Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
The latest edition of PFI’s magazine, The Practical Farmer, is online. Read about how PFI farmers are using rotational grazing to restore biodiversity and create more resilient farms in  Grazing Resilience. Stennie Nelson, a beginning farmer in the Loess Hills of Iowa works to revive native prairie in the midst of a drought. Russ Wischover and Andy Welch discuss the long term success they’ve had in increasing stability of forage yields by mimicking mother nature over the course of decades.
 
The University of Missouri recently published this report on native warm season perennials. It explains how they can be used to overcome the summer slump and require less inputs than other warm season annuals.
 
If you want to learn more, or talk with others trying to establish and routinely graze native warm season perennials, come to the roundtable at PFI’s annual conference, Jan. 20-21.
 
Also, check out this video from PFI on the relationship between native plants and grazing!
PROGRAM UPDATES
Tell us your story!
Everyone has a story. Visit the PFI Story Booth at our annual conference and share yours!

Inspired by StoryCorps, this PFI project is building community through preserving and sharing the stories of our members. Come with a partner or by yourself to record an interview to share with PFI, the larger community and future generations.
Member Survey
Every three years we ask all members of PFI to complete a survey that provides us a snapshot of our membership and helps to guide future programming. As a member-led organization your responses are critical.

Only the primary email account associated with your membership will receive the survey link - please check your inbox!

Questions about the survey? Can’t find the email? Contact Steve Carlson at steve.carlson@practicalfarmers.org
BEYOND THE GATE
Cattle come in all sizes, and small cattle may be just right for a small or start-up farm, or they can offer an efficient add-on farm enterprise. In this episode of Voices from the Field, listen to a discussion of small cattle, ranging from miniature breeds to small-statured individuals of larger breeds.

Hosts Tracy Mumma and Margo Hale explain the benefits of small-frame cattle and point out some of the challenges involved in raising, processing, and marketing less-common breeds
Beginning farmers raising grain, dairy or livestock can receive stipends for attending online or in-person courses, and may be eligible for grants.
UPCOMING EVENTS
PFI Events
All events below are listed in central daylight time.

Pre-registration has closed, but walk-ins are welcome!

The conference features 68 different farmers as session leaders, along with trusted service providers and researchers. 

Bonus: The PFI Dinner + Pickles & Preserves Potluck is included in registration!
Feb. 13 | Ames, IA
Are you an aspiring or beginning farmer seeking land? Are you a landowner looking to help beginning farmers with land access? Register to attend our Beginning Farmer Summit.

This program is designed to help you identify your farm or land goals, give you the business skills you need to succeed and create opportunities for you to network within your farming community.
Feb. 21 | Online

In between producing a top-quality poultry product and marketing it to customers, farmers must complete a crucial step: setting the price. This number represents all the time, work and money you put into raising your bird. Deciding on an equitable value while remaining accessible to customers can be daunting. 

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
Thursdays Jan.-Feb.: Webinar - Calculating Annual Cow Costs Series
Hosted by: University of Nebraska Extension
7:30-8:30 p.m. | Online

Hosted by: Food Animal Concerns Trust
3 p.m. | Online

Jan. 26-27: Conference - Driftless Region Beef Conference
Hosted by: Iowa State Extension
Dubuque, IA
*Say “hi” at the the PFI Booth*
Feb. 2-4: Conference - GrassWorks Grazing Conference
Hosted by: GrassWorks
Wisconsin Dells, WI
*Say “hi” at the the PFI Booth*

Feb. 11 & 12: Workshop - Hands on Kidding Workshop
Hosted by: Storm Dancer Farm
10 a.m. | Smithville, MO

Hosted by: Food Animal Concerns Trust
1 p.m. | Online
POLL
Which farminar are you most excited to attend?
Pricing Pastured Poultry
Bison, Beef and Tribal Food Sovereignty
Integrated Crop-Livestock Grazing
Another one, not listed
More than one!
Noon on Tuesdays isn't a good time for me
Previous poll results:
Are you coming the PFI annual conference?
  • Yes, I'm looking forward to it! - 40%
  • I would, but I'm too far away. Maybe I'll watch the free live-streamed sessions. - 40%
  • Yes, and I'm going to use a scholarship to attend. - 6.7%
  • No, not this year. - 13.3%
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
Did someone forward you this newsletter? Would you like similar content delivered to your inbox monthly? Sign up to receive The Monthly Feedstuff.