the Practical Farmer A quarterly publication of Practical Farmers of Iowa Vol. 27, No. 1 | Winter 2012

Wyatt Wheeler hides in the hay at a pasture walk held at Jake and Amber Wheeler’s farm near Monroe this winter.

In this issue How specialty crops can supplement farm income Savings Incentive Program: 25 new farmers embark on 2-year quest Field crops: Profit more by using less, without sacrificing yield Special 2012 PFI Annual Conference photo section Solar PV pays off for PFI members PFI Board of Directors We love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact your board members or PFI staff . Contents District 1 (Northwest) Gail Hickenbottom, Treasurer David Haden 810 Browns Woods Dr . Letter from the Director ...... 3 4458 Starling Ave . West Des Moines, IA 50265 Primghar, IA 51245 515 256. .7876 712 .448 .2012 Horticulture ...... 4–5 highland33@tcaexpress .net Advisory Board Dan Wilson, PFI Vice-President Larry Kallem 2011 Beginning Farmer Retreat...... 6–7 4375 Pierce Ave . 12303 NW 158th Ave . Paullina, IA 51046 Madrid, IA 50156 712 .448 .3870 515 795. .2303 PFI Leaders...... 8–9 the7wilsons@gmail .com Dick Thompson 2035 190th St . District 2 (North Central) Boone, IA 50036 Savings Incentive Program...... 10–11 Sara Hanson 515 432. .1560 2505 220th Ave . Field Crops ...... 12–13 Wesley, IA 50483 PFI Staff 515 .928 .7690 dancingcarrot@yahoo .com For general information and staff Climate Change...... 14–15. connections, call 515.232.5661. Tim Landgraf, PFI President Individual extensions are listed in 1465 120th St . 2012 PFI Annual Conference...... 16-19 Kanawha, IA 50447 parentheses after each name. 641 .495 .6367 Teresa Opheim (302) libland@peconet .net Executive Director Local Foods...... 20 teresa@practicalfarmers .org District 3 (Northeast) Suzi Bernhard (301) Alternative Energy...... 21 Tyler Franzenburg Finance & Benefits Manager 6915 15th Ave . Keystone, IA 52249 suzi@practicalfarmers .org Grazing...... 22-23,. 25 319 .721 .2176 Patrick Burke (303) tfranzenburg@hotmail .com Office Manager Member Book Review...... 24 Jeff Klinge patrick@practicalfarmers .org 16609 Highway 13 Farmersburg, IA 52047 Sarah Carlson (305) 563 .536 .2314 Research & Policy Director PFI News...... 26-27 jefkling@neitel .net sarah@practicalfarmers .org Kevin Dietzel (307) Young Member Spotlight ...... 28 District 4 (Southwest) Grazing Coordinator Earl Hafner kevin@practicalfarmers .org Member Discussion Groups...... 29 303 Oak Ridge Dr . Panora, IA 50216 Luke Gran (308) 641 .757 0560. Next Generation Coordinator New Members & PFI Calendar...... 30 hafnerin@netins .net luke@practicalfarmers .org Sean Skeehan 746 Wyoming Tomoko Ogawa (306) Join PFI...... 31 Chariton, IA 50049 Market Development, Local Foods, 641 .203 .0758 PFI Cook skeebout@bluegatefarmfresh .com tomoko@practicalfarmers .org

Ann Seuferer (309) the District 5 (Southeast) Communications Director Ann Cromwell, PFI Secretary ann@practicalfarmers .org 3303 240th St . Julia Slocum Practical Farmer Williamsburg, IA 52361 319 .668 .8248 Office Assistant anniowa@commspeed .net julia@practicalfarmers .org the Practical Farmer keeps farmers and friends of farmers in touch with one another and provides informative articles about the latest Linda Grice Marc Strobbe (304) 25739 170th St . on-farm research, demonstration and observation to help all types Farm Viability Coordinator of farming operations to become profitable, while caring for the land South English, IA 52335 marc@practicalfarmers .org 319 .667 2350. that sustains them . Provided as a member benefit to PFI supporters, agricol@netins .net Sally Worley (304) the Practical Farmer also serves to update members on PFI programming . Deputy Director the Practical Farmer is published quarterly by Practical Farmers of Iowa, At-Large sally@practicalfarmers .org 137 Lynn Ave ., Suite 200, Ames, IA 50014; 515 .232 5661. . Joyce Lock 725 54th St . Newsletter Editor: Ann Seuferer Des Moines, IA 50312 515 .277 3615. (Back issues are available upon request .) stirjoy@aol .com

2 the Practical Farmer From the Director

Best Annual Conference yet; research plays big role at PFI

The annual conference is over. Dare I say (Left to right) Francis Thicke, Teresa Opheim it was the best one ever? and 2012 PFI Sustainable Agriculture Award The conference showcased our open, sharing winner Fred Kirschenmann. strategy at Practical Farmers. I especially want to thank Sara Hanson and Ryan and Janice Marquardt for presenting their business plans with a panel of financial experts (and the crowd). So many of our beginning farmers are writing or honing their farm enterprise strategies and are eager to see what others have done. Thanks to Jon Jaffe of Farm Credit, Renee LaBarge of Lincoln Savings Bank and Dave Miller of Working Farms Capital for giving the beginners much needed feedback.

Also: Gratitude to the Frantzen family for being willing to work through legacy planning questions publicly at the conference and in the Research plays major role at PFI PFI newsletter. Many of you are asking questions From nitrogen rates to weed management Veteran PFI researchers Vic Madsen and Doug about how to provide for your children while to P and K rates to cover cropping: Did you Alert at the 2011 Cooperators’ Meeting. keeping the farm together when you’re gone, know that members of Practical Farmers of and we hope the Frantzens’ journey will help you Iowa have done more than 1,000 research • Look for funding to further analyze our 25 better figure out your own. trials and demonstrations since 1987? What an years of research results—so much of that astounding achievement! Not surprisingly, we are information needs to be shared with a new internationally known for this activity. generation! As part of its Strategic Plan, the PFI Board of Directors decided it was time to take a good look It takes all kinds of skills to make an organization at where the Cooperators’ Program has been and succeed. We are blessed to have Donna Prizgintas how it should be improved. That work took place in our midst. Donna provided her home and at a December retreat in Ames with a terrific her culinary skills for our Cooperators’ Program committee: Veteran PFI researchers Ron Rosmann retreat. She specializes in using food from and Jeff and Gayle Olson, and David Haden, PFI farmers, including for this event: Growing Sean Skeehan and Mark Quee, who are newer Harmony Farm, Jumping Bean Farm, Table Top cooperators in the program. Rick Exner—the Farm, Berry Patch, Paul Willis and more. We were person behind the program’s long-term success— well cared for, and I believe we got more done joined us, as well as staffers Sarah, Tomoko, because of it. Kevin and Sally. Working for you, The Cooperators’ Committee Recommendations include: • Conduct projects with more sites and more years of data, to give us better scientific Teresa information for our farmers; Farm dog Luke, shown above enjoying the attention of a field day participant, is a two- • Be more strategic and conduct projects that and-half-year-old Great Pyrenees. He is finally will help farmers better deal with challenges P.S. Please help us improve! Soon you will receive settling into his job as guard dog for owner they will be facing; a member survey. Please respond promptly—we Sharon Krause’s sheep. Luke and his brother Bo • Include economic information in need your feedback to know what we, as your used to bicker and fight, but Sharon recently project design; staff and Board of Directors, should do next to separated them into two pastures guarding • Secure more press on cooperator deserve your membership. separate flocks. “They now have both bonded program results; with their flocks and become even more • Recognize the achievements of “our rock protective. And they don’t have any interest in star researchers” and encourage them to each other.” mentor others; www.practicalfarmers.org 3 Horticulture

Specialty crops allow next generation to supplement income and return to conventional row crop farm by Sally Worley

Kathy Hohl’s fifth generation farm near Donnellson has been transformed from a solely conventional row crop operation to one with multiple identities. “When we first added specialty crops to our row crop operation, we were primarily a fall retail business and changed our name to Kathy’s Pumpkin Patch,” say Kathy. “Since then we have added business facets to become a year- round operation. ‘Kathy’s Pumpkin Patch’ is how we answer the phone in the fall. In the summer we answer, “Veggie Barn at Kathy’s Pumpkin Patch,’ and in the winter, ‘Christmas Barn at Kathy’s Pumpkin Patch.’”

