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Winter Webinars
Join Us for Our 2024 Winter Webinar Series
Winter webinars are 60-minute, online presentations that are FREE for everyone. We encourage attendees to come with questions for the chat box! Webinars are held on Tuesdays, from Noon to 1:00 p.m. Central Time from January to April.
How to Participate
Participating in live winter webinars is easy!
1. Test Computer
We use Zoom as our webinar platform. Never used Zoom before? There is a simple, one-time download on whichever device you plan to use. Note: attendees do not need microphone or video capabilities to participate.
2. Register to join using the buttons below that correspond to the winter webinar you wish to attend. Browse our winter webinar (formerly called “farminars”) archive to watch the past recordings or subscribe to our YouTube channel to never miss a webinar!
Schedule
Diversifying Pollinator Habitat on a Multi-Generational Illinois Farm
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | Noon-1 p.m.
Speakers: John & Nancy Brannaman
Are you looking to diversify your pollinator habitat? Are you tired of the endless mowing of brome and bluegrass? Do you want information on local, hardy seed sources? Join Nancy and John Brannaman as they showcase the ongoing conservation efforts on their Illinois farm.
Over the years, the Brannamans have added native prairie mixes, Conservation Reserve Program wetland mixes and Conservation Stewardship Program pollinator plots to their land. More recently, they’ve contracted with Pheasants Forever to seed another 13 acres of CRP pollinator habitat. In this webinar, Nancy and John will discuss how they do this work. You’ll learn about the seed and equipment they use, like extenders for small seeds. They’ll also explain how they prepare the seed bed and handle mowing, weeding and burning.
Nancy Brannaman is a sixth-generation farm owner actively working to bring young farmers to her land. Throughout her career, Nancy was a pioneer for women in agriculture. Her roles spanned topics and the globe, from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, to agricultural development in post-Soviet Ukraine and Russia, to multiple roles at the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service in seven different countries.
Recordings
Goat Milk? Dairy Goats 101
Are you interested in raising dairy goats? Join us for a Spanish-interpreted webinar with Emily Morgan, who will share how she started Aiyana’s Empire Dairy Goats and how she uses value-added products in her operations.
¿Está interesado en criar cabras lecheras? Acompáñenos para un seminario web interpretado en español con Emily Morgan, quien compartirá cómo comenzó Aiyana’s Empire Dairy Goats y cómo utiliza productos de valor agregado en sus operaciones.
Turning Point: Key Moments for Two Farms Over Two Decades
Over the course of 20 years, practically anything can and will happen on a small-scale, diversified farm that specializes in growing vegetable crops, raising poultry and selling quality food locally. In this webinar, hear Jill Beebout and Fob Faux, two experienced PFI horticulture farmers, talk about key moments and important decisions that made a difference, for good or bad, in their operations.
Figuring Out Funding Conventional and Unconventional Sources to Grow a Farm
Since starting Over the Moon Farm & Flowers, Anna Hankins and Shae Pesek have matured not only as farmers but also as business owners. Figuring out funding through both conventional and unconventional sources has been an important part of their development. In this winter webinar, Anna and Shae share what they’ve learned about accessing lines of credit, local programs, statewide grants and PFI programs to build and sustain their farm business.
Balancing Pollinator Habitat and Wild Spaces With a Diversified Small-Scale Farm
Creating habitat for pollinators and natural predators of crop pests can boost production but occasionally, wildlife doesn’t align with the farm’s production and sales goals. Learn from Jill Beebout of Blue Gate Farm and Rob Faux of Genuine Faux Farm as they discuss ways they encourage the allies that help in their food production, and how they deal with adversarial relationships with deer, woodchuck, gnats and other critters.
Revitalizing Soil for a Small-Scale Hemp Farm in Iowa
When Scott and Megan Booher bought their farm in 2016, the clay-rich soil was depleted of nutrients, so they used compost, biochar, worm castings and trace minerals to amend the soil on a portion of those acres to begin their hemp operation. In the ensuing years, they became certified organic and have experimented with reduced tillage and cover crops. Now called Four Winds Farm, their operation is one of relatively few farms in Iowa licensed to grow and sell various value-added hemp products. Learn about Megan and Scott’s decision to grow hemp in Iowa, what they’ve done to improve the soil on their farm and the hemp products they sell.
Developing a Meat CSA
At Mastodon Valley Farm, Peter has developed a unique meat CSA subscription model, which he’s been using for the last 10 years to successfully direct-market his farm’s regenerative meats. Peter shares the details of his system, talks about how to build and manage an e-commerce website, and shares how to decide the best way to market your farm’s products depending on your context.
Building a Farm for Shepherding
Wendy Johnson has designed her farm for rotationally grazing her Isle-de-France sheep. From grazing covers to planting silvopasture, Wendy explains why she loves the adaptability and resiliency of her wool sheep. She also shares how she’s used third-party certifications to build a market for her meat and wool.
An Alternative Third Crop? Relay Cropping Winter Camelina With Soybeans
Robert Harvey worked for the last two years with Heartland Co-op’s Ruth McCabe to successfully relay crop winter camelina and soybeans on his Redfield, Iowa, farm. In 2023, Robert harvested his first successful crop of winter camelina from this system and he is looking forward to a prospective third crop that fits in his corn and soybean rotations. Learn more in this webinar.
Trees and Bees: How Agroforestry Benefits Insects and Farmers
Adding trees to your farm can help both you and the pollinators on your farm in a range of ways. In this webinar, the Bouska sisters discuss some of the conservation practices, such as woodlots and pollinator plots, they have put to use on their farm. Zach Burhenn, of Iowa Native Trees and Shrubs, offers tips on site and species selection, long-term maintenance and the benefits of planting trees on your farm.
Establishing and Grazing Native Perennials
Including native perennials in your grazing system can have a range of benefits, from boosting drought resilience in a forage chain to adding important wildlife habitat. However, these native grasses and forbs require adaptive management to thrive. Drawing on over 50 years of experience, Kevin will share how he establishes native perennial pasture, and tips for grazing it successfully.
Watch more webinars (formerly farminars)
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the organizations, business and agencies who provide funding for PFI’s 2024 winter webinar season:
- Cedar Tree Foundation
- Ceres Trust
- Stranahan Foundation
- Walton Family Foundation
- NRCS CIG through a subaward with Pheasants Forever
- Offices of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), through a subaward with Center for Rural Affairs.
- USDA SARE, through a subaward with Lincoln University, Missouri, under agreement number LNC23-480
- U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, through a Conservation Partners Program grant
- U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant 21FMPPIA1012-00U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number NR216114XXXXG003
“Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, any reference to specific grants or types of products or services does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for those products or services.”
“USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”
“The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its funding sources. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government, or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources.”
