Click here to view current series of farminars.
All eight Farminars will be a “Fish Bowl” view, featuring a beginning farmer learning from an experienced speaker on each topic. Participants watch and can ask questions not covered by the beginner. Expert speakers paired with beginning farmers include a farmer who is a social media power user, a farmer proficient in seeding pasture, specialty-meat farmer-marketers, innovative fruit and vegetable farmers, a USDA beginning farmer farm loan manager, and a local foods wholesale distributor.
Tuesday, November 1, 7:00-8:30 p.m., “Financing options for beginning farmers” with Andy Hunziker, Jason Jones, and Erin Drinnin
From bank loans, to USDA beginning farmer loans, to small business development loans, this farminar will overview the multitude of financing available for beginners.
Jason Jones and Erin Drinnin live in Des Moines, IA. Jason has worked for eight years on three different fruit and vegetable farms. He currently is the farm manager of the Homestead near Pleasant Hill, IA. They are ready to look at their options for financing to begin their own business, Wilted Leaf Farm, in central Iowa.
Andy Hunziker works for the Boone County USDA Farm Service Agency in Farm Loan Programs as a Farm Loan Manager. Andy administers the agency’s loan programs that provide financing for beginning farmers of various enterprises in central Iowa. View Farminar
Tuesday, November 8, 7:00-8:30 p.m., “Wholesale marketing with distributors, what farmers need to know” with Mike Gooder of Stone Creek Farms/Plant Peddler and Local Harvest Supply’s Phil Danowsky
From food safety, to packaging, order, and delivery details, this farminar will discuss what it takes to successfully sell produce commercially to a wholesale market.
Since 1890, Cresco Greenhouses supplied live plants and flowers to the upper midwest and around the country. Mike and Rachel Gooder purchased the greenhouses in 1980 and recently have expanded their ornamental Plant Peddler products to include locally grown fruits and vegetables under the brand Stone Creek Farms. They supply Local Harvest Supply with greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers in the winter months.
Local Harvest Supply’s mission is to work closely with local growers to help expand consumer markets through the wholesale distribution network, create a brand identity, expand the varieties and availabilities of fresh local products, and promote their increased consumption. Twenty-one growers currently sell products wholesale to this outlet, and there is much more room to grow. View Farminar
Tuesday, November 15, 7:00-8:30 p.m., “How to better use Facebook to increase your farm’s sales” with Thomas Burkhead and Lorna Wilson
Do you want to begin or better your use of this free online social media tool? Attend to hear how to make Facebook an effective marketing agent for your farm.
Thomas Burkhead works for Juan O’Sullivan’s Gourmet Salsa in Cumming, IA as their Food Production Assistant. He is a recent graduate from Drake University in Des Moines, IA in Marketing and Business. Thomas supports efforts in all elements of the operation: horticulture, marketing, social media management and procurement.
Lorna Wilson is no beginner to farming, but is a beginner in the utilization of social media to aid farm marketing efforts. Lorna and her husband Dan operate their family business, Seven W Farm, along with their oldest son Torray and his wife Erin. In 2011, this family farm managed 424 acres of organic rowcrops, and pastures. On those pastures they raise pork, poultry (egg layers and meat birds), grass-fed lamb, beef, and bee hives for honey. View Farminar
Tuesday, November 22, 7:00-8:30 p.m., “Pasture Seed Mixes for Success” with Karl Dallefeld and Eric Madsen
Attend this Farminar to learn which species of grasses and legumes to choose for your pastures and what seeding rates will establish a good stand.
Karl Dallefeld has 25 years of experience with forages and grazing to offer guidance to beginners establishing pastures. For seven years Karl worked with Midwestern Bio-Ag on soil health and forage quality. Karl greatly enjoys working with farmers to help improve animal performance on pasture, and soil health for happy animals.
