Field Days
Field days have been a core part of Practical Farmers since the beginning, when farmers would come together to share details of on-farm research and demonstration and learn from each other in a spirit of openness and curiosity. This remains true today. While spring and summer are our peak field day seasons, our members host events throughout the year, inviting fellow farmers and the public onto their farms to learn about topics that span the agricultural spectrum, and even the intersection of farming and local foods. View the list of events below or check out the PDF version of the field day guide.
Blue dots indicate PFI field days and events. Note: Out-of-state locations are not shown to geographic scale; they have been placed to give their approximate representation of their position relative to Iowa.
2019 Field Day Season
June
1) June 4: Harvesting Ryelage for Cattle Feed
2) June 4: Producing Heirloom Tomatoes and Nurturing a Food Forest
3) June 5: Livestock Parasites 101: Prevention, Identification, Treatment
4) June 6: Impact of Cover Crops on Water Quality and Soil Health
5) June 11: Perennial and Annual Forages for Organic Dairy Cattle
6) June 13: Hybrid Rye: Managing, Marketing and Feeding Livestock
7) June 14: Managing Pig Health in a Pasture-Based System
8) June 18: Using Small Grains to Protect Your Bottom Line
9) June 18: On-Farm Habitat Management for Wildlife and Water Quality
10) June 19: Grazing Native Perennials in the Little Sioux Watershed
11) June 20: Greenhouse Hydroponics, Succulents and Houseplants
12) June 20: Diversified Crop Rotations and Cover Crops
13) June 21: Pumpkins and Produce in One Multi-Purpose Space
14) June 25: Controlling Weeds in the Row for Organic Crop
15) June 26: 30 Years of Small Grains and No-Till on an Ohio Farm
16) June 30: Regenerating the Family Farm Through Diversification
July
17) July 2: Cover Crops With Purpose: Weed Suppression, Soil Health and Unexpected Benefits
18) July 2: Beginning and Aspiring Farmer Bus Tour
19) July 10: Farmland Owner Legacy Award + On-Farm Conservation Event
20) July 11: Making an Orchard Work in Iowa
21) July 16: Growing Vegetables for Your Rural Community
22) July 17: Soil Health and Water Quality Workshop
23) July 17: Prairie and Beneficial Insect Habitat on an Organic Crop Farm
24) July 17: Organic Row Crop Production and Mechanical Weed Control
25) July 19: Commercial Hair Sheep Production on Pasture
26) July 23: RAGBRAI at Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch
August
27) August 3: One Family’s Vision for Agroforestry in Iowa
28) August 4: Next Generation Summit
29) August 6: Soil Health Smorgasbord for Farmers + Family Learning Event
30) August 7: Growing, Grading, Selling and Storing Chestnuts
31) August 14: Transition to Organic With Diversity to Improve Soils
32) August 15-16: CONFERENCE: Rotationally Raised – Making Small Grains Work
33) August 16: Cultivating Farm Resilience for a Changing Climate
34) August 18: U-Pick Cut Flowers: Production and Management
35) August 22: Grazing Cover Crops and Building Community 101
36) August 24: Managing an Organic Apple Orchard
September
37) September 17: Establishing Pollinator Habitat at Scattergood Friends School Farm
38) September 21: Rotationally Raised Poultry on Pasture
39) September 22: Beekeeping in Iowa: Challenges and Sweet Rewards
40) September 28: Using Goats for Restoration and Market Diversification
October-November
41) October 6: Extending the Vegetable Season in the Field and High Tunnel
42) November 10: Urban Farming: Greens and Farm Store Sales
43) November 20: Cover Crops for All: Thoughts on Machinery, Management and Grazing
2019 Field Day Sponsors
A Level
B Level
Acknowledgements
Funding for these field days was provided in part by the following government agencies:
National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture: This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2017-01761-12301075.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture: This material is based upon the work supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under numbers NR193A750008G004 and 69-6114-17-007. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality: This project is supported in part by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality
Host a Field Day
If you are a member of Practical Farmers and would like to share your knowledge with other members, consider hosting a field day. Field day hosts are paid for their time and effort. Let us know your idea, and we will consider it when scheduling the next year’s field days.