The diversification of this traditional row Kathy Hohl (right), of Kathy’s Pumpkin Patch near Donnellson, is shown here with son Adam, crop family farm began after Kathy’s dad and Julie, Adam’s wife. retired and her husband Greg experienced neck trouble. “Greg needed several neck with products from other local farmers from do so by a local restaurant owner. To help them surgeries and couldn’t be jostled around spring through winter. “Our focus through create a customer base, the restaurant shared by animals any more so we had to give up every diversification has been making family their client contact list with the Hohls; they the livestock aspect of the farm.” The Hohl memories,” says Kathy. “If we keep that as a now offer around 50 CSA shares to individuals family started to explore specialty crop key mission statement, we can do that through in their community. “Ideally we would like all options to make up for the lost income that fresh sweet corn, tomatoes and vegetables our CSA members to drive to the farm each had been generated by hogs and cattle. in summer; pumpkins and a corn maze in week, but haven’t convinced them of that the fall; and a Christmas wonderland in the yet,” Adam says. “Our dream would be to retail Finding their passion winter.” Each season is ripe with on-farm everything from our retail barn, that’s why Kathy and Greg’s son Adam had raised pumpkins activities for families to enjoy. They market we built it, to bring everything and everyone for a few years as part of a FFA project in high their farm agritourism through social media to the farm,” adds Kathy. For now, however, school. “We had fond memories of growing and have had success participating in parades they deliver their CSA products to four nearby pumpkins, loved the crop and were familiar in communities neighboring their farm. towns as well as offer on-farm pick up. with the enterprise,” Kathy says. In 2004 the Hohl family planted five acres of pumpkins. Growing their market base Kathy explains, “We are trying to educate “We planted them by hand the first year,” The Hohls have also added holiday items and customers that while picking up their produce, explains Adam. “We didn’t do that again.” begun marketing them to drive business to their they can also pick up a pint of jelly, or a They had a successful first season so planted retail barn for more months of the year. They package of steaks from our neighbors the pumpkins again the next year. At this point, have a partnership with Nelson Family Tree Farm Hulsebus’, or honey from Tull Honey farm, Adam and his wife Julie expressed interest from northern Wisconsin, where they purchase and baked goods from our licensed kitchen.” in returning to the farm from their teaching trees and fresh greenery. They also sell other and business jobs in St. Louis. The family holiday wares. The barn is home to numerous Diversifying their offerings planted 30 acres of pumpkins that year and has children’s activities, including create your own “Until our on-farm revenue has reached the increased their production to 40 acres since. snowman, custom wreath design, build your level to adequately support our business and They also raise two acres of sweet corn each own Gingerbread house and create your own allow for growth, we realize we can’t put year and two acres of other vegetable crops. ornament. Santa pays a visit on the weekends. all our eggs in one basket,” says Adam. With that in mind, the Hohls market some of their Working with a consuming public The Hohls added CSA (community supported products through local grocery stores, hospitals, The Hohls have built a large retail barn on agriculture) to their farm five years ago to assisted living centers and distributor Local 4the the property Practical and Farmer sell their products along increase farm sales after being encouraged to Harvest Supply. They aren’t satisfied with the Horticulture

efficiency of these market avenues, but plan As the farm has diversified, the family is and 700 acres, enough land to add specialty to improve them. He adds, “These markets careful to consider strengths and interests crop rotation into our existing operation.” are difficult for us because they don’t fit what of each family member. “My husband Greg we do the rest of the time, and we have to is very much a traditional farmer. You will Dedication begins with good switch hats. With some of our smaller wholesale find him out in the field, but not in the barn communication accounts, it doesn’t make sense for us to working with the public. He keeps up the When Adam and Julie joined the farm, the Hohl drive 10 to 20 minutes to service three or four row crop side of our operation and serves as family made a conscious effort to get everyone assisted living facilities with two bunches of machinery engineer,” says Kathy. Adam, on on the same page. “With multiple generations in green onions, three heads of lettuce and two the other hand, is passionate about specialty a family operation,” says Kathy, “it is beneficial bunches of radishes. It just doesn’t justify crop diversification. “I have an interest in to go through a deliberate process to look at packaging and delivery time.” Kathy and growing specialty crops, and feel they provide where you’ve been, what has or has not been Adam are working to encourage some of their a good way to add revenue to support two successful, where you are and where you’re smaller accounts to have common delivery families without increasing our land base. going.” The Hohl family scheduled sessions areas to make the trips profitable for them. Our family is fortunate to own between 600 with a consultant to work through the business planning process and make sure goals were clear and shared by everyone. “It is important to talk about giving value to what the farm had been in past and ensure that the farm’s new Get PRIMED for adding a specialty crop direction continues to give value to past,” says Kathy. In addition to meeting with a consultant, Kathy and Adam Hohl have some good advice for traditional crop and livestock the family attended conferences focused on farmers who are considering adding a specialty crop. Run through their shortlist inter-generational farm management, and reality check below before launching a new business enterprise. Kathy took Penny Brown Huber’s Grow Your • Passion. Do you have a passion for working with the public? Traditional Small Market Farm course to help create a farming does not involve the volume of people contacts that direct marketing solid written plan for their evolving farm. specialty crops does. The Hohls love interacting with their customers. “We have so much fun with folks coming to the farm. Be sure you enjoy that,” says Kathy. Educating themselves • Research. Make sure the specialty you’ve chosen is something you’re Kathy attended the branding workshop, going to enjoy raising and that you have the time and expertise to grow it. “The organized by Practical Farmers of Iowa, pumpkins are time-consuming with weeding, spraying, harvesting, scouting last spring to help think about a new farm and marketing,” explains Kathy. But the Hohl family loves raising them and identity that would properly encompass working the pumpkin patch together so it is worth the extra effort. all the farm does, from corn, to beans, to pumpkins, to radishes, to Christmas • Insurance. “The whole new liability concept—all of a sudden dealing with trees. They have not found a solution yet potential for food-borne illnesses or on-farm customer injury—is huge and constantly but plan to revisit the identity of the farm at the forefront of our thinking,” says Kathy. She recommends having a good insurance around the family table this winter. agent. “Our agent has been willing to learn, is extremely supportive and provides updates on legislation that may be up and coming,” Kathy adds. “She translates the policy into a language that helps us understand the details of the coverage.” • Market base. Do you have the ability and willingness to get people to come to you or to go out and develop markets in your community? Do you have or can you generate a sufficient market base? • Education. Are you willing to learn something new and really work at mastering a new way of growing? • Dedication. Is the entire family willing to take this journey together? To be successful, all family members must be committed and involved. Every member of the Holh family plays a role on the farm, from daughter Amber coming back from graduate school to work on the weekends to Kathy’s dad, DeWayne Hentzel, making scarecrows at his retirement home in Grinnell. www.practicalfarmers.org 5 Next Generation

2011 Beginning Farmer Retreat: Demystifying business planning with Richard Wiswall by Luke Gran

On December 8–9, 2011, at the YMCA events, Jeff also noted, “The fellowship with Camp near Boone, 30 beginning beginning farmers and the good food would farmers gathered to learn how to have been reason enough to come, but the budget for profit, organize their farm excellent presentation was the cherry on top.” offices, complete financial tables and better manage their employees. Participants hailed from all parts of the They also enjoyed networking with and state, and one participant even made the trip learning from one another and from from neighboring Missouri to take advantage more experienced farmers about business of the learning and sense of community. planning and other farm challenges. Dave Schmidt, a beginning farmer Richard Wiswall shares business from Garwin, left feeling “… ready planning process to jump into my business plan.” Beginning farmer Nathan Anderson helps himself Author and experienced farmer Richard to a little lunch at the Beginning Farmer Retreat. Wiswall, from Vermont, led beginning farmers through the business planning Beginners provide positive process outlined in his book, The Organic feedback Many attendees reported that they wished Farmer’s Business Handbook. Richard’s Julia Slocum, beginning farmer from Ames, they could meet several times each year as a presentations and discussion exemplified had this to say, “The best part is meeting group and for longer periods of time. Beginners the PFI mission to provide practical, usable all these other young people who are a from every enterprise in our network were information and ideas for farmers. few steps ahead of me in the process and in attendance including row crops, grazing, hearing what they’ve done and plan to do.” poultry, tree crops, and fruits and vegetables. Attendee Jeff Scott of Decorah wrote on his It didn’t matter to a grazier or a row crop grain evaluation, ”It was a wonderful opportunity Beth Kemp, beginning farmer also from beginner that the speaker was a vegetable to attend a small multi-day workshop Ames, mentioned that the retreat, farmer, the fundamental lessons learned with a nationally known speaker on farm “… gave me simple steps to take to were the same no matter the enterprise. profitability.” Picking up a theme in PFI improve my finances for the farm.” Looking ahead Based on this year’s survey responses, next year we will be looking for a farmer speaker to represent the livestock side of farming at the next beginning farmer retreat.

Special thanks to PFI staff member Tomoko Ogawa who provided and coordinated delicious meals made of PFI member products and to Food Corps volunteers Daniel Schultz and Mauricio Rosas- Alvarez who helped prepare Saturday lunch.

(Above) Sally Hertz-Gran checks out the PFI display at the Beginning Farmer Retreat. (Right) Beginners mingle during a break at the retreat.

6 the Practical Farmer Next Generation

(Above) Beginner Emily Rose Pfaltzgraff. (Above right) Mike Salama and Beth Kemp listen to presenter Richard Wiswall talk about business planning. (Below) The room is captivated as Wiswall provides practical information young farmers can use to build a successful business.

