Published Apr 2, 2011

WOMEN FARMLAND OWNERS INVITED TO FREE DISCUSSION WITH BEGINNING FARMERS BEING HELD IN CARROLL APRIL 27
By Ann Seuferer

Just wanted to share with you all a press release from Practical Farmers of Iowa. Sounds like a much needed forum for women landowners and beginning farmers. Do you think something like this would be beneficial to you? We’d loved to know your thoughts and answer any questions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2011

Contacts:
Lynn Heuss | 515.201.9405 | lheuss@gmail.com.

WOMEN FARMLAND OWNERS INVITED TO FREE DISCUSSION WITH BEGINNING FARMERS BEING HELD IN CARROLL APRIL 27

CARROLL, IOWA—Women who own or manage farmland in Carroll and neighboring counties, and new or beginning farmers interested in finding land to farm, are invited to participate in a FREE informal discussion on Wednesday, April 27, at St. John Lutheran Church in Carroll.

Women now own or co-own nearly half the farmland in Iowa, and an increasing number of them are sole owners who rent their farmland to a tenant. As tenants age and retire, or women develop an interest in alternative forms of agriculture for their land, the opportunity arises for women landowners to help a new generation of farmers gain access to land.

This gathering will be an informal discussion designed to allow women landowners the opportunity to talk about what they are looking for in a tenant. It will also be a chance for new and beginning farmers to share their goals and plans with potential future landladies who hold the same values and ideals. This talk will be facilitated by female experts who can share resources such as creative conservation-oriented farm leases and other tools.

All interested women are welcome, including owners, operators and inheritors of farmland, and new and beginning farmers, regardless of their degree of knowledge. A free lunch will be provided. In order for us to get an accurate meal count, please RSVP by Friday, April 22 , by emailing Lynn Heuss at lheuss@gmail.com, or by calling her at 515.201.9405.

The program begins with registration and coffee at 8:30 am in the Fellowship Hall at St. John Lutheran Church in Carroll, IA. The discussion will begin at 9 a.m. and will be guided by the interests of the participants. Possible topics of conversation may include different types of leases with tenants and other funding opportunities for new and beginning farmers. Participants will be asked to share their vision for farms and farming.

Four of these meetings will be held all across Iowa each year from 2011 – 2013. This project is funded by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2010-49400-21843. These meetings are sponsored by Women, Food and Agriculture Network in partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa.

For more information about the program, call Lynn Heuss at 515.201.9405 or email lheuss@gmail.com.

Founded in 1985, Practical Farmers of Iowa is an open, supportive and diverse organization of farmers and friends of farmers, advancing profitable, ecologically sound and community-enhancing approaches to agriculture through farmer-to-farmer networking, farmer-led investigation and information sharing. Farmers in our network produce corn, soybeans, beef cattle, hay, fruits and vegetables, and more. For additional information, call 515.232.5661 or visit practicalfarmers.org.

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