More! Members sound off on what Practical Farmers should do differently
Members want even more opportunities to talk with each other, as they did at the Peake Field Day last summer
Is there anything you would like Practical Farmers to do differently in the coming year? We asked this question on our most recent member survey. Not surprisingly, the responses were incredibly varied. My favorites? “Perform miracles” and “Find a way to guarantee farmers at least minimum wage.” The most common response? “More events.” (I guess 140 events per year, which is what we had in 2013, were not enough!) Many members offered that they thought their region did not have as many events as it should.
Below is a smattering of the responses we received. What do you think? Some advice you have that is not included here? Let me know at Teresa@practicalfarmers.org
Continue to work with a cross section of Iowa farmers and farming visions
Focus on legacy planning
Emphasize crop diversity
More on cover crops practical info
Keep up livestock, mob grazing, cattle programming
Keep the back-patting to a minimum during events
Keep working on beginning farmers and being a link for farmers regarding conservation and alternative energy
More social media presence
Continue to promote cover crops
Talk more about mental and emotional health related to stresses of farm life
Have small local working groups
Talk about crop share agreements, cooperative models for large and small operations, labor and equipment sharing
More policy work
Anything that would reduce soil erosion and improve soil health
Information on GMO/glyphosate danger signs,
Additional cover crop varieties and rotations
Have program to help build overall soil health
More on organic food production and marketing
Improve landowner/land seeker web site (FindAFarmer)
Continue to expand researching and testing around practices that improve sustainability and that have an economic incentive
More farminars
Focus on attracting conventional farmers to join and feel comfortable at the conference
Move specific case studies of farms transitioning
Need to have an organization which can agree on goals and agree to disagree respectfully on methods to reach these goals
Online workshop series on hogs again. More resources for stating a dairy
We have had 2 years of extreme drought in our region and need to start thinking differently about growing crops for our livestock
Help producers with livestock health treatment (vaccination protocols, facilities design)
Explore impact sheep can have in high density grazing
Research grazing opportunities that could replace row crop on erodible ground
Get in the news more often–more people should know about us
Continue to use a voice that engages people, not separate them
Require more of beginning farmer program participants
Help with smart and effective marketing practices
Host a barn dance and social
More research that facilitates increased grass production
I think it is time to take on more policy issues….especially around sustainable farm management, water quality, climate change, etc.
Better monitoring of email lists
Keep working to help young farmers in Iowa
Focus on building a local food economy
Prepare young farmers even more carefully so they have a better chance of success
Continue to increase focus on alternative energy
I hope PFI can stay at a reasonable size and not grow too fast
More livestock field days
How can you make us better friends and consumers?
More orchard programs
I think PFI is going in the right direction with offering for-pay consulting. I hope the progress continues and the practicalities get worked out.