(Above) There’s always fresh, local food at PFI events. (Below) Beginners brave the cold to attend the retreat, which was held in December.

www.practicalfarmers.org 7 PFI Leaders

More than 200 PFI members play leadership role in 2011

From hosting a field day to conducting on- Mark Peterson farm research to serving on a committee, Speakers more than 200 members of Practical Sharing knowledge, in the news Farmers of Iowa served as leaders of this organization in 2011. Thank you to all of Pete Lammers Dave Schmidt you! (And, if we accidently left you off, let Andy Larson Jennie Smith us know! We will make amends in the next Matt Liebman Nick Wallace newsletter!) Ryan Marquardt Ellen Walsh-Rosmann Kelly Tobin Jeff Olson Julie Wilber Jerry Peckumn Erin Wilson Workshops Donna Prizgintas Lorna Wilson Cooperators Nathan Anderson Lois Reichert Torray Wilson Finding solutions to on-farm challenges Mark Armstrong Ron Rosmann In the news Jill Beebout George Schaefer Paul Ackley Greg Koether Mark Quee Paul Ackley Kelly Biensen Sean Skeehan Doug Alert Tim Landgraf Steve Reinart Nathan Anderson Ray Bratsch-Prince Dan Smith Nicholas Leete Ron Rosmann Emily Babin Kim Alexander Craig Chase Dan Specht Jan Libbey Ben Saunders Ethan Book Marilyn Andersen Chris Corbin Mary Swander Amy Logan George Schaefer Ray Bratsch-Prince Nathan Anderson Tim Daley Angela Tedesco Joel Logan Dave Schmidt Bruce Carney Barney Bahrenfuse Wade Dooley Francis Thicke Craig Fleishman Art Behrens Anita Maher-Lewis Rich Schuler Rob Faux Jim Thompson Irene Frantzen Galen Marten Scott Shriver Tammy Faux Joe Ward Steve Berger James Frantzen Alice McGary Jerry Sindt Laura Frerichs Ray Bratsch-Prince Farminars Tom Frantzen Steve McGrew Harn Soper Ann Brau Ann Franzenburg Tyler Franzenburg Paul Mugge Dan Specht Ron Brunk Thomas Burkhead John Gilbert Steve Brunk Jake Myers Gary Steenblock Mary Cory LaVon Griffieon Bill Buman Mike Natvig Kelly Tagtow Tom Cory Jeremy Gustafson Patrick Burke Dave Nelson Francis Thicke Karl Dallefeld Earl Hafner Sarah Carlson Larry Ness Dick Thompson Glenn Drowns Sara Hanson Erin Drinnin Fred Kirschenmann Bruce Carney Tomoko Ogawa Sharon Thompson Rob Faux Jeff Klinge Tom Cory Jeff Olson Tom Thorpe Ann Franzenburg Sharon Krause Daniel Davidson Teresa Opheim Mark Tjelmeland Eric Franzenburg Laura Krouse Wade Dooley Bill Pardee Kelly Tobin Theresa Gould Aaron Lehman Jerry Peckumn Irene Frantzen Ron Vos Sara Hanson Jan Libbey Mark Peterson James Frantzen Dan Wilson Morgan Hoenig Matt Liebman Mark Pokorny Ellen Walsh-Rosmann Tom Frantzen Tai Johnson-Spratt Vic Madsen Susan Posch and Daniel Rosmann Ann Franzenburg Jason Jones Paul Mugge Eric Franzenburg Andrew Knafel Randy Naeve Tom German John Gilbert Eric Madsen Jerry Peckumn Chris Goedhart Janice Marquardt Mark Quee Chris Goedhart Barbara Grant Ryan Marquardt Doug Roberts Annie Grieshop Earl Hafner Adam Montri Ron Rosmann Craig Griffieon Rick Hartmann Mathew Patterson Sean Skeehan LaVon Griffieon Stacy Hartmann Carol Prescott Harn Soper Earl Hafner Ryan Herman Kamyar Enshayan, Derek Roller Sean Sullivan Ryan Herman Susan Jutz Jeff Olson and Craig Chase Ben Saunders Francis Thicke Rick Juchems Laura Krouse Mike Klinge

8 the Practical Farmer PFI Leaders

Field Day Hosts Providing networking and information sharing

Nathan Anderson Sara Hanson Francis Thicke Barney Bahrenfuse Jarret Herke Susan Thicke Bonnie Beard Ryan Herman Irene Tobin Dan Beard Gene Herman Kelly Tobin Parker Beard Jon Judson Ron Vos Sam Beard Sharon Krause Ellen Walsh-Rosmann Tom Beard Laura Krouse Amber Wheeler Jill Beebout Tim Landgraf Jake Wheeler Art Behrens Jan Libbey John Whitson Rose Behrens Garth Lloyd Luella Yoder Sean Sullivan Tim Blair Cindy Madsen Robert Yoder Ethan Book Eric Madsen Rebecca Book Vic Madsen Charles Brown Paul Mugge Committee, Board & Thomas Burkhead Karen Mugge Savings Incentive Program Bruce Carney Linda Naeve Charting a course for the future Connie Carney Randy Naeve Mary Cory Carol Oliver Cooperators’ Policy PFI Board Andy Dunham

Tom Cory John Pierce Advisory Committee Ann Cromwell Melissa Dunham David Haden Ron Dunphy Suzanne Castello Joy Pierce Tyler Franzenburg John Gilbert Gayle Olson Eric Franzenburg Dan Dennison Tony Pille Linda Grice Earl Hafner Jeff Olson Jeff Klinge Andy Dunham Mark Quee David Haden Gary Huber Mark Quee Laura Krouse Melissa Dunham Jack Reichert Earl Hafner Penny Brown Huber Ron Rosmann Jerry Peckumn Beau Ebersole Lois Reichert Sara Hanson Virgil Knobloch Sean Skeehan Shanen Ebersole Daniel Rosmann Gail Hickenbottom Tim Landgraf Jan Libbey Craig Fleishman Maria Rosmann Policy Reps in DC Strategic Jeff Klinge Deb Fleishman Ron Rosmann Directions Tim Landgraf Angela Tedesco Nathan Anderson Dana Foster Matt Russell Tim Landgraf Joyce Lock Dan Wilson Ethan Book Irene Frantzen Neal Sawyer Jerry Peckumn Sean Skeehan Earl Hafner James Frantzen Norm Sawyer Sean Skeehan Dan Wilson Jack Knight SIP Enrollees Tom Frantzen Arnold Schneider Ellen Walsh-Rosmann Jerry Peckumn Nathan Anderson Ann Franzenburg Jane Schnieder Dan Wilson Sean Skeehan SIP Committee Becca Book Eric Franzenburg Sharon Seuferer Earl Hafner Ethan Book Tyler Franzenburg Sean Skeehan Gail Hickenbottom Garrett Caryl Chris Goedhart Dan Smith Ryan Marquardt Erin Drinnin Craig Griffieon Sheila Smith Sean Skeehan Sara Hanson LaVon Griffieon Harn Soper Angela Tedesco Jason Jones Jeremy Gustafson Patrick Standley Nicholas Leete Steve Gustafson Kim Steele-Blair SIP Mentors Eric Madsen Earl Hafner Becky Sullivan Janice Marquardt Bonnie Beard Jeff Hafner Sean Sullivan Ryan Marquardt Dan Beard Alice McGary Mary Cory Ben Saunders Erin and little Tom Cory Audrey Wilson Joel Winnes

www.practicalfarmers.org 9 Savings Incentive Program

Committee selects 25 new beginning farmers to start two-year Savings Incentive Program by Sally Worley

Practical Farmers of Iowa has for five or fewer year. Practical Famers of accepted an additional 25 beginning Iowa will accept applications for a third farmers into its Savings Incentive round of enrollees in the fall of 2012. If you Program. This program, created to help have questions about the Savings Incentive beginning farmers succeed, now has Program, please contact Sally Worley, 35 participants; Practical Farmers of 515.232.5661, [email protected]. Iowa plans to enroll 100 beginning farmers in the program over the next The Savings Incentive Program is part of four years. Practical Farmers of Iowa’s Next Generation The Savings Incentive Program is designed to Program, which offers a group of almost 600 encourage the next generation of farmers to beginning farmers opportunities to network make regular deposits into a savings account and learn from each other and experienced for their future farm development. Upon farmers through field days, Farminars, program completion, Practical Farmers of Iowa workshops, retreats and other events. will match their savings dollar for dollar up to $2,400 so recipients will have $4,800 to use PFI exceeds SIP fundraising goal toward a business purchase. The savings match Practical Farmers of Iowa set a goal to raise is only a small component of the program. $250,000 to provide savings matches to Participants also learn valuable farm and 100 beginning farmers. Through generous business skills by being matched with a farmer donations from individuals and companies mentor, attending field days, workshops and dedicated to helping the next generation of webinars, and completing a business plan. Iowa farmers succeed as well as a grant from the Assets for Independence program of the Growing the next generation of Department of Human Services, Practical farmers Farmers of Iowa has exceeded its goal, raising Iowa native and beginning farmer Kate Being involved in a deeper way more than $298,000. Educational aspects of Edwards recently returned to the state to with the PFI community through this program are made possible through the begin her vegetable farming career near the requirements of this program Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Solon. “I have been so encouraged by will make a significant impact on Program of the National Institute of Food and multiple conversations with PFI members, my development as a farmer … Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2010-49400-21843. farm visits and PFI field days,” she says. “Being involved in a deeper way with the Kate Edwards More than a savings match PFI community through the requirements of The savings match is only a small component this program will make a significant impact of the program. When these 25 young farmers on my development as a farmer and the Savings Incentive Program recipients were finish the SIP program, they will not only have development of the farm. The financial aspect selected by a panel of Practical Farmers of up to $4,800 to spend on a business purchase, of this program will enable me to purchase Iowa members through an application process. they will have a completed business plan to a high tunnel for season extension.” Panelist Sean Skeehan says, “As a member guide them to a successful future. They will of the panel that selects SIP participants have learned countless valuable farm and Makeup of SIP recipients from a large number of applications, I am business lessons from their farmer mentors Beginning farmers taking advantage of this impressed that many of the diverse applicants and from attending field days, workshops and program are diverse in farm location and equally value the opportunity to work with webinars. Most important, they will have a enterprise. Of the 25 new enrollees, 14 are professionals and mentors developing ideas lifelong resource in PFI and its members to producing fruits and vegetables, eight are into strong business plans as well as the help guide them. Check out the new group raising row crops, six are raising beef cattle, matching dollar component of the program.” of enrollees who will graduate from the four are raising poultry, four are raising sheep, program in December 2013, featured on two are growing herbs, one has meat goats, Program requirements the next page and view profiles of all the two operate a dairy and one raises niche pork. Applicants are required to live or farm in Savings Incentive Program recipients, by Iowa, be members of Practical Farmers of visiting http://www.practicalfarmers.org/ Iowa, be farming now, and have farmed programs/youth-and-next-generation.html. 10 the Practical Farmer Savings Incentive Program

