Published Jan 22, 2021

Practical Farmers of Iowa’s 2021 farminar season starts Jan. 26
By Tamsyn Jones
Topics include interseeding 60-inch corn, high tunnel storm protection, and pasture-finishing pigs

Contacts:

Maggie Norton | Farmer Outreach Coordinator | Practical Farmers of Iowa | (515) 232-5661 | maggie_n@practicalfarmers.org

AMES, Iowa — Practical Farmers of Iowa’s 2021 winter webinar series, referred to as “farminars,” will start on Tuesday, Jan. 26, with a presentation on interseeding 60-inch corn for improved return on investment.

The event is one of seven farminars offered through March 16 on issues relevant to beginning and experienced row crop, livestock and horticulture farmers, as well as landowners.

All farminars run weekly on Tuesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. CST and are free for anyone with an internet connection to participate. Each presentation focuses on a unique production or business management topic, and is led by a farmer or subject-matter expert. Attendees are able to ask questions in real-time using a chat box while they listen and watch a slideshow. Each farminar is recorded and archived at practicalfarmers.org for later viewing.

First launched in 2009, farminars offer practical knowledge and a way for farmers of all enterprises to continue learning and networking with one another through the winter.

The first farminar of the season, on Jan. 26, will be led by Eric Miller of Cascade, Iowa. Eric has been farming since 2009, and began using cover crops after price drops prompted him to rethink his bottom line. He is invested in how to use nature to maximize what his soil can deliver and how to do this within his short growing season, using techniques like 60-inch corn rows and interseeding to create grazing areas.

Other topics in PFI’s 2021 farminar series will explore questions about pasture-finished pigs; contracting grazing cover crops for winter feed; storm protection and maintenance of high tunnels; improving wildlife habitat on private lands with EQIP; and the impact of climate change on pollinators.

The 2021 series will also feature a Spanish-language farminar with a Latino farmer showing vegetable production and enterprises.

To participate: Go to practicalfarmers.org/farminars, click the “Join in” button and sign in as “Guest.” A schedule of all upcoming farminars – as well as recordings of archived farminars – is also available at that link.

Note: A complete list of farminars is also included below, along with a list of presenters organized alphabetically by community.

Practical Farmers’ 2021 winter farminars are made possible with funding from Ceres Trust, Center for Rural Affairs, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardshi, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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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.

2021 Winter Farminar Line-Up

1).  Jan. 26 – “Interseeding 60-Inch Corn for Improved ROI” – Eric Miller

In 2019, Eric began his own on-farm research project planting 60” corn with a cover crop mix seeded in between the rows in June. He prefers seeding cover crops at this time of year because it fits into his schedule. The wide corn rows result in ample cover crop growth by the fall, which in turn presents opportunities for grazing. Eric says the big plus of this system is his reduced use of inputs like residual herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and fertilizer.

  • Eric Miller has been farming in northeast Iowa since 2009. His first years in farming were good as crop prices were high, but after price drops in recent years, he found he was struggling financially and began trying to figure out how to improve his bottom line.

2).  Feb. 9 – “The Top 5 Questions About Pastured Finishing Pigs” – Steve Dieble, Dayna Burtness

Dayna Burtness has been raising pastured pigs since 2015 at Nettle Valley Farm in southeast Minnesota. In this farminar, she will ask Steve Deibele, an experienced pig farmer, her top five questions around finishing pigs on pasture. Steve owns Golden Bear Farm in Kiel, Wisconsin, and has 20 years of experience. Both farms are in similar climate zones, and the farmers will discuss planting and feeding perennial and annual forages. Tune in to join Dayna and Steve on this dive into pasture-finishing!

  • Steve Deibele and his wife, Marie, have operated a small pasture-based farm near Kiel, Wisconsin, since 2002, producing 250-300 Berkshire hogs per year. The pigs graze on organic pastures, apples and pumpkins.
  • Dayna Burtness has been farming on and off since 2004 and launched Nettle Valley Farm near Spring Grove, Minnesota, in 2015. She finishes heritage-breed hogs on pasture and runs the farm’s beginning farmer program.

3).  Feb. 16 – “Contract Grazing Cover Crops for Winter Feed” – Jon and Jared Luhman

Father and son team, Jon and Jared Luhman, operate Dry Creek Red Angus in Goodhue, Minnesota. Each winter they contract graze their cattle on cover crops and crop residue – whether it’s on their neighbors’ fields or hauling cattle to Nebraska to overwinter. The Luhmans will discuss their winter grazing arrangements and how they work out the finances to benefit both the landowner and themselves.

