Practical Farmers’ 2018 field day guide is now available in print; features 40 farmer-led events across Iowa and Midwest

Contacts:

Tamsyn Jones | Outreach & Publications Coordinator | Practical Farmers of Iowa | (515) 232-5661 | tamsyn@practicalfarmers.org

AMES, Iowa — Practical Farmers of Iowa’s 2018 field day guide is now available in print for free. The 80-page guide features full-color listings of 40 Practical Farmers field days and other learning events taking place across Iowa – and beyond – from late-spring through mid-autumn.

The events feature farmers’ knowledge on topics across the agricultural spectrum, from cover crops to cheese production; vegetable production to farm leases; grazing practices to farm infrastructure; small grains to soil health; raising prairie plants to seed-saving; and more.

This year, as part of our effort to amplify our impact, Practical Farmers of Iowa is expanding the number of events we are holding in nearby states, with events in Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Events are color-coded by region of the state to make it easier for readers to find events near them, with a corresponding map of locations, and each listing includes detailed information about the event, including driving directions. The guide also lists more than 26 additional farm-focused events organized by partner organizations.

To request a guide by mail, call the Practical Farmers office at (515) 232-5661. The guide is also available to download at practicalfarmers.org.

All Practical Farmers field days are open to everyone, occur rain or shine, and most are free to attend. Practical Farmers of Iowa field days bring farmers together with each other and the public to learn and share knowledge.

Through these interactions, we seek to equip farmers to build resilient farms and communities. All field days feature farmer-led discussions and farm or field tours, and many feature local food and potlucks.

In addition to the events listed in the guide, Practical Farmers also hosts several late-winter and early-spring events that occur outside the timeline of this guide.

A complete list of PFI events in Practical Farmers’ 2018 field day guide is below, along with field day locations.

2018 Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Days:

• May 31 – Growing Garlic and Marketing the Farm – Johnston
• June 19 – Wows and Woes of Diversifying with Cover Crops and Small Grains – Weldon
• June 20-23 – GrassFed Exchange Conference in South Dakota – Rapid City, SD
• June 21 – Teaming Up and Starting a Vegetable Farm – Decorah
• June 26 – Thinking Outside the Box With Cover Crops – Washington
• June 27 – Combine Clinic for Small Grains Harvesting – Grundy Center
• June 28 – Small Grains, Big Opportunities – Graze, Brew, Harvest, Build Soil – Bedford
• June 28 – Conservation Infrastructure on a Diverse Livestock Farm – La Motte
• July 7 – Landing a Farm – Long-Term Leases and Other Options – Iowa City
• July 11 – Mechanical Weed Control for Organic Crop Production – Brighton
• July 12 – Small Grains, Modest Gains: A Pragmatic Approach – Janesville, WI
• July 14 – New Beginnings: Organic Transition at a Diversified Dairy Farm – Maynard
• July 17 – Expanding Conservation With Cover Crops, Livestock and Small Grains – Dayton
• July 18 – Cover Crops and Soil Health at the Grundy County Fair – Grundy Center
• July 20 – Improving Organic Crop Production – Paullina
• July 24 – RAGBRAI – Top of the Hill at Full Circle Farm – Madrid
• July 26 – Terry’s Techniques: Seed-Saving and Cultivation Equipment – Crescent
• July 30 – CONFERENCE: Rotationally Raised – Making Small Grains Work – Mankato, MN
• July 31 – Farmland Owner Legacy Award Celebration + Soil Health Event – Red Oak
• Aug. 7 – Weed Control for Organic Row Crops – Jefferson
• Aug. 9 – Raising Prairie: Seeds, Plants and Restoration – Spencer
• Aug. 10 – Planning and Installing Beneficial Insect Habitat – Grinnell
• Aug. 15 – Bus Trip to Joel Gruver’s WIU Organic Research Farm – Roseville, IL
• Aug. 23 – Next Generation Summit – Newton
• Aug. 24 – DIY Watering and Corral Systems for Cattle and Pigs – Winterset
• Aug. 25 – AgArts Field Day of Family, Food and Fun – Hastings
• Aug. 27 – Livestock Integration on a Small-Scale Vegetable Farm – Dallas Center
• Aug. 28-30 – Visit Cover Crop Farmer Experts at the Farm Progress Show – Boone
• Sept. 5 – Tree Crop Field Class – Wapello
• Sept. 6 – Cover Crops and On-Farm Conservation – Marble Rock
• Sept. 8 – Grass-Fed Beef: From Production to Marketing – Exira
• Sept. 10 – Cover Crops + Small Grains = A Perfect Pair for Soil Health and Water Quality – Stanton
• Sept. 13 – Cider and Pumpkins at Historic Deal’s Orchard – Jefferson
• Sept. 14 – Hands-On Livestock Care With a Veterinarian – Sac City
• Sept. 16 – Production to Market at Pheasant Run Farm – Van Horne
• Sept. 22 – From Rotational Grazing to Regenerative Grazing – Grant City, MO
• Oct. 5 – Cheese and Ice Cream Production at Kalona Creamery – Kalona
• Oct. 14 – Fall Vegetable Production and Planning – Mechanicsville
• Nov. 1-3 – Forage Chains and Forage-Finishing – 3 Days With Anibal Pordomingo – West Branch
• Nov. 8 – Root and Tuber Crop Production – Sioux Center

Practical Farmers’ 2018 field days are supported by several sustaining and major sponsors, including: Albert Lea Seed; Applegate Natural & Organic Meats; Blue River Organic Seed; Cascadian Farms; Center for Rural Affairs; Farm Credit Services of America; Gandy Cover Crop Seeders; Grain Millers, Inc.; Green Cover Seed; Green Thumb Commodities; Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance; Iowa Beef Center; Iowa State University Department of Agronomy; Iowa Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE); ISU Extension and Outreach; La Crosse Forage and Turf Seed; MOSA Organic Certification; Natural Resources Defense Council; Organic Valley / Organic Prairie; PepsiCo; Pipeline Foods; Premier 1 Supplies; Sunrise Foods International; The DeLong Company; The Fertrell Company; The Scoular Company; Unilever; University of Iowa College of Public Health (I-CASH); USDA: Natural Resources Conservation Service; Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture; and Welter Seed & Honey Co.

Practical Farmers of Iowa works to equip farmers to build resilient farms and communities. Our values include: welcoming everyone; farmers leading the exchange of experience and knowledge; curiosity, creativity, collaboration and community; resilient farms now and for future generations; and stewardship of land and resources. To learn more, visit http://practicalfarmers.org.