Savings Incentive Program Class of 2013

Brian Bagge Thomas Burkhead Jordan Clasen Chris Corbin Betsy Dahl Luke Dahl Worthington Rockwell City Des Moines Nevada Rolfe Rolfe

Kate Edwards Glen Elsbernd Karla Hanson Morgan Hoenig Cheryl and Mike Hopkins Jay Jung Solon Calmar Monona Mt. Pleasant Walker Colwell

Drew Lietz Brian and Cheryl Ness Jacob Petersen, Ellen Walsh-Rosman and Mike Salama Pocahontas Newton Knoxville Daniel Rosmann, Harlan Boone

Jordan Scheibel Dave Schmidt Luke and Linsey Schuldt Grant Schultz Adam Schultz Grinnell Garwin Tripoli Eldridge Eldridge

To view profiles of Savings Incentive Program recipients, visit http:// www.practicalfarmers.org/programs/ youth-and-next-generation.html.

Michael von Weihe Jake and Amber Wheeler Erin Wilson Ben Wise www.practicalfarmers.org 11 Carson Monroe Paullina Lytton Field Crops

Profit more by using less, without sacrificing yield by Sarah Carlson

Corn and soybean prices are riding Rotation Corn Soybean high but so are the costs to produce these crops. How can farmers Two-year Agrigold 6395 Yield Guard Plus (GE) Kruger 287RR (GE) (conventional) reduce production costs and protect Broadcast preemergence herbicides: Broadcast post- themselves should the price of corn Dual II Magnum, Balance Pro emergence herbicide: and soybeans take a dive? A study Glystar Plus launched in 2002 by Dr. Matt Liebman 100 lb N/A applied at planting of Iowa State University shows that with additional N sidedressed crop diversity holds the key. according to soil test results Three-year and Agrigold 6395 (non-GE) Kruger 2918 (non-GE) Iowa farmers raise an estimated 23 million Four-year (low- acres of corn and soybeans in any given external-input) Banded post-emergence Banded post- year. All other crops pale in comparison. In herbicides: Callisto, Steadfast emergence herbicides: 2007, for example, 130,000 acres of small Select Max, Phoenix, grains, which were harvested for grain, Interrow cultivation Resource were grown in the state. In that year, 13.8 Red cover or alfalfa residues incorporated Interrow cultivation million acres of corn for grain and 8.6 and cattle manure applied (7 ton/A) million acres of soybeans were harvested. N sidedressed according to soil test results Corn and soybeans reign in the state, but as the prices of corn and soybeans increase corn-soybean-oat with red clover (three- management is a mixture of steel (cultivation) in the marketplace, the costs on the input year), and corn-soybean-oat with two years and post-emergent, banded herbicides. In the side of the equation increase at nearly the of alfalfa (four-year). The plot area is big, two-year rotation, where the GE materials are same rate. It is predicted that this year covering 22 acres, which allows all parts of all used, broadcast pre-emergent herbicides are farm expenses will pass the $300 billion the rotations to be present in every year. Each used in corn and a broadcast post-emergence high set in 1979 to reach an estimated $320 rotation is also replicated four times to ensure application of glyphosate is used in soybeans. billion (http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/ the study is scientifically rigorous. Dr. Craig The fertilizer program for the two-year rotation farmincome/nationalestimates.htm). Chase from Iowa State University Extension and is based on a flat 100 lbs N/A application Outreach provides the economic analysis of of urea in the spring followed by additional What if prices drop? the three different rotations while Liebman’s side-dress of liquid UAN based on soil tests. What happens should the price of corn and team analyzes the production results. In the three-year and four-year rotations, no soybeans drop? What options are there for at-planting N fertilizer application is made; those who don’t want to bet the whole Contrasting crop production fertilizer is sidedressed to those systems only farm that this trend of market prices packages if soil test results indicate it is necessary. being higher than the cost of production Beginning in 2006, corn and soybeans in will last? An ongoing Iowa State University the two-year rotation were managed with Results study of cropping systems launched in 2002 “technology packages” that differed from Longer rotations=higher yields by Liebman shows that the key to real those used in the three-year and four-year Yield data from 2006 through 2011 indicate protection from market fluctuations and rotations. These different packages comprise that under the Liebman team’s management, rising costs of production is diversification of contrasting crop production and protection corn and soybean yields of the longer crops. But can farmers increase their crop scenarios that Iowa farmers may use depending rotations were significantly higher compared portfolio without sacrificing yield? Liebman’s on their cropping system, their ability to band to the two-year rotation. Oat and alfalfa research says, “Yes!” Now is the time, herbicides or use cultivation, and their use of hay yields in the longer rotations were and the results show that it is possible. conventional seeds or genetically engineered above averages recorded for commercial (GE) materials. Above is a table describing farms in surrounding Boone County. Marsden Farm the cropping systems, the corn hybrids or Cropping Systems Experiment soybean varieties planted and the herbicide Longer rotation = fewer Liebman established the cropping systems and fertilizer programs used for the corn or herbicides & N fertilizers experiment at ISU’s Marsden Farm near soybean year of each of the three different The amounts of nitrogen fertilizer and Boone. Three crop rotation systems are rotations. Notice that in the three-year and pounds of herbicide active ingredient (a.i.) being compared: corn-soybean (two-year), four-year rotations, where conventional corn used differed among the cropping systems. hybrids or soybean varieties are used, the weed In the two-year rotation, on average for 12 the Practical Farmer Field Crops

both years 71 lbs N/A was used while the manure, whereas Profitability three-year and four-year rotations needed alfalfa in the Two-year Three-year Four-year only 8 lbs N/A and 6 lbs N/A, respectively. four-year system rotation rotation rotation The latter values represented reductions was used as a Gross revenue for $666 $582 $587 of 89 percent and 92 percent compared to multicut hay N fertilizer use in the two-year rotation. crop. Removal whole rotation of P and K in Controlling production costs the alfalfa hay Labor for fieldwork 0.69 1.12 1.45 -1 -1 the key for profitability was substantial (hours • acre • year ) longer rotations=greater profits and not entirely $ $ $ Economic analyses indicate that gross revenue offset by manure Costs of production 318 189 226 was greater for the two-year rotation (C- application to (dollars • acre-1 • year-1) Sb) than for the three-year (c-Sb-O/Red the corn phase, $ $ $ clover) and four-year (C-Sb-O/alfalfa-alfalfa) requiring P Net returns to land 341 380 345 rotations. Labor requirements were higher in and K fertilizer and management the longer rotations, due to extra hours needed applications to cultivate, spread manure, and harvest to maintain 12006-2011 time period; 2011 numbers are preliminary hay. Nonetheless, overall production costs, a reasonable including expenses for labor, were lower in the balance. Also no premium for non-GE grain three-year and four-year rotations than the was given to the grain in the longer rotations. Looking for Yields curious farmers Two-year Three-year Four-year Average cost of Crop rotation rotation rotation production over the PFI is looking for three or four conventional time period for each row crop farmers who would want to add Corn (bu • acre-1) 194 b 199 a 203 a rotation was $318 (C-Sb); a third or fourth crop to their rotation and $189 (C-Sb-O/Rc); $226 document the crop performance, expenses Soybeans (bu 50 b 55 a 57 a (C-Sb-O/A-A).1 The 2011 and overall profitability of an extended -1 • acre ) numbers are preliminary rotation on a larger scale. Oat (bu • acre-1) — 97 b 101 a and could change. Final 2011 numbers will be Interested? Alfalfa, second — — 4 known by November Please contact Sarah Carlson, 515.232.5661 year (ton • acre-1) of 2012, the end of or [email protected], for more the marketing year. Average yields in 2006-2011. Different letters indicate that the information. averages across a row are statistically different (p<0.05).