Eric Madsen, since graduating from college a few years ago, returned to his home county and has started a hay enterprise while assisting his father Vic, and mother Cindy on their family farm near Audubon. They raise certified organic rowcrops, small grains, deep-bedded hogs in hoop buildings, and are moving toward beef cattle production with managed rotational grazing. View Farminar
Tuesday, November 29, 7:00-8:30 p.m., “The marketing end of grass-fed beef” with Tom and Mary Cory and Dave Schmidt
For many farmers, raising a good product comes first, but marketing it is equally important to create a viable business. This Farminar will cover techniques to successfully market your products.
Tom and Mary Cory own The Cory’s at Prairie Hill Farm, a family farming operation near Elkhart, IA. They produce livestock on managed, rotationally-grazed pastures utilizing holistic practices with their animals and the land. Since 1997, the Cory’s have marketed frozen, packaged lamb at the Des Moines Farmer’s Market, and in the past several years, they have added goat meat and grass-finished beef. They also sell through the Iowa Food Cooperative and the new Ames Main Street Farmer’s Market.
Dave Schmidt, beginning grazier, returned to Iowa to graze livestock near Garwin, IA after working a few years after college in the western U.S. This year, he purchased his first eight bred heifers and began establishing his grazing system. He intends to market the first five steers when they are finished in approximately June of 2012. View Farminar
Tuesday December 6, there will be no Farminar.
Tuesday, December 13, 7:00-8:30 p.m., “Inexpensive, effective season extension” with Rob Faux and Ellen Walsh-Rosmann
Join in to find out how to extend your season without overextending your budget.
Rob Faux with his wife Tammy have grown fruits and vegetables for their business Genuine Faux Farm since 2004. They have been experimenting with low-capital expense season extending cultural practices from the beginning of their farming careers. Their farm sold 100 summer and 25 fall CSA shares to families near Tripoli, IA in 2011.
Ellen Walsh-Rosmann is a beginning fruit and vegetable farmer near Harlan, IA. She started a very small subscription vegetable farm CSA last summer. She and her husband Daniel also farm organic-certified rowcrops, small grains, and raises beef cattle, hogs, and popcorn with his family. View Farminar
Tuesday, December 20, 7:00-8:30 p.m., “Setting up a system of recordkeeping (and sticking to it)” with Linda Halley and Julie Wilber
Enterprise budgets help farmers know, in detail, what crops are making money for the farm. Learn how to setup a system of recordkeeping for your farm that will allow you to run these budgets and increase your profit.
Linda Halley has grown high quality produce for decades. She sees her role today as growing new fruit and vegetable farmers as Farm Manager of Gardens of Eagan, a farm owned by The Wedge, a Co-op grocery store in Minneapolis, MN. Prior to undertaking this new endeavor, she managed Fairview Gardens, a non-profit farm in California, and co-owned Harmony Valley Farm near Viroqua, WI for 15 years.
Julie Wilber and her husband Scott began farming fruit and vegetables for their farm Wilber’s Northside Market near Boone, IA in 2003. Their products are available by subscription into their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), in grocery stores, on-farm sales (just on the north side of town) and at their local farmers market. View Farminar
Tuesday, December 27, 7:00-8:30 p.m., “Grow better with High Tunnels” with Adam Montri and Ann Franzenburg
How do I get the best germination rates, design the best crop rotation, and earn the most with this season extending technology? Learn this and more as our guest from Michigan returns for his third annual farminar!
Adam Montri and his wife Dru own and operate Ten Hens Farm, where they grow and sell vegetables in the field and two commercial sized high tunnels 12 months of the year. Adam also works in the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University, East Lansing. He works with farmers throughout the Midwest on high tunnel production, marketing, and economics.