  • Jon and Jared Luhman operate Dry Creek Red Angus, a family-owned and operated beef and cash-crop farm in Goodhue, Minnesota, growing organic crops and raising 100% grass-fed Red Angus and Hereford cattle. They direct-market grass-fed beef through a cooperative of local farmers called The Grass Fed Cattle Company, serving Minneapolis and St. Paul.

4).  Feb. 23 – “High Tunnel Storm Protection and Routine Maintenance” – Adam Montri

Following the powerful derecho windstorm of August 2020, which damaged or destroyed many high tunnels, many farmers wondered what more they could do to strengthen their high tunnels and keep them in good shape for withstanding such severe weather. During this farminar, Adam Montri will draw on his experience building hundreds of high tunnels to share tips for building a strong tunnel, and routine tasks farmers should do to keep their tunnels performing as expected.

  • Adam Montri owns and operates Ten Hens Farm in Bath, Michigan. An expert in high tunnels, he has led seven high tunnel builds with PFI over the last decade, three of which occurred after the derecho in August 2020.

5).  March 2 – Spanish-language farminar, planning in progress

This farminar will be presented bilingually by a Latino farmer in the Midwest. The speaker will discuss topics relevant to vegetable growers in Iowa and share their experience accessing land. More information about the event will be posted at practicalfarmers.org/farminars as planning details are finalized.

6).  March 9 – “Using EQIP to Improve Wildlife Habitat on Private Lands” – Kelsey Fleming

Working lands conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program can be powerful tools for farmers and landowners interested in restoring wildlife habitat. Learn more from Kelsey Fleming, a private lands biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, about how programs like EQIP can provide landowners with financial assistance for wildlife conservation on their farms. Also hear about other technical and financial assistance opportunities available to farmers and landowners.

  • Kelsey Fleming is a private lands biologist with the Iowa DNR who works with farmers and landowners to provide assistance planning and implementing wildlife habitat projects in southwest Iowa.

7).  March 16 – “Pollinators & Climate Change: Making an Impact on the Farm” – Angela Laws, Sarah Nizzi

Pollinators face many threats, including a changing climate. During this farminar, learn more from Xerces Society climate change lead, Angela Laws, about how climate change impacts pollinators. Then hear from Sarah Nizzi, Xerces Society farm bill pollinator conservation planner and NRCS partner biologist, about the cost-share and technical assistance programs that can help you sustain pollinators on your farm.

  • Angela Laws is an endangered species biologist and climate change lead for Xerces Society, based in Sacramento, California. Her expertise involves integrating climate resiliency and invertebrate conservation. 
  • Sarah Nizzi is a farm bill pollinator conservation planner and NRCS partner biologist with the Xerces Society, based in Madrid, Iowa. Sarah works across Iowa to offer technical assistance to landowners interested in pollinator habitat.

Farminar Presenters by Community

Bath, Michigan – Presenting on Feb. 23

  • Adam Montri owns and operates Ten Hens Farm in Bath, Michigan. An expert in high tunnels, he has led seven high tunnel builds with PFI over the last decade, three of which occurred after the derecho in August 2020.

Cascade, Iowa – Presenting on Jan. 26

  • Eric Miller has been farming in northeast Iowa since 2009.

Goodhue, Minnesota – Presenting on Feb. 16

  • Jon and Jared Luhman operate Dry Creek Red Angus, a family-owned and operated beef and cash-crop farm in Goodhue, Minnesota, growing organic crops and raising 100% grass-fed Red Angus and Hereford cattle.

Kiel, Wisconsin – Presenting on Feb. 9

  • Steve Deibele and his wife, Marie, have operated a small pasture-based farm near Kiel, Wisconsin, since 2002, producing 250-300 Berkshire hogs per year.

Madrid, Iowa – Presenting on March 16

  • Sarah Nizzi is a farm bill pollinator conservation planner and NRCS partner biologist with the Xerces Society. Sarah works across Iowa to offer technical assistance to landowners interested in pollinator habitat.

Sacramento, California – Presenting on March 16

  • Angela Laws is an endangered species biologist and climate change lead for Xerces Society. Her expertise involves integrating climate resiliency and invertebrate conservation.

Spring Grove, Minnesota – Presenting on Feb. 9

  • Dayna Burtness raises heritage-breed hogs and runs an incubator farm program for beginning farmers at Nettle Valley Farm, a 70-acre farmstead with pasture and woods.

Waukee, Iowa – Presenting on March 9

  • Kelsey Fleming is a private lands biologist with the Iowa DNR who works with farmers and landowners to provide assistance planning and implementing wildlife habitat projects in southwest Iowa.