Fertilizers & Herbicides conventionally managed two-year rotation. N Fertilizer Herbicides Lower costs in the longer rotations Rotation Two-year Three-year Four-year Two-year Three-year Four-year reflected lower expenses for fertilizer, herbicides and gas for drying corn grain. lb N/acre lb a.i./acre N fertilizer costs were held down due to Corn 140 18 10 1.77 0.07 0.07 the contributions of N from the red clover, alfalfa, and cattle manure. Herbicide Soybeans 3 3 3 1.42 0.12 0.12 costs were reduced by using banded Oats —­ 3 3 — — — applications and inter-row cultivation. Alfalfa — — 3 — — — Overall, net returns were higher in the Rotation av. 71 8 6 1.60 0.06 0.05 three-year rotation ($380/acre) than in the two-year ($341/acre) and four- Reduction -89% -92% -96% -97% year ($345/acre) rotations. The superior Average annual N fertilizer and herbicide use, 2006-2011. To control weeds in the two-year rotation, returns from the three-year system an average of 1.6 lbs of herbicide a.i./A was used. In contrast, in the three-year and four-year reflected minimal costs for synthetic P and rotations only 0.06 lbs herbicide a.i./A and 0.05 lbs herbicide a.i./A were needed, respectively. These K fertilizer. Red clover in the three-year figures represented reductions of 96 percent and 97 percent compared to the two-year rotation. system was used as a plow-down green www.practicalfarmers.org 13 Climate Change

Climate change report reveals trends that cannot be ignored

Where are the Iowa winters in which a positive effect on yields. On the other hand, children could count on sledding, increased occurrences of intense rainfalls and snowball fights and snowman flooding common during the last few decades construction as regular wintertime will likely continue to cause costly problems— activities most any day from January erosion, property damage and crop losses. through March? If you are old enough to remember a time when these activities Many farmers are taking advantage of the longer were a given and not a maybe, you can growing season by planting corn and soybeans have little doubt that Iowa’s climate is earlier, and increased precipitation has prompted changing. The question then becomes, frost and spring thaw, the first robin, many to add more subsurface tiles to drain excess what do these changes mean for Iowans summer thunderstorms, and the arrival soil water faster to access the field sooner. They and for farmers in particular? are also purchasing larger combine heads to Recently the Iowa legislature commissioned of certain weeds and pests in our gardens. facilitate harvest in the fewer hours without dew. a group, the Iowa Climate Change Impacts Farmers know when to plant and harvest, and Committee, which has drawn upon the which crop varieties are best for their county.” While Iowans cannot reverse global climate expertise of faculty and staff from Iowa change by themselves, PFI members are State University, the University of Iowa, the In recent years farmers have learned to expect doing their part by adding diversity to their University of Northern Iowa and specialists the unexpected, and it sounds like that won’t farms, and an impressive 27 percent of our in Iowa government, to examine the existing be changing any time soon. “… climate change members participate in conservation programs climate change research and determine the is prolonged and exacerbated by increasing compared to 1.6 percent of all Iowa Farmers. impact for Iowans. In their report, Climate greenhouse gas emissions globally from the use The report encourages policy makers to Change Impacts on Iowa 2010, they document of fossil fuels and fertilizers, the clearing of take stronger steps to protect Iowa’s soil, some significant trends with widespread land, and agricultural and industrial emissions.” water quality and long-term agricultural ramifications for all Iowans but especially for productivity through programs such as these. those who make their living on the land. According to Jackson, what is happening in Iowa is closely tied to global climate change in ways “Iowa is among the states with the largest PFI member Laura Jackson, PhD, University that are not yet completely understood, but greenhouse gas emissions per capita, and Iowa of Northern Iowa, is a member of the Impacts what is clear is that “ … statistically significant is also among the states that could benefit Committee and co-author of the report. “It’s changes in precipitation, stream flow, nighttime the most economically by mitigating climate human nature when faced with a problem of minimum temperatures, winter average change through the use of energy efficiency and this magnitude to deny it or renewable sources of energy,” the report ignore it, but eventually we states. PFI is helping its members meet have to roll up our sleeves their on-farm energy needs by offering and deal with it,” she says. energy audits and assistance from PFI energy consultant Rich Schuler (see story page 21). “In a stable climate, we know what to expect,” Since it looks like accelerated climate says Jackson in the report. change is here to stay, Jackson says “We know when to expect that the key is to try to prepare. The the leaves to turn color following trends have been documented in the fall, the first killing and can return some degree of predictability to the climate equation. temperatures and dew point humidity readings Changes in precipitation have occurred during the While geological records show that the past few decades” and climate of Iowa, and the planet, has always hold potential positive been changing, human activity has hastened and negative impacts the process. Trends in precipitation and for Iowa agriculture. temperature have contributed to a noticeable change in seasons. Increased rainfall during A longer growing the first half of the year and less in the season and warmer second half has led to wetter springs and drier 14 the Practical Farmer temperatures could have Climate Change autumns, according to the report. This is a has led to an increase in the trend with a negative impact on farmers. use of tiling to reduce erosion and drain soils but creates its Waterlogged soil conditions during early plant own problems. “That water growth result in shallower root systems that has to go somewhere,” she are prone to diseases, nutrient deficiencies and says, explaining that it ends drought stress later in the season. Elevated up in streams faster than it precipitation also keeps farmers out of the would have otherwise, which fields, increases nitrate nitrogen losses and leads to swollen rivers, further affects nitrogen fertilizer application timing. exacerbating flooding. This in One study showed that delaying soybean turn can wash out roads and planting from April to May or June results destroy property downstream. in a 12 to 41 percent yield reduction while Furthermore, because this another study sited in the report indicated runoff reaches streams and that waterlogged conditions are responsible rivers faster, it has less time for an average 32 percent loss in crop yields. for the soil to mitigate fertilizers, herbicides increased risk of plant disease in turn has and pesticides, and high concentrations of led to more frequent use of foliar fungicides Increased soil moisture combined with rising these harmful chemicals wind up in our drinking with speculated negative health effects. temperatures mean weeds are proving water with untold costs to human health. more difficult to control. Heavy rains and Changes in the atmosphere saturated soils reduce the effectiveness of Temperature change Measures of dew point and relative humidity pre-emergent herbicides and the development While Iowa’s annual average temperature in Des Moines during the last 35 years show of crop canopy, allowing weeds to thrive. has increased at a modest rate, seasonal and that the atmosphere contains about 13 percent Furthermore many invasive weeds and plant day-night changes are “proportionately larger more moisture these days. This increase in pathogens can now overwinter in regions and have higher impacts. Temperatures have atmospheric moisture further increases the that were previously too cold for them. increased six times more in winter than in likelihood of summer rain. Also, surface wind speeds (at a height of 32 ft.) across Iowa and the Increases in violent weather US have been declining over the last 30 years, and flooding according to research sited in the report. Slower According to the report, we can also expect surface wind speeds have a negative impact a continued climb in severity and frequency on agriculture, reducing ventilation of crops of summer storm systems. Warmer summer and increasing heat stress on crops and animals temperatures and rising humidity levels provide during periods of intense heat. Slower wind the ingredients to fuel severe weather. speeds combined with longer dew periods have also created favorable conditions for survival and “The greater intensity and amount of rainfall spread of many unwanted pests and pathogens. increased the erosive power of Iowa’s summer, and nighttime temperatures have been precipitation, resulting in significant erosion of increasing more than daytime temperatures.” Changes in Ozone topsoil,” says the report. Many PFI members are Ozone in the lowest five miles of the atmosphere combatting weeds and erosion with cover crops. An increase in nighttime temperature reduces (the troposphere) is produced by both natural and corn yield by shortening the time in which grain man-made causes. Different from stratospheric The Climate Change Impact Committee also is accumulating dry matter. “In 2010, corn yield ozone—the kind that protects us from harmful warns that Iowa is susceptible to climate forecasts dropped from the previously projected UV radiation and which is destroyed by human fluctuations. “… a drying pattern to the 179 to 169 bu/acre due to warm temperatures emissions of long-lived chlorine-containing west could routinely push drier air eastward during the grain fill period,” says the report. compounds—tropospheric ozone has a negative … [leading to dry conditions in Iowa]. … a impact on agriculture and human health. strengthened northward flow of moisture from “… High temperatures have also been shown the Gulf of Mexico, without an eastward shift to reduce summer milk production, impair Today, climate extremes, not the averages, in its path, might lead to wetter conditions immunological and digestive functions frequently control productivity of crops and in Iowa.” It is possible then that Iowans of animals, and increase mortality rates livestock. PFI farmers know that adding could expect a “wider swing in extremes among dairy cattle,” it continues. diversity and conservation practices can protect in precipitation from year to year.” them from the unexpected. To view this report Iowa’s current increases in temperature, soil and possible implications for your farm, visit: “It’s not immediately apparent how some wetness and humidity favor the development http://www.iowadnr.gov/portals/idnr/uploads/ changes are affecting us,” says Jackson. “There and establishment of plant diseases, air/environment/climatechange/complete_ are complex feedback loops to consider.” She leading to severe disease epidemics, such report.pdf?amp;tabid=1077idnr/uploads/ mentions increased rainfall, for example, which as soybean sudden death syndrome. This www.practicalfarmers.org 15 2012 Annual Conference

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N1. Barney etwork Bahrenfuse and Fred Kirschenmann catch up over a cup of coffee at the Practical Farmers of Iowa Annual Conference in January.

2. PFI Board President Tim Landgraf talks with member Loyd Johnson of Bloomin’ Wooley Acres farm.

3. Farmer and long-time member Vic Madsen enjoys mingling with PFI co-founder Larry Kallem and veteran member Walt Ebert.

4. Sponsoring PFI’s Annual Conference gives exhibitor Michael Ahlers a unique opportunity to reach potential customers.

5. Exhibitor Greg Thessen, National Agricultural Statistics Survery, talks with member Paul Willis. Exhibitors like Greg provide free advice and information to 3 farmers as well as help keep conference prices down through their sponsorship.