Ann Franzenburg and her husband Eric manage Pheasant Run Farm, near Van Horne, Iowa. They produce corn, soybeans, hogs, poultry, flowers, tomatoes, greens, raspberries, ginger, and high value herbs. Previously employed as a public school teacher, Ann began working full-time on the farm in 2009, growing and selling cut flowers to diverse market outlets. View Farminar
This Summer Farminar on creating a brand for your farm features experienced marketing consultant and a beginning farmer. Create WOW Marketing president Andrew B. Clark, (self proclaimed "The Brand Chef"), is renowned for his more than 15 years of expertise in the branding and marketing communications arena. Andrew has created a T.R.U.E. branding program to help businesses evaluate their current brand and develop a strategy to create stronger recognition in the marketplace. He says, "Without Truth to a brand, Relevance to your market, Uniqueness amongst your competitors and the ability to Engage your customers, a brand is destined to be boring." Carol Prescott will add her experience as a farmer beginning the process of designing a brand for her farm. (View Farminar)
Tuesday, March 1, 7–8:30 pm, “Managing Farm Labor” with Eric Franzenburg and Morgan Hoenig
Experienced farmer Eric Franzenburg Pheasant Run Farm produces corn, soybeans, swine, meat poultry, flowers and high value herbs, near Van Horne, IA. This diverse farm requires the helping hands of many skilled laborers to succeed. Eric will be coaching beginner Morgan Hoenig, Mogo Organics, who began a CSA in 2009. Now in her third year of horticulture production near Mount Pleasant, IA, Morgan plans to hire her first paid laborers. Learn along with Morgan as Eric shares his experiences managing farm employees. You will gain information on hiring employees, employment forms, and labor regulations. (View Farminar)
Tuesday, March 8, 7-8:30 pm, “Building Wholesale Relationships” with Mike Krogh and Derek Roller
Farmers, do you want to sell to wholesale outlets like groceries and restaurants? Grocers and chefs, are you interested in offering more local fare? Hear from both sides of the transaction to learn how to build strong wholesale relationships that are beneficial to both parties.
Discover how New Pioneer’s Local Produce Program Manager, Mike Krogh, works with farmers to stock stores with local produce. New Pioneer is Iowa City’s natural food cooperative and has a mission to serve the needs of its members and to stimulate local agricultural production of natural and organic foods by providing a market for such foods.
You will also learn from Derek Roller, who operates Echollective Farm near Iowa City. For 10 years Echollective has grown vegetables, herbs, flowers and hay. Derek markets products to New Pioneer Coop, Iowa City restaurants, Iowa City’s downtown farmers’ markets and through a community supported agriculture (CSA) program. (View Farminar)
Tuesday, March 15, 7–8:30 pm, “CSA Members as Partners” with Elizabeth Henderson
Community supported agriculture (CSA) fosters a relationship between farmers and their customers in which customers have a keen interest in their food system. By taking a partnership role, your member customers can help you increase productivity and profits. Hear from Elizabeth Henderson how to better integrate members into your CSA through core groups, work hours, distribution and farm events.
Elizabeth Henderson farms at Peacework Farm in Wayne County, NY, and has been producing organically grown vegetables for the fresh market for almost 30 years. She is a founding member of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) in Massachusetts, has been on the Board of Directors of NOFA-NY since 1989 and represents NOFA in the national discussions of organic standards and on the Steering Committee of the Agricultural Justice Project. She has received numerous awards and honors, and is an accomplished author. Most notably she wrote Sharing the Harvest, a mainstay resource for CSA farmers. (View Farminar)
Tuesday, March 22, 7–8:30 pm, “Profitable Grass-based Livestock Systems” with Cody Holmes and Torray and Erin Wilson.
Thirty-seven year veteran rancher and author Cody Holmes will teach Torray and Erin Wilson how to plan for a profitable grazing system, how to work smarter with animals, how to track sales and costs, and how to maintain profit with grass–based livestock. Cody’s philosophy recognizes that a holistic systems approach can be used successfully in all aspects of ranching and home life by incorporating two critical components: planning and decision-making. Cody and his wife, Dawnnell, along with their daughter, Taylor, manage 450 cow/calf pairs, 300 sheep, 70 hogs, 1,500 poultry, and 12 dairy cows on 1,000 acres in southern Missouri. They also operate a retail meat sales home delivery service.
