Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
Registration for our 2023 annual conference is now open! Since our founding, the annual conference has been a keystone event for sharing knowledge, building connections and celebrating agriculture in Iowa.
 
As we gather with friends and family this holiday season, we come together on common ground – in a spirit of gratitude for what the land bestows, and those around us who share their friendship, ideas and support.
 
We invite you to join us Jan. 19-21 in Ames, Iowa, where we'll explore what it means to be "On Common Ground" in our farming systems and ecosystems, our ideas and relationships.
 
Connect with old friends, meet new ones – and continue the PFI tradition of learning, sharing and connecting as we seek to build resilient farms and communities.
PROGRAM UPDATES

Thinking of getting into pastured pigs? Dayna Burtness of Nettle Valley Farm, will introduce the basics of finishing pigs on pasture, including fencing, food/water/shelter infrastructure, finding feeder pigs and more.

This talk will be geared towards folks who currently don't have pigs or those who may raise small numbers but are looking to scale up a bit.

Thanksgiving: A once a year opportunity for massive sales for those who can take advantage.

In this presentation, Jordan Green will share the steps he uses on his farm to keep this process simple and sane, from brooding to harvesting and selling these tasty birds.




Sheep are notoriously prone to parasites. There are any number of recommendations on how to deal with them. Somewhere between routine drenches and strictly holistic management, does a middle-ground, practical solution exist?

Join veterinarian Dr. Alyona Michael, and farmer Maja Black, as they talk about their diagnoses, recommendations and on the ground efforts to manage the parasite problem.

For millennia, huge herds grazed the native perennials of the Iowa prairie. Now, cool season perennials dominate pasture lands. But cool season grasses struggle with a summer slump when they are less productive, exactly when native warm season perennials thrive. 

Join this roundtable to discuss efforts to establish and graze native perennials as a routine part of management practices. Hosted by John Hogeland.




Setting a good fence is crucial to successfully grazing livestock, but the landscape doesn’t always make it easy.

Tom Beard and Margaret Chamas will talk about their successes and challenges of fencing a variety of challenging terrains, as well as tips and tricks that they’ve picked up along the way.
BEYOND THE GATE
Take a few minutes to watch this video from Civil Eats to learn about women leading the fibershed movement in California.

Fibersheds are regional working groups that connect farmers, fiber producers, processors and consumers. Come to the Roundtable: Fiber Meet-Up to discuss the possibility of creating an Iowa fibershed, as well as meet other fiber producers from across the state!
UPCOMING EVENTS
PFI Events

All events below are listed in central daylight time.

Farminars are Practical Farmers’ version of a webinar – a farmer-led webinar! These 90-minute, online presentations are FREE for everyone, and we encourage attendees to come with questions for the chat box!

Farminars are held Tuesdays, 12-1:30 p.m. Central Time, from January to March.

Sneak Peak: Feb. 21: “Pricing Pastured Poultry” In this farminar, experienced farmer Ben Grimes discusses the practicalities and considerations of pricing with beginning farmers Anna Hankins and Shae Pesek.
Friends of PFI Events
Jan. 5-6: Conference - Minnesota Organic Conference
Food Animal Concerns Trust
St. Cloud, MN

Food Animal Concerns Trust
3:30 p.m. | Online

PennState Extension
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. | Online
Food Animal Concerns Trust
3 p.m. | Online

University of Minnesota Extension
7:30-9:30 p.m. | Paynesville, MN
POLL
Are you coming to the PFI's annual conference?
Yes, I'm looking forward to it!
Yes, and I'm going to use a scholarship to attend.
I would, but I'm too far away. Maybe I'll watch the free live-streamed sessions.
No, not this year.
Previous poll results:
Where do you get your Thanksgiving turkey?
  • My own farm - 30%
  • I don't eat turkey for Thanksgiving - 25%
  • Local farmer - 15%
  • Grocery store 15%
  • Hunting - 15%
Are you planning or hosting a livestock event? Do you want to host a livestock field day? Send the details to amos.johnson@practicalfarmers.org
Looking for more? Contact us today!
Margaret Chamas
Livestock Viability Manager

Amos Johnson
Livestock Education Coordinator
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