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Everywhere you look, ideas abound andShare conversation Id flows. eas6. Ron Rosmann and Laura Krouse engage in a stimulating discussion with keynote Fedele Bauccio. 7. Sponsor Georgeanne Artz and attendee Barb Sands get acquainted. 8. Cheryl Johnson and Scott Young are deep in conversation. 9. Penny Brown- Huber, Grow Your Small Market Farm, talks with Erv Klass and Eric Franzenburg. 10. Member Ben Saunders, Turtle Farm, and PFI Board Member Sean Skeehan, Blue Gate Farm, greet each other.

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www.practicalfarmers.org 17 20122011 Annual Field ConferenceDays

1 Lea r n 1. Conference attendees learn about preserving local foods at a session called Extending the Season in Your Kitchen. They are shown here sampling fruit leather prepared by the ISU Dining staff. Local Chef Donna Prizgintas and member Ann Holck are armed with tongs.

2. Most sessions allow for interaction between present- ers and participants. Lincoln Savings Bank’s Renee LaBarge and Jon Jaffe, Farm Credit Services East, provide feedback to beginning farmers who pre- sented their business plans.

3. Keynote speaker Fedele Bauccio, CEO, Bon Appétit Management Company, makes the connection between food and climate change.

4. Lonna Nachtigal of Onion Creek Farm shares her knowledge of preserving local foods at the Extending the Season in Your Kitchen Session on Friday.

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Infor m 5 6 5. Beth Kemp, Jumping Bean Farm, explains the process she uses for making apple cider. Hang on to your hat. This cider comes with a kick!

6. Anette and Kaj Munck, shown here, traveled all the way from Denmark to talk about raising pigs while responding to regulations, including a ban on subtherapeutic antibiotic use.

18 the Practical Farmer 20122011 AnnualField Days Conference

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7. Dan Wilson presents at a session on raising profitable pigs on alternative feeds. 8. Fresh, local food purchased from PFI farmer members is a part of every E njoy PFI event. 9. James Gruber signs a birthday banner for PFI founding member Dick Thompson. Happy 80th, Dick! 10. Research is a big part of PFI, young member Heidi Frank uses a PFI Youth Mini Grant to discover whether row covers are worth the investment. 11. JoAn Van Balen and her daughter Siobhan Spain listen intently to the Business Plan Vetting session. 12. Warning: All the friends, food and fun can cause Spontaneous Contentment Syndrome, resulting in an urgent need to nap, especially among our young members like Gabe Bahrenfuse (above). www.practicalfarmers.org 19 Local Foods

How to include local flavors in the midst of an Iowa winter by Tomoko Ogawa

By the time you are holding this dehydrator. Mary created her newsletter in your hands, you’ve own underground root cellar probably had enough winter and are by burying a metal garbage bin looking forward to the abundance of (it has to be metal), a method fresh produce of the summer. While she learned from the book on we wait, we can enjoy some local food root cellaring from the Rodale right now. “But how?” you ask. Institute. Her first underground garbage bin root cellar lasted The seven participants in our local foods study for 20 years. “To me, root last year kept records of their food purchases for vegetables are the best thing,” 15 months from May 2010 to July 2011. While our Mary says. “Root vegetables prediction was correct in that the participants’ do not require processing, local food purchases declined during the winter, they are filled with nutrients, the average percentage of local foods spending and they store well in the root Fresh produce waiting to be picked up at Farm to Folk Member Appreciation Day on February 23, 2011. was still about 20 percent. This fall, I interviewed cellar for up to nine months.” all the participants to learn the backgrounds are other options for enjoying local flavors. of their eating practices. There were certain Another preservation technique that Mary uses Farm to Folk, in Ames, Iowa Food Coop, in trends among them that helped their local foods is dehydration, both in her solar dehydrating Des Moines, and Iowa Valley Food Coop, in consumption during the non-growing seasons. Iowa City/Cedar Rapids, are year-round online For example, they continued to purchase Some options for purchasing market places that offer local products. Besides food that is available locally year around such local food year-round their regular offerings of meats, eggs, dairy, as dairy, meat and eggs. Also, many of them baked goods, etc., these markets usually Farm to Folk preserved produce that they purchased in the have some fresh produce as well around. Email: [email protected] summer, by freezing, canning and dehydrating. Website: http://www.farmtofolk. com/index.html Marilyn Anderson, the coordinator of Farm In preparation for our annual conference to Folks says that last February, Farm to session on preserving, I interviewed one of the Iowa Food Coop Folk producers were offering lettuce, Email: [email protected] speakers, Mary Swander, Iowa State University spinach, arugula, kale, radishes, beets, Website: http://iowafood.coop/ professor and Poet Laureate of Iowa, about how baby cabbages and mixed lettuces. she preserves food for the long winter. Mary Iowa Valley Food Coop has some strict dietary restrictions so she eats Email: [email protected] Gary Huber from Iowa Food Coop says that last what she grows in her garden or what she buys Website: www.iowavalleyfood.com February they had some producers who sold directly from farmers she knows. For many years, greenhouse lettuce, spinach and micro-greens. she has preserved these foods on a large scale Wheatsfield Food Coop to eat throughout the non-growing season. Email: [email protected] Jason Grimm from Iowa Valley Food Coop, Website: www.wheatsfield.coop a new coop that started this past summer, While she cans pickles and other produce, expects to offer some local carrots, potatoes, her main methods for extending the season shed and in her electric dehydrator. She dries a celeriac, salad greens, frozen aronia in her kitchen is using a root cellar and a wide variety of produce including tomato, okra, berries and winter squash in February. kale, chard, zucchini, onion and garlic. She Of course, all these are predictions, which makes powder from dried were made in December, and actual availability produce, which makes may vary depending on the weather, supply a quick and delicious and demand. Nevertheless, it’s worth checking soup, which is especially out one of these markets closest to you. handy when traveling. Enjoy getting connected to some fresh However, if you didn’t Iowa produce and making plans for preserve any local preserving for the next winter. produce before this Mary Swander’s metal trash bin root cellar shown filled with potatoes (left). winter or do not have friends who did, there 20 the Practical Farmer Alternative Energy

Solar Photo Voltaic pays off for PFI members by Rich Schuler Practical Farmers of Iowa Members records and determined Bill Pardee and Cathy Rawitt looked that their average monthly to reduce their dependence on “grid use was 2,350 kWh, or 77.3 electricity” and chose solar rather kWh/day. Consequently, than wind. during the first 100 days of operation the solar “We, personally, want to live as sustainably as PV system generated 58 we can,” writes PFI farmer Bill Pardee. “We’re percent of their average a long way from meeting the UN definition daily electrical use. of sustainability, which I will paraphrase as, ‘use only resources that do not compromise The Pardee/Rawitt farm the next generation’s quality of life.’ I don’t provides a good example expect to satisfy this in my lifetime ...” that a wind turbine isn’t the best renewable energy Nevertheless, Bill and Cathy have started the option for everyone in walk toward sustainability. Shortly after noon Iowa. A site survey and Bill Pardee next to the Pardee/Rawitt farm solar PV array. on July 25, 2011, their 10.1 kW PV array, which review of the Iowa Wind Map contrast, solar PV is consistent day to day, and creates electricity directly from sunlight, was concluded that there was a limited wind resource year to year; consequently, solar PV provides a connected to the grid and started generating at their farm in northeast Iowa. Bill and Cathy’s more predicable on-farm energy resource.” power. By 7 p.m., the array had produced research also revealed that turbines require more 37 kWh. During the first 100 days, July 25 – Hawkeye Tri-County Rural Electric Coop (REC) November 1, the system averaged 45.0 kW/hr/ Saving Energy currently provides electricity to the farm at a rate day, including a one-day peak of 66.9 kWh/day. of $0.112 /kWh. Bill & Cathy have a Net Metering Saving energy on-farm is one of the top five contact with the REC, so they receive the same Bill and Cathy purchased their 29-acre farm priorities of PFI members.That’s why PFI is rate for their surplus energy. Upon completion, Bill located seven miles northeast of Decorah in working with a group of Energy Cooperators and Cathy received the 30% federal investment 2007. They moved into the original farmhouse in an effort to understand both on-farm tax credit for the system. Since the generated energy use and “ground truth” alternative and began construction of the energy efficient energy is used almost entirely for their residence, energy installations. The goals of the home in which they currently reside. Roughly they could not take advantage of the accelerated Energy Cooperators’ Program include: one-half of their farm acreage is pasture/ depreciation tax reduction, or a REAP grant. hay field, and they are currently raising a • Developing a baseline for farm energy small herd of organic grass-fed Dexter cattle use, cost and environmental impact, Nevertheless, between July 25th and December for beef. They expect to have calves in the 29th, the solar PV system has generated 6,052 Verifying implemented energy spring, and are “… breeding for red [Dexters], • kWh of energy with a net metering value of conservation practices, believing that they survive the heat better.” $680. The measured energy output to date is • “Ground Truthing” alternative energy 14% higher than predicted from the PVWattsTM Their farmhouse is a well-insulated, all-electric production and “pay back” times, and online calculator (see graph). After five months home which includes geothermal heating & of operation, Bill concludes that “…PVWattsTM • Allow members to predict and cooling. Bill and Cathy analyzed their electrical is a credible, conservative basis for estimating manage their future energy costs. the return on investment (ROI).” Furthermore, Average Daily Generated Energy (25 July - 29 Dec '11) Bill reports that “[w]ith a 7% per year estimated maintenance than increase in energy prices, the array [will Measured (kWh/day) PVWatts Prediction (kWh/day) No. of days in data set PV arrays and are be] paid for in 14 years. This is significantly 50 ultimately safer shorter than the 25 year life expectancy.” since “wind turbines 40 sometimes throw Bill’s opinion of the system after nearly ice or even blades.” five months? “It’s great. It is reducing our 30 Finally, Bill believes cost of living and our future cost of living, that “the long term probably for the rest of our lives.” 20 performance of a turbine in the face Questions? Interested in becoming a PFI 10 of climate change Energy Cooperator? Contact Sarah Carlson, is uncertain. In 515.232.5661, [email protected]. 0 July '11 Aug '11 Sept '11 Oct '11 Nov '11 Dec '11 www.practicalfarmers.org 21 Grazing

On a quest to improve a pasture? Consider these key factors by Karl Dallefeld

Karl Dallefeld, who manages Prairie Creek Seed, consults with farmers on pastures and forage selection throughout the U.S. and Canada. Before turning his focus to the seed business, he raised grass-finished beef and sheep with his family near Worthington, and continues to raise cattle today. Dallefeld highlights below some key concepts in improving pastures.