Torray grew up on the farm where they currently live near Paulina, Iowa. Erin grew up on a dairy farm in northeast Iowa. They practice holistic management while grazing beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, and help with the family niche pork operation that includes pasture farrowing. Their chickens are sold locally through farmers’ market; pork is sold on contract with Niman Ranch; and lamb is split between direct market sales and ethnic markets through a sale barn. (View Farminar)
Tuesday, March 29, 7–8:30 pm, “Brokering Tips” with Nick Wallace and Ryan Marquardt
Demand for local products is on the rise. Selling other farmers’ products has great potential for expanding the profitability of your direct sales while helping other farmers expand their sales. Get some great advice from Nick Wallace on maintaining fairness, transparency and accountability when brokering products for other farmers. Nick and his father Steve raise mixed livestock near Keystone, IA, on more than 80 acres of high-quality forages. Their farm business, Wallace Farms, sells its own products as well as products raised by other farmers direct to consumers in cities around Iowa and in Chicago. Nick will be coaching Ryan Marquardt, who farms with his wife Janice on 40 acres near Reasnor, IA. Their farm Wild Rose Pastures sells specialty “pastured” products including eggs, broiler chickens and turkeys through their farm website, the Iowa Food Cooperative and at Picket Fence Creamery events. They are just beginning to sell products from other farmers. (View Farminar)
Tuesday, April 5, 7–8:30 p.m., “Keeping Good Records on a Vegetable Farm” with Linda Halley
Managing records for a diverse vegetable operation can be tedious, but good records equal better production and profit potential. Linda Halley will outline how she manages her production and financial recordkeeping systems.
Linda has been growing organic produce since 1989, owning or managing farms in Wisconsin, California and Minnesota. She also enjoys being an author and educator on wide ranging farm topics. Currently she manages the Gardens of Eagan Organic Farm for the Wedge Food Co-op of Minneapolis and serves as President of the board of Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service and the Organic Field School President. (View Farminar)
28 December Value-Added Legal Considerations
Sean Sullivan manages Juan O’Sullivan’s Gourmet Salsa Co. and adds value to fresh produce by converting it to salsa for supermarket shelves. Beth Kemp is a beginning farmer who sells at the Ames farmers market as Jumping Bean Farm. Her products include fresh produce, breads, and she is planning on adding more value-added products like jams and jellies. (View Farminar)
11-Jan Growing in High Tunnels
Adam Montri, Outreach Specialist for Michigan State University, and operator of Ten Hens Farm, a year-round farm near Bath, MI, will share how to grow crops well in high tunnels, manage for pests, fertility and rotations. Sara Hanson a beginning farmer is putting the finishing touches on a hoophouse of her own in northern Iowa. (View Farminar)
25-Jan Tomatoes Inside and Out
Clear Brook Farm business partners Andrew Knafel and Matthew Patterson join us from Shaftsbury, VT. They grow more than 20 acres of organic produce, on-farm renewable bio-fuel energy and about a half an acre in greenhouses. Jennie Smith’s Butcher Creek beginning farm specializes in heirloom tomatoes just south of Des Moines for restaurant and farmers market. (View Farminar)
8-Feb Farm Fresh Eggs, Handlers Licenses and Profitability
Tai Johnson-Spratt’s Foxhollow Poultry Farm sells pasture-ranged meat birds and eggs of specialty poultry breeds, including guinea fowl, duck, quail, chicken and turkey, to central Iowa customers. Theresa Gould is co-owner with her husband Robert of Cornucopia Family Farms, which is a new vegetable CSA located in the suburbs of Chicago. She and her family of 10 dream of having a bit of everything on their farm from veggies and eggs to a variety of animals. (View Farminar)
22-Feb Organic Cucurbit Production
Glenn Drowns with his wife Linda manage Sand Hill Preservation Center near Calamus, Iowa. They save farm genetic diversity with heirloom seeds, and poultry breeds. Glenn has been perfecting his techniques growing cucurbits organically for decades and is eager to share his knowledge. Ben Saunders has worked at Turtle Farm CSA near Granger, IA, for several years and is working to transition the farm to the next generation. With a university degree in Horticulture, Ben loves working with nature and educating on the farm. (View Farminar)
19-Oct Vegetable Storage in Existing Facilities
