Conservation & Collaboration – 2021 Virtual Annual Conference

Several PFI landowners discuss conservation on rented or custom operated farmland. Topics range from navigating conservation cost-share programs, to working with farmland tenants, to cooperating with neighbors on events and field days.

Maggie McQuown and her husband, Steve Turman, moved to the farm where she grew up near Red Oak, Iowa, in 2012. Since then, they have worked closely with their farm operators to incorporate conservation practices. Maggie and Steve were PFI’s 2018 Farmland Owner Legacy Award recipients.

Clark Porter is a landowner and farm manager for Porter Family Farms in Iowa’s Grundy and Tama counties. Comprising a little over 570 acres, Clark’s farm is entirely no- or minimum-till, and Clark hires custom operators to work his farm. Clark also works as a watershed coordinator for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Carole Reichardt is a landowner and farm manager from Clive, Iowa. Carole manages family farms in Cerro Gordo, Polk, Madison, Clark and Decatur counties in Iowa, as well as in Mercer County, Missouri. She has much experience working with farmland tenants to achieve goals and implement conservation.

Chris Henning is a landowner from Cooper, IA. Chris manages her family farm and works with her tenants on a variety of conservation practice, including no-till, cover crops, and buffer strips. Chris also has experience using conservation programs like EQIP and CRP.