A connection between diversity and forage quality It is plain to see that quality starts in the soil. What is less obvious, though, is the connection between plant diversity and quality. Many different forage analyses show a clear picture— the greater the diversity of species in a sample, the better the overall quality of the forage. This photo shows a diverse pasture that includes forbs, which deter parasites and provide livestock Some believe the best way to create diversity with essential minerals and protein. Notice the plantain, grasses and legumes. in pastures is simply to let nature’s seed bank fill the density of the sward. This can work if of annual crops for stored forage before Using tillage the costs of the land are low and the farmer planting a new mix. This will deplete the can afford to wait until viable pasture has been seed bank of Kentucky 31 seeds, allowing In areas where you can till, the options established. The seed bank is definitely full of the newly-seeded plants to take hold. are to plow or use a rotovator to kill the great native and introduced species, but it also existing stand. Herbicides can be used but has some not-so-desirable species. Seeding without tilling are not absolutely necessary. Using a plow Sometimes spraying to kill the existing pasture or rotovator will do a good job of killing the “If land in northeastern Iowa where I live is left is the best answer. This requires a waiting current species, but this method may require to fallow or is grazed without assistance, there is period to allow the sod to break down before additional tillage. The trick is to maintain a a long wait for reclamation,” explains Dallefeld. planting. During this period, the soil biology firm seed bed. As a person walks across it, he “The first responders are usually foxtail, Canada is digesting the dead material and can rob or she should not sink more than 1/4” – 1/2“. thistle, lamb’s-quarter and common ragweed.” nutrients from new establishments. After the Grass and legume seeds are usually small so the These species are not palatable to most livestock new seeding is established into the no-till soil-to-seed contact is critical. The soil needs and have a low biomass yield. Furthermore, the pasture that first year, time needs to be spent to be clod-free and have good structure The land costs in the area are so high that waiting carefully managing the pasture to thicken the biggest reasons for failed stands of grasses are until better plant species arrive could mean lost stand and keep weed pressure at a minimum. too loose of a seed bed and competition from profitability. Young grass plants require plenty of sunshine other species, especially weeds. Rolling the to become established and will die off if they fields with a smooth roller or cultimulcher after Mother Nature vs. intervention don’t get it. It may be necessary to harvest seeding helps to anchor the seed to the soil the first crop as hay and wait to graze the and hold critical moisture for the seedlings. Alternatives to Mother Nature alone include pasture until the plants are 10–12 inches tall. introducing new varieties into an existing The key is to keep equipment and livestock Using a companion crop stand or a total renovation of the pasture. off of the pasture so they cannot compact The amount of time required to establish a The latter involves killing the existing grasses or damage the new seedlings. To thicken new seed mix is the same for till or no-till and starting from scratch. Depending on the the stand and encourage tillering, farmers methods and a companion crop is preferred species in the current stand, slope, soil type need to cut or graze the plants short enough for both scenarios but incorporating a nurse and management restrictions, the method of so that sunlight can reach the basal nodes. crop in a tilled pasture is essential. It would renovation may vary. If the old stand consists When no-tilling into unworked soils, the new be better to harvest a forage crop that can of Kentucky 31 tall fescue, for example, it plants tend to anchor themselves better. be fed to livestock in the winter than to would be advisable to harvest two summers produce a pasture of fresh weeds that livestock

22 the Practical Farmer Grazing

will not want to eat. Pasture management Wider diversity also extends the time between Don’t forget the forbs becomes even more important and is the harvests while maintaining quality. Grazing Forbs are broadleaf plants that are not key to protecting the new plants. Because strategies may change depending on the types legumes and are frequently overlooked in the soil has been tilled, loose seeds and of animals grazing but the concept of diversity the seed mix. These plants are an integral roots are less protected, and livestock and remains constant. Soil types, climate and farm part of a healthy pasture and cannot be equipment, especially during wet periods, can objectives factor into the decision of which replaced by adding supplements. They are inflict considerable damage. The nurse crop individual plant types to include. Be sure to nature’s detox program, naturally deterring should be harvested as soon as possible to select plants that are compatible with your parasites and providing livestock with allow sunlight to reach new seedlings and to operation. Grazing management varies from essential minerals and a good protein source. prevent the nurse crop from robbing moisture farm to farm, including rotational grazing, Plantain, chicory, sheep’s parsley and little from the seeding in dry summer months. mob grazing or other modified systems. As burnet are a few good choices of forbs. such farms will have different preferred Interseeding to add diversity grazing times, forage heights and lengths Each plant species brings a different quality In a scenario where existing pasture species are of pasture recovery times. Soil conditions to the nutritional plate. Grasses take up more desirable and the goal is to add new species from farm to farm may vary from wet, to phosphorus than legumes. Legumes bring for diversity, there are new drills that have sandy, to drought-prone. Forage selections up more calcium from the soil. Grasses and been developed specifically for interseeding will vary with each of these factors. legumes have different amino acid profiles pastures. In addition to the standard 6” to that complement one another. 7.5” row-width drills, there are till and no-till Grasses have higher fiber drills that use tines. These drills are basically levels and are more digestible. adapted tine weeders and look promising. Forbs provide outstanding There is also a seeder from Germany that mineral content. The options rolls the seed into tilled soil or sod with a for plant species to include culti-packer-like action. Both of these seeders for a better pasture are are worth consideration. They are reported plentiful. The optimal mix is to reduce energy needs and place seed the result of knowing the soil, better. The key is to get soil-to-seed contact the farmer’s goals and the and maintain a ¼” to ½” seeding depth. nutritional requirements of the livestock. By taking these Grazing management is many factors into consideration, paramount you will spend your dollars Farmers need to take care when livestock on pasture improvement are turned out onto a new pasture that they wisely and receive a better are not pulling out the new plants by the Karl Dallefeld, Prairie Creek Seed return on your investment. roots. If this happens, farmers should remove the livestock for a while to allow the roots to develop or take a first cutting as stored forage. Grazing management is critical for successfully interseeding into existing stands. Farmers must walk a fine line between overgrazing and allowing new seedlings to establish themselves. The first two grazing events will need to happen before the old stand is fully recovered so that sunlight can get to the new plants. After the new plants are established, farmers can return to their preferred grazing management style. Selecting species for greater diversity As far as species selection goes, a healthy diversity of plant types is best. The mix A dairy herd grazes on renovated pastures in the photo above. The cows look awesome and should include grasses, legumes and forbs to so does the pasture. This is the sign of good pasture management practices that match the get optimal animal growth from the forages. farm’s objectives. www.practicalfarmers.org 23 Member Book Review