Fruit and vegetable farmers are growing their operations, but don’t always have the financing to build new structures for all their needs. Join Denise O’Brien (Rolling Acres, Atlantic) and Melissa and Andrew Dunham (Grinnell Heritage Farm, Grinnell) to hear how they are storing their crops in existing facilities on the farm. Both farms will discuss how they have retrofitted current facilities to store products as well as future plans for storage to meet the needs of their farm and markets. Discussion will also include the use of the Farm Service Agency’s low interest Farm Storage Facility Loan Program. view farminar
2-Nov Cover Crops and Natural Manures
Building and maintaining soil health is essential to all farmers. Watch the first “Fishbowl” farminar of the season with eastern Iowa farmer Mark Quee (Scattergood Friends School Farm) and cover crop beginner Sally Gran (Wild Greens Farm). Learn how to manage cover crops, rotation recordkeeping, compost and manure applications. (View Farminar)
16-Nov Growing Greens Better
Larry Cleverley (Cleverley Farms) has been a horticulture farmer leader for more than a decade and has had success growing high quality greens. Joining Larry will be beginner Northeast Iowa horticulture farmer Glen Elsbernd (G it’s Fresh). (View Farminar)
30-Nov Setting Marketing Goals
Grass Run Farms is a small business started by PFI members Kristine and Ryan Jepsen. Their business has developed an increasingly specific mode of operation in the way they present themselves, brand the company, approach potential customers, and nurture relationships with existing customers. Says Kristine: In the meat business, the goal is to have a "home" (one or more customers) for all parts of the carcass you're selling; this determines where we focus our marketing energy. Joining the Jepsens will be beginning farmer Caite Grieshop who is beginning a direct market meats business in central Iowa (lambs, pork, and dairy cattle). (View Farminar)
14-Dec Financing Niche Pork
Jason Penner is a PFI member and beginning farmer with six years of experience producing niche pork in Minnesota. Jason will share his experiences, what worked for him and what he would have done differently, with beginners Devan Green and James Frantzen. (View Farminar)
26-Jan Whole Farm Soil Planning
Learn how to use the online Web Soil Survey to access valuable soils information for your Farm. Learn the best place to put perennials, annuals, and building structures. Led by a PFI member who grew up on a diverse crop/livestock farm in northwest Iowa. Now a soils lecturer at Marshalltown Community College and staff at Iowa Farmers Union, Amber holds a master's degree from Iowa State University's Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture. (View Farminar)
2-Feb Ramp up Vegetable Production
Martin Stosiek and his wife Christa have farmed near Hillsdale, NY since 1988. Martin will provide a virtual tour of his Markristo Farm while discussing areas he has ramped up production, and how he made decisions to scale up in these areas. Martin will also discuss to which markets he sells his products and why. (View Farminar)
9-Feb Grow Vegetables Year-Round
Adam Montri, Outreach Specialist for Michigan State University, and operator of Ten Hens Farm, a year round farm near Bath, MI, will share how crops are grown all year in Michigan. He will provide detailed crop schedules. (View Farminar)
High Tunnel Crop Schedule PDF's
16-Feb Opportunities in Agroforestry
Tom Wahl will overview the potential for various high value tree crops suitable for Iowa’s climate, including cultural practices, production, prices, markets, pests and diseases. Tree fruits to discuss include chestnut, persimmon, heartnut, paw paw, and more. Tom and his wife Kathy have grown high value tree crops since 1986 and also operate a small tree nursery which provides high quality varieties. (View Farminar)
2-Mar Beginner Fishbowl - Pastured Poultry
Farmer Tim Daley produces and markets poultry on pasture. He will share his extensive knowledge on this topic with beginning farmers Brian and Cheryl Ness. Join in with all your questions will be answered - ensuring you will not fowl-up your beginning operation. (View Farminar)
9-Mar Beginner Fishbowl - Vegetable Production
Farmer Gary Guthrie, Growing Harmony Farm, the "Carrot King" of Iowa, has 12 years of experience producing vegetables on about 2 acres of intensively managed land in a five-year rotation near Nevada, IA. Come with your small-scale "high intensity" questions and learn the system of roto-tiller/hand tool vegetable production. Will discuss cover crops and mulching to manage weeds and add organic matter to soil. Sorry, no free samples of carrots available over the web, but visitors are welcome to sample carrots anytime at the farm. Joining Gary will be beginning vegetable farmer Jennifer Zieser from Marion, IA. (View Farminar)
