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Frantzen field day held; discussion of succession, energy, and purchasing a farm acreage

September 26th, 2011 @ 2:10 pm by Luke

What does a beginning farmer need to do to get started with a small farm acreage? If you ask James Frantzen, of rural NE Iowa, near Elma, he may respond, “Plenty,” with a straight face and a serious gaze for a moment. Until a smile quickly breaks across his face vibrating from a hearty laugh from deep inside. “Enough to keep you out of trouble, anyways.”

James looked for years for a home nearby where his folks farm. In 2009, he purchased a property three miles up the road.”When I bought this place, it was a mess,” remembers James. “the previous owners kept nearly every kind of livestock except maybe a black bear.”

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Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) Grants Available. Apply Today! Deadline May 16.

May 4th, 2011 @ 2:46 pm by Ann

OFRF Grant Recipient and PFI member Dan Specht, McGregor, IA

OFRF has long and proud giving history, awarding $2.7 million throughout the past 20 years. Previous grant recipients include PFI members Ron Rosmann,Harlan; Dan Specht, McGregor; and Don Adams, Madrid, among others.

OFRF grants foster research into cutting-edge organic practices and topics. They empower farmers to conduct their own research into issues of greatest concern to them.

OFRF awards grants through a competitive process and proposals are considered twice a year. Upcoming deadlines are May 16 and November 15, 2011.

Details on applying are available on the OFRF website at http://ofrf.org/grants/apply.html. If you are thinking of applying, you may contact Grants Program Director Jane Sooby at 831.426.6606 or by email at jane@ofrf.org

OFRF PRESS RELEASE