SRW and HRW), alfalfa-grass hay, oats, peas, triticale and barley (spring and winter) for grains and forages.
Zoom or call in to hear Kevin and Chris share their knowledge.
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Angela Tedesco of Johnston, IA, was featured on Iowa Public Radio's "Talk of Iowa": Iowan reflects on years of farming and trail blazing in new book
Vic and Cindy Madsen of Audubon, IA, and Seth Watkins' family in Clarinda, IA, are finalists for the Iowa Leopold Conservation Award: FINALISTS SELECTED FOR IOWA LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD
Lee Tesdell of Slater, IA, and Aaron Lehman of Polk City, IA, were featured on Denver 7: Extreme climate events could impact crop insurance payouts for farmers, taxpayers
Bruce Carney of Maxwell, IA, was featured on St. Louis Public Radio: Getting cattle into the forest could help climate change, farmers and the livestock
Scott Koether of McGregor, IA, was featured on Iowa Farmer Today: Timing critical to grazing cover crops
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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.
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