16-Mar Beginner Fishbowl - Vegetable Marketing
Farmer Susan Jutz, ZJ Farms, has produced vegetables on her farm near Solon, IA for years supplying a large weekly delivered share-based CSA market. Learn from her all the marketing techniques that she finds to be worthwhile. Beginning Farmer Chris Corbin will lead questions and share his input. (View Farminar)
23-Mar Beginner Fishbowl - Grass-Fed Beef
Grass-based livestock expert Doug Gunnink, Gunnink Forage Institute, and beginning farmers Dave Schmidt and Ethan Book talk about grass-fed beef production, setting up a system for the beginning grazier. Topics include what forage mixes, what breeds, pasture management, and tips on grass-finishing. (View Farminar)
1-Jun Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Get the lowdown on the new CSP from NRCS specialist Tom O'Conner and Plainfield, IA farmer Scott Weinburg. Includes questions and answers to help get your farm paid to do the right thing for the conservation of your land. (View Farminar)
3-Nov Whole Farm Planning
Tips on how to manage the whole farm with the Critical Path Method. Led by Dave Baker from the Beginning Farmer Center. (View Farminar)
10-Nov Legal Issues in Succession
Planning the succession of a farm business and starting a farm business have a great deal in common. In both instances legal issues such as the selection of business entity, buy sell agreements, options, leases and other types of contract can and will have either a positive or negative impact on success. A basic knowledge of the legal "tools" can help those involved in either a succession or in starting a new business can help them to avoid costly mistakes. Led by John Baker from the Beginning Farmer Center. (View Farminar)
17-Nov Estate Planning
Led by John Baker from the Beginning Farmer Center. (View Farminar)
24-Nov Which Enterprise? Market ID
One starting point with selecting an enterprise is to look to the marketplace to identify unmet opportunities. This session will start with an overview of a business plan outline, with particular emphasis on the marketing plan section. Concepts to be explored include the difference between product features and product benefits, target trade area, segmenting customers, and calculating market potential. Market research concepts and findings will also be explored. Led by Gary Huber of Practical Farmers of Iowa. (View Farminar)
1-Dec Fitting in the New Enterprises: Grain, Beef, and Watermelons
Wade Dooley, a young farmer from central Iowa, discusses his family farm story and the challenges and opportunities of "adding an enterprise" to an exisiting operation. Features 39 full-color photos of his farm life. Dave Baker from the Beginning Farmer Center also available with pointers and suggestions for ensuring a smooth enterprise addition. (View Farminar)
8-Dec Enterprise Budgets - Pricing for Profit
Pricing products that do not have an established market can be difficult. For example, let's assume you are producing tomatoes and notice the local grocery store is selling California tomatoes for $1.50 per lb. In addition, you have asked potential buyers and they say they are willing to pay 10-20% above grocery store prices. From this information you sell your tomatoes for $1.80 per pound. Were you profitable? The key to long-term success is the ability to sell products at a profit. To do this you need to know your costs. We will discuss what enterprise budgets are and how to use them in pricing, production changes, and product mix decisions and ultimately how to make your business more profitable. Led by Craig Chase from Iowa State University Extension. (View Farminar)
Budgeting exercise w.o. answers Budgeting exercise
15-Dec Product, Placement, Pricing, Promotion, People
Rick and Stacy Hartmann own and operate a small direct-market horticultural farm. Rick will take a version of the much used marketing formula, 'the five p's' - product, placement, promotion, product and people - and apply it to their operation. Come join his discussion on how they successfully market their farm, particularly their largest enterprise, a 100 member CSA. Also, with Gary Huber from Practical Farmers of Iowa. (View Farminar)
22-Dec Financing Your Enterprise
How do you put together a financing plan for your new business? This webinar will describe some scenarios to consider and describe a basic strategy for assembling monetary assets for your new or expanding farm business. Utilizing resources available that might include loans or grants from government or private sources. Beginning Farming tax credits are another program for encouraging landowners to rent or lease land to beginning farmers. (View Farminar)
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