Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
Lee Tesdell ’s farm near Slater, IA has been in his family for over a century. With a commitment to steward the land, Lee and his farming tenants, Charles Helland and Mike Helland , collaborate to implement cover crops and reduce tillage. Read more about how Lee and the Hellands work together to make cover crops work in this magazine article .

Hear Lee speak about cost share opportunities for cover crops and landowner/tenant cost-sharing by tuning into his virtual field day on Thursday .
PROGRAM UPDATES
Ready to invest in cover crops on your farm?  You could earn $1,600 or more to help offset the cost – fill out the application now to see if you’re eligible.
IN THE FIELD
Chris Teachout , a farmer from Shenandoah, and Chris Henning , a landowner from Jefferson, offer their perspectives on landowner-tenant relations with regards to cover crops and other conservation measures on rented ground. The video is a recorded session from the 2017 PFI Annual Conference.
We’ve curated a list of helpful resources on our website to help maximize conservation on the land you rent out or farm. Topics also include farm transfer, farm succession and much more. 
 
Stay up-to-date and hear from other landowners by signing up for our quarterly newsletter "The Practical Landowner."
UPCOMING EVENTS
This summer, Practical Farmers is hosting all of our field days online —making it easier for you to “attend” field days over a broader geography. Check out the full field day lineup here.
Hosted by:  Center for Rural Affairs and Lee Tesdell
June 18 | 1 – 2 p.m. | Online
 
Hosted by:  Practical Farmers and Martin Larsen
June 24 | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. | Online
 
Hosted by:  Practical Farmers and Matt Miller
June 25 | 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. | Online
 
Hosted by:  IL Sustainable Ag Partnership & Carl Zimmerman
June 25 | 11 a.m. – noon | Online

Hosted by:  Practical Farmers and Seth Smith
June 26 | 12:15 – 12:45 p.m. | Online
 
Hosted by:  Practical Farmers and Nathan Anderson
June 27 | 5 – 5:30 p.m. | Online
 
Hosted by:  Practical Farmers, Doug DeBruin and Jake DeBruin
June 29 | 6:30 – 7 p.m. | Online

Hosted by:  Practical Farmers, Noah Wendt and Caleb Akin
June 30 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Online

Hosted by:  Practical Farmers and Scott and Catherine Wedemeier
July 1 | 1 – 2:30 p.m. | Online

Hosted by:  Practical Farmers and Levi Lyle
July 2 | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. | Online
 
Hosted by:  Soil and Water Conservation Society
July 27-29 | Online
Want to host a virtual cover crop happy hour? We’ll help you with the tech, and how to virtually invite your neighbors to the discussion. Contact Sarah if interested sarah@practicalfarmers.org
 
Are you planning or hosting a cover crop field day—virtual or in person? Send the details to rebecca@practicalfarmers.org , and we’ll include it in our next newsletter.
COVER CROP POLL
Who pays for cover crop costs on the land you rent (farmer) or your rented land (landowner)?
The landowner
The tenant
Cost shared between the landowner and the tenant
I (the tenant) don't cover crop rented land
Want to expand further on this poll topic? Reply to this email and we may feature your thoughts in the next issue of "The Practical Cover Cropper."
 
Send us your cover crop poll ideas! We want to know what YOU want to know, reply to this email with your ideas for the next poll.
Previous poll results:
How many herbicide passes do you typically make on soybean fields?
  • Two: One to terminate the cover crop and a post emerge - 33%
  • Two: A pre emerge and a post emerge - 25%
  • No herbicide passes, organic management - 16%
  • Just one to terminate the cover crop with a residual - 8%
  • Three - 0%
CONTACT OUR COVER CROPS TEAM
Sarah Carlson
Strategic Initiatives Director
(515) 232-5661
Chris Wilbeck
Independent Contractor
(515) 232-5661
Rebecca Clay
Strategic Initiatives Agronomy Coordinator
(515) 232-5661