The program was still 30 minutes from starting, but the coffee was hot and people were already streaming past the registration table. The 2025 Cooperators’ Program Meeting was underway. I was glad to see so many attendees.
This yearly two-day gathering for farmers in PFI’s on-farm research program is always held in Ames, Iowa, in mid-December – which means the risk of wintry weather. But this year, the forecast was calling for blizzard conditions to start around dinnertime. We were also in a new location – Harvest Vineyard Church – after many years at the Quality Inn & Suites on 13th Street.
Neither of those factors seemed to deter attendees. Over 100 farmers in PFI’s Cooperators’ Program showed up, ready to discuss their previous season’s trial results, plan projects for the coming year and connect with each other. I finally got to meet Darius Nupolu, a new participant who completed his first trial on broccoli varieties in 2025. After welcoming him to the meeting, I introduced him to a group of longtime horticulture and livestock farmer-researchers, who warmly invited him into their conversation.
The first part of the meeting featured 22 farmers sharing results of their 2025 research trials. Kate Edwards, a vegetable farmer and longtime participant from Solon, Iowa, presented on her cowpea cover crop variety trial. The discussion was popular not just with horticulture farmers but with livestock and field crops farmers too. “I don’t like being stuck with just crops or livestock or hort people,” says Neil Peterson, a diversified field crops and cattle farmer from Fonda, Iowa. “We have a lot to learn from each other.”
The second half focused on setting research priorities and brainstorming trial ideas for the 2026 growing season. Though not every idea can become a trial, these sessions reflect farmers’ broad interests and curiosity.
During a breakout session for horticulture farmers, Darius shared that one of his goals for the year is to learn more about identifying and treating pests effectively, and to share this knowledge with others in his community. By the end, the gathered farmers proposed over 40 unique trials they’ll conduct on their own farms in 2026.
Important work also happens in the ample unscheduled time during meals and breaks. The hallways and tables are constantly abuzz as people chat and connect. Darius says that for him, the meeting was a success because “I was able to make connections with new farmer friends and exchange new ideas with people.”
The Cooperators’ program seeks to empower farmers to generate and share knowledge through timely and relevant farmer-led research. If that sounds appealing to you, please contact Emma Link at (515) 232-5661, Ext. 1045 or gro.sremraflacitcarp@knil.amme to learn how you can become involved.
To read results of trials going back to 2010, browse our research report.
