Title Year Category
Description

Compost extract (compost steeped in water, then sieved) is a popular soil amendment to increase beneficial biota and increase yields. Two treatment levels of compost extract were applied to carrots on two farms to determine impact on yield …


Publish Date
December 7, 2014

PFI Staff
Practical Farmers of Iowa
Description

Pollinators are a critical component of agricultural production, and the populations of bees are declining. Some farms are implementing bee-friendly pollinator habitat, and are curious what effect their efforts have on local populations. • Pollinators were collected in …


Publish Date
December 6, 2014

PFI Staff
Liz Kolbe
Cooperators
Sean Skeehan
Jill Beebout
Will Osterholz
Description

Neonicotinoid seed treatments in soybean production are ubiquitous but recent evidence has called their benefit to yields and their ecological impact into question. Farmer-cooperators compared soybean yields from soybeans of the same variety grown from neonicotinoid-treated seeds and …


Publish Date
December 6, 2014

PFI Staff
Practical Farmers of Iowa
Cooperators
Dick Sloan
Bob Lynch
Wendy & Doug Johson
Description

Fruit and vegetable farmers use mulch to control weed competition plus increase moisture retention for cash crops. Many fruit and vegetable farmers use plastic mulch but concerns about its environmental sustainability have farmers wanting to test other mulch …


Publish Date
December 6, 2014

PFI Staff
Practical Farmers of Iowa
Cooperators
Andy and Melissa Dunham
Mark Quee
Jordan Scheibel
Description

Using cover crops and side-dressing nitrogen fertilizer is a common bundle being investigated by Iowa farmers concerned about soil health, water quality and return on investment of cover crops. Cooperators grew corn following a winter rye cover crop …


Publish Date
December 5, 2014

PFI Staff
Stefan Gailans
Cooperators
Tim Smith
Rob Stout
Jeremy Gustafson
Description

Fruit and Vegetable farmers use cover crops to improve nutrient cycling and control weeds for increased production efficiency. Summer cover crops can be challenge due to dry conditions. Four farms evaluated summer cover crops to determine aboveground biomass …


Publish Date
December 5, 2014

PFI Staff
Liz Kolbe
Cooperators
Rob and Tammy Faux
Rick and Stacy Hartman
Nicholas Leete and Alice McGary
Mark Quee
Description

Extending and diversifying a crop rotation to include a small grain presents farmers with the opportunity to also include green manure cover crops. Three farmer-cooperators grew a small grain + red clover and a small grain + cover …


Publish Date
December 5, 2014

PFI Staff
Stefan Gailans
Cooperators
Dick Sloan
Vic Madsen
Bill Buman
Description

Extending and diversifying a crop rotation to include a small grain presents farmers with the opportunity to also include a forage legume that could possibly reduce the need for synthetic N fertilizer. Cooperator Tim Sieren grew corn in …


Publish Date
December 5, 2014

PFI Staff
Stefan Gailans
Cooperators
Tim Sieren
Description

Worm castings, or vermicompost, are a common addition to potting soil mix and greenhouse bedding, and are recommended for use with nearly any plant. Castings can be added at seeding or transplant, used to side-dress during the growing …


Publish Date
December 4, 2014

PFI Staff
Liz Kolbe
Cooperators
Jordan Scheibel
Mark Quee
Description

Internal parasites are an important issue in goat production, and parasite resistance to drugs is prevalent. • Grazing management, including frequent rotations and providing browse, reduces the likelihood that goats ingest larvae. • Reductions in FAMACHA score and …


Publish Date
December 3, 2014

PFI Staff
Practical Farmers of Iowa
Cooperators
Mike and Cheryl Hopkins
Dawn Anderson
Description

Three farms recorded the energy used during seed starting for the 2013 season. For each plant started, energy cost ranged from $0.002 – $0.033. Commercial grow lights were the most energy intensive item used by any farmer in …


Publish Date
December 2, 2014

PFI Staff
Liz Kolbe
Cooperators
Susan Jutz
Tim Landgraf and Jan Libbey
Eric and Ann Franzenburg
Description

We compare the energy use of winter high tunnel production to the product revenue during the first season of operation. Greenhouses and high tunnels allow farmers to extend the growing season. Greenhouses and high tunnels can increase revenue …


Publish Date
November 3, 2014

PFI Staff
Liz Kolbe
Cooperators
Lee Matteson and Rosie Schick