Mark your calendars for Jan. 19-21 for our 2023 annual conference! 

This year’s annual conference explores the ways we are all On Common Ground. Where does common ground exist? In ideas? Experiences? In ecosystems? In the physical spaces where we live and farm?

The conference invites attendees to think about where we can find this common ground, and the ways we can make space for it through connection, conversation and recognition of our shared impacts and interests.

More details, including sessions, speakers and more coming in November.

If you're passionate about bringing wildlife and prairie back to the landscape, this is the job for you! Practical Farmers of Iowa is hiring a habitat viability manager to lead our working lands conservation efforts. 

As PFI's habitat viability manager, you’ll work at the intersection of agriculture and native ecosystems, impacting thousands of acres in Iowa. 

Read the full job description here.

Rachel Burke joined the Practical Farmers of Iowa team as a Green Iowa AmeriCorps member in September.

During her 11-month service term, she will help with a range of projects, including assisting the communications team, testing water quality, planting trees and developing environmental education and outreach events for our community.

Learn more about Rachel.

Do you dream of running your own farm but don't know how to get started?

PFI's Explore Farming Series can help. In this three-part online workshop series, you'll have the chance to:

• learn from local farmers
• create a plan to guide you into farming
• assess your skills and resources
• network with other aspiring farmers

This series begins next Thursday, Oct. 20. Our first workshop will focus on establishing your purpose as a farmer. We'll help you examine your values and vision for farming to recognize how these will impact the way you farm.

Have you applied for PFI’s cover crop cost-share yet? This cost-share can be stacked on publicly funded cover crop cost-share, such as EQIP, or the $5 per acre cover crop insurance premium discount!

Farmers in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, and parts of South Dakota and Missouri are likely eligible. Let PFI help YOU get the money and technical support you need to seed fall cover crops.