the Practical Farmer: Autumn 2023
Table of Contents
- From the Executive Director
- Field Crops
- Horticulture
- Livestock
- Beginning Farmers
- Field Day Photos
- Membership
- Field Crops
- Habitat
- Member Book Review
- Member Photos
On the cover:
Blandine Matondo tends to her garden at the Global Food Project in Iowa City, Iowa. She and four other Congolese families have their own vegetable plots to grow food for their families and the community. Read more about her and the Global Food Project on page 13.
Field Crops
Cultivating Diversity in the Heart of Waterloo
Since the 1980s, Mike Cook and his family have worked to build a profitable business growing row crops, fruits and vegetables on a patchwork of smaller plots.
Horticulture
The Richness of Varieties
In a modern market environment where crunch is key, what is the value of heirloom apple varieties?
Livestock
A Milky Way
Facing a tough dairy market, three small-scale Iowa dairies have adapted their businesses to keep doing what they love.
Beginning Farmers
Thinking Globally, Growing Locally
Global Food Project’s incubator farm helps immigrants to Iowa City build community while preserving cultural ties and traditions.
Field day photos
2023 Field Day Season
See images of learning, connection, food and fun from the first half of our 2023 field day season.
Membership
The Cycle Continues
Longtime PFI members Steve and Sara Hopkins are innovators in regenerative farming, water conservation and youth education.
Field Crops
Ventures in Organic
The Miller and Olson families are at different stages of their organic farming experience, but their stories highlight some common challenges and sources of support.
Habitat
Creating a House for Nature
Ken Fawcett and his family have embraced precision conservation to improve their farm while making space for the rest of nature to thrive.
PFI News
Meet the Newest Members of PFI’s Team
Heather Brown
Grants Finance Manager
Natasha Hegmann
Senior Horticulture and Local Foods Coordinator
Joshua McCunn
Graphic Design and Photography Intern
Kyleigh Meyeres
Office Assistant
Get Cover Cropping Insights with our New Video Series
PFI has been a key resource for farmers on cover crops since its founding, with field days, conference sessions, research reports, magazine articles and more. This year, we’re adding a dedicated video series – “Practical Cover Croppers” – to the mix.
The series launched earlier this summer with a video on setting up a corn planter for planting into a green cover crop. At three to 10 minutes long, each video aims to offer a digestible snapshot of PFI members’ cover cropping practices and insights across a range of farm enterprises, from row crops and livestock to horticulture.
You’ll learn about topics like using cover crops to suppress weeds, prevent erosion, boost soil health and provide forage for livestock. Videos also explore the societal benefits of cover crops and offer detailed how-tos on specific topics like roller crimping, air seeding, grazing cover crops and more.
New episodes are published weekly on our YouTube channel. Subscribe to our channel to be notified when we publish a new video. For questions, contact Rachel Deutmeyer at rachel.deutmeyer@practicalfarmers.org.