Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
The summer issue of the Practical Farmer magazine is now available online.

In this issue, read stories about making space for habitat, nourishing community through local meat, growing winter spinach and more.

On the cover, small squares of wheat straw are baled on the Knuth Farm outside of Mead, Nebraska. Read Angela Knuth’s story and learn more about PFI’s small grains cost-share.
NEWS
Engaged land ownership is a critical element of implementing lasting change on our land.

Many non-operating landowners understand the importance of farm productivity, soil heath and water quality, but may need advice on how to make changes on their farm.

Participation in this pilot program is limited. Learn more and apply today.
Planning for land transition can be daunting. We have four sessions coming up in August designed to support you through the first steps of farm transition.

We’ll overview a variety of ways others have transitioned land and help you prioritize what’s most important based on your goals and the legacy you want to leave.
Do you know a farmer who would be a good field day host? Have you been thinking about a good conference session or workshop topic?

This form feeds into our “Idea Bank,” which we routinely use to come up with speakers and hosts, and to design engaging sessions, content and programs.
The senior human resources coordinator will manage all hiring processes at PFI, manage employee benefits, onboard new employees and more. The deadline to apply is July 15.

We’re also seeking a livestock viability manager to lead our efforts to grow regenerative livestock systems and help diverse, independent livestock farmers thrive. The deadline to apply is July 22.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, July 16 | 10 a.m. – Noon | Missouri Valley, IA

The Wisecup family invites you to see how a corn and soybean farm can use cover crops and small grains to improve soil health.

Father-son team Lee and Arthur will discuss their use of cereal rye, barley, rapeseed and winter camelina, and take guests to see their short-stature corn research plots.
Saturday, July 16 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Oronoco, MN

Angela Smith and her husband, Erik Tryggestad, have worked extensively to enhance the health and biodiversity of the farm by planting, restoring and managing pollinator habitat both within and surrounding their production fields.

Hear more about their efforts and learn how you can implement habitat for beneficial insects and climate resilience on your own farm.
Sunday, July 17 | 2-4 p.m. | Oskaloosa, IA

Flower farming isn’t for pansies, as Meredith Nunnikhoven of Barnswallow Flowers & Produce will tell you.

Guided by ethics of sustainability and planning with a long-term vision, Meredith converted a portion of the conventional row crop farm where she grew up into a chemical-free flower farm.
July 21 | 6:30-8:30 p.m.
July 22 | 1-3 p.m.

If you’re a local food farmer, we want to hear from you! Come share your thoughts on how the Iowa Local Food Purchasing Public Assistance Program will (or won’t) work for your farm and any suggestions you have for improvement.

We’ll share the program design and incorporate your feedback to shape a program that truly meets the needs of the farmers and communities it is designed to serve.
Hosted by: Sara & Bob Pearson
4-6:30 p.m. | Wesley, IA
IN THE NEWS
Members in the News
Angela and Kerry Knuth of Mead, NE, were featured in Mad Agriculture Journal: Measuring regenerative practices with true cost accounting (Page 15)

Omar de Kok-Mercado of Pilot Mound, IA, wrote a feature article in Mad Agriculture Journal: Perennial Potential (Page 28)

Meredith Nunnikhoven of Oskaloosa, IA, was featured on KNI-KRLS: In Depth: Barnswallow Flowers

Nathan Anderson of Aurelia, IA, was featured in The New York Times: Companies' Climate Promises Face a Wild Card: Farmers

Bill Frederick of Jefferson, IA, was featured on WHO's The Big Show: Clean Water Wednesday
PFI in the News
Practical Farmers of Iowa was mentioned in No-Till Farmer: Capitalize on Conservation with Funding Programs
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.

Love Practical News? Sign up for our specialty email newsletters In addition to our weekly email newsletter, Practical News, we also publish five monthly newsletters each focused on a different farming specialty.