Raising Elijah is everyone’s work by Kamyar Enshayan

At my university, the College of the studies mentioned above, she writes “If Education has more than 100 years organophosphate pesticides are damaging of experience in early childhood children’s brains at background levels of education. Key words here are: child exposure and above, they should be abolished. development, early childhood, infants, After decades of dithering, abolition was the toddlers and preschoolers. The core decision we ultimately took with lead paint. idea is that early years are critical in It worked. Educating parents to prevent the child development and all of us can problem on their own did not work.” enrich these early years to give our kids a strong start. In the chapter The Big Talk, Steingraber discusses the difficulties of talking to our On April 21, 2011, the Journal of children about climate disruptions caused Environmental Health Perspectives published by burning of coal, oil and natural gas. three research studies related to early She recounts her family’s close encounter childhood exposure to common pesticides. with rabies and discusses a highly effective Blood and urine samples from 1000 pregnant proactive national system in place to prevent women and their babies were analyzed over 10 rabies. “I began to wonder why we don’t years. Conclusion: babies exposed to pesticides bring a rabies approach—with its urgent, in the womb have lower I.Q. scores than peers multi-tiered, take-no-chances, can-do lines of by the time they reach school age. (Early attack—to climate change.” economic dependency on fossil energy. childhood compromised, resulting in life-long “Ultimately the environmental crisis is a lower functions and immense costs to society.) In the face of looming climate disruptions parenting crisis. It undermines my ability (which are a huge health threat to children), to carry out my two fundamental duties: to Referring to these studies, The New York do we stay silent? Steingraber suggests that protect my children from harm and to plan for Times had quoted renowned pediatrician Philip we could stop acting like “good Germans” and their future.” Landrigan, “When we took lead out of gasoline, start demonstrating to our kids that we are we reduced lead poisoning by 90 percent part of the French Resistance. That we can Steingraber reminds us that another world is and raised the I.Q. of a whole generation of do this at home in ways that are visible to our possible, a better one, and that we need to children by four or five points.” He advised we children (clotheslines, garden, compost pile), organize, plan and mobilize, possibly in the need to sharply reduce childhood exposure to as well as working toward public policies that scale of the Civil Rights movement, and create pesticides through public policy. will move us toward massive conservation and broad cultural and policy changes that will renewable energy. safeguard the biosphere on which children’s Renowned biologist Sandra Steingraber’s new lives depend. book, Raising Elijah: Protecting our children “Hanging laundry can not stop global warming. in an age of environmental crisis, explores The process that clotheslines—and reel When I first read,The Land Ethic in Aldo the environmental lives of children through mowers and compost piles—begin, however, is Leopold’s 1948 A Sand County Almanac daily family routines such as homework, de-normalizing the fossil fuel ways of living. in college, it put in motion for me a pizza and playground. Steingraber thoroughly They are daily reminders that we urgently lifelong mission to protect and restore the documents how child development is directly need new choices within new systems. They environment. And now, Sandra Steingraber’s intertwined with our national energy, are harbingers. They signal our eagerness to new book Raising Elijah offers all of us a new transportation and agricultural policies. Family embrace much bigger changes. They bear logic, strong evidence and a framework for stories and environmental health literature witness to our children that we are willing to action as compelling as Aldo Leopold’s. are woven together into a highly readable and exert energy, that we are not cynical, that compelling logic. we respect their right to inherit a habitable Do you agree? Disagree? Let PFI know. Call planet.” us at 515.232.5661 or send an email to info@ One of the recurring themes is the failure of practicalfarmers.org individualized approach to public health, which Steingraber refers to the environmental is “surround the kids with brain poisons and crisis as two crises with a common cause. Kamyar Enshayan, longtime PFI member, enlist mothers and fathers to serve as security Disruption of the Earth’s atmosphere through is director of University of Northern Iowa’s detail.” In the chapter titled Homework (and accumulation of heat trapping gases and the Center for Energy and Environmental Education Frontiers of Neurotoxicology), referring to accumulation of toxic chemical pollutants in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He can be reached at in our bodies. Both crises are rooted in our [email protected] 24 the Practical Farmer Grazing

Pasture walks show how farmers are extending the grazing season

Four PFI farmers hosted pasture walks field where some in November and December to show of their cows were how they are extending the grazing grazing corn stalks. season. They shared strategies ­— included stockpiled perennial pastures, Ryan and Gene crop residues and annual forage mixes Herman welcomed 24 — with attendees from across the state. people to their farm in Allamakee County In early December, at Bruce and Connie on November 15. Carney’s farm in Polk County, participants The Hermans utilize heard about the advantages of tall fescue Holistic Management for stockpile grazing and how to avoid principles to set fescue toxicosis. Strategies for preventing goals for their farm There appear to be two discussions taking place on the pasture at toxicosis include not grazing tall fescue when and monitor their Jake and Amber Wheeler’s farm, located in Jasper County. it is too mature because it tends to have progress in achieving higher concentrations of the problematic those goals. We saw the Hermans’ cow-calf chili, discussing ways for Jake to endophyte that infects many fescue stands. herd grazing green stockpiled grass. The become a full-time farmer. Hermans have all perennial pastures on their Joe Sellers of ISU Extension also talked about farm, some of which were transitioned to Garth Lloyd and his daughter Taylor took grazing or haying more often; on stockpile pasture from cropland. Ryan says his preferred us on a stroll around their farm in Scotland Sellers recommends 90-110 days of growth and method of transitioning cropland to pasture County, Missouri, in November. We saw Garth’s suggests to start stockpiling around August 1. is to have it in hay for a few years, and as smaller-than-average-frame cow herd, which The second strategy involves either getting the alfalfa is thinning out in the stand and was achieved by bringing in smaller bulls and more diversity into the stand, either through grasses are filling in, he will start grazing it. by having one selection criterion: if a cow weans a calf, she stays, if not, she’s gone. In November, Jake and Amber Garth said the best way to extend the grazing Wheeler welcomed us to their season is to sell all your haying equipment farm in Jasper County, where but warns that many cows in your herd may we saw stockpiled perennial not be suited to grazing stockpile all winter. pasture, a soybean field that had been grazed a few weeks earlier and the Wheelers’ massive cedar tree removal project. We ended this very cool pasture walk in the Wheelers’ kitchen with delicious

Participants check out the stockpiled tall fescue at Bruce Carney’s farm in Polk County.

grazing management, by interseeding Garth Lloyd and daughter Taylor lead a other forage species or by supplementing tour of their pastures located in the pasture diet with hay or grain. Scotland County, Missouri. The advantage of fescue grass is that it is very hardy and it maintains its quality well through the winter.

We also saw a field of radishes, turnips and oats for late fall grazing. Our final stop at the Carneys’ was at a corn Graziers look over the gate at Ryan and Gene Herman’s pasture in Allamakee County. www.practicalfarmers.org 25 PFI News

Watch for a couple new faces at PFI New Farm Viability Coordinator ISU Extension releases new PFI Staffer Suzi Bernhard weds joins PFI full-time staff publication on capturing high By the time this Marc Strobbe is the tunnel runoff for irrigation newsletter hits new Farm Viability “Rainwater Catchment from a High Tunnel mailboxes, wedding Coordinator at PFI. He for Irrigation” is a new extension publication bells will have rung, works with the Savings that will be available to download in late and Finance and Incentive Program and January (www.extension.iastate.edu/store). Benefits Manager PFI’s farm business The publication describes the methods and Suzi Bernhard will planning, local foods materials for attaching gutters to a high tunnel be Mrs. Suzi Howk. and horticulture to collect the water in tanks and use it to irrigate Suzi married ISU Computer Systems and Network efforts. He joined the crops in the tunnel. It includes information on Administrator and student Jim Howk, Saturday, staff in January 2012 electric and solar-powered pump systems. This February 4, 2012, at Lifepointe Church in Ames. after five years living and working on the coast Leopold-funded project was conducted at the of Maine. ISU Armstrong Research and Demonstration Farm Two lucky conference goers win near Lewis, Iowa and demonstrated a PFI Field FREE PFI memberships Marc grew up on the family farm in Long Day at Nature Road Farm near Boone. Thank you to all the conference attendees Grove. He graduated from Augustana College who completed the Iowa State University in Rock Island, Illinois, and did graduate survey on machinery usage. Congratulations work in rural development at Western Illinois to Mike Salama and James Nisly for winning a University and the Illinois Institute for Rural free annual membership to PFI. Affairs. He was an agriculture extension worker in Peace Corps-Ecuador from 2000-2002. Annual Conference garners record attendance and funds for youth As a farmer, Marc has raised vegetables, A whopping 510 people attended the 2012 pastured poultry, eggs and pork with his wife Annual Conference, topping the previous year’s Abby. He has also worked at grass-fed sheep attendance by more than 100. The event’s silent and cow dairies, an oyster farm and as a auction was also a hit, yielding $2,507.50 for youth timber-framer. In his free time Marc likes programs. PFI provides mini grants to members 18 to travel, be a “food and farm geek” and and younger for their on-farm projects. Research spend time with Abby and their son Ethan. Linda Naeve demonstrates how rainwater collects is a big part of what we do at PFI, and mini grants in a large tank and is then diverted to a gutter once help our young people start early to finding the tank is full. answers to their farm-related questions. PFI members featured in NPR report about the changing roles of women on the farm

PFI members Helen Gunderson and Women now run about 14 percent of Betsy Dahl are putting a new face on the nation’s farms, up from only five farming. That face is female. Today, percent in the 1980s, according to the women own or co-own nearly half the report “U.S. Sees More Female Farmers land in Iowa and an increasing number Cropping Up” by Kathleen Masterson. Helen Gunderson Betsy Dahl of them are sole owners who rent their farmland to a tenant. “Most female-run farms tend to be smaller In the story, Dahl attributes her desire Gunderson is among the latter. She inherited and more diverse, and many are part of and ability to farm to her father for 500 acres of farmland near Rolfe from her the burgeoning organic and local foods having “encouraged and included grandparents in the 1970s. According to movement,” Masterson says in her story. her in all aspects of farming.” an NPR report featuring Gunderson and Dahl, Helen’s brother managed the land for Dahl is part of a growing number of In case you missed it when it aired on NPR’s her until 20 years later when she decided female farmers and farms 180 acres All Things Considered last spring, use the she wanted to manage her own land. of Gunderson’s land, which she is following link to listen to the complete story: converting to organic production. http://www.npr.org/2011/03/30/134979252/u- s-sees-more-female-farmers-cropping-up 26 the Practical Farmer PFI News

Leopold’s Kirschenmann receives PFI’s Sustainable Ag Award

Practical Farmers of Iowa names practice was, ‘But is this good for the soil?’” By its 2012 Sustainable Agriculture 1980, the farm had been certified organic, one Achievement Award recipient—farmer of the early operations to make the transition. Fred Kirschenmann—a longtime national Today, the farm includes a natural prairie livestock and international leader in sustainable grazing system that combines a nine-crop rotation agriculture and Distinguished Fellow of cereal grains, forages and green manure. for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. “In the early days, it never occurred to us that we would have to think about climate change Practical Farmers of Iowa presented Kirschenmann and skyrocketing fossil fuel costs. We figured with the award and a basket of local foods on we could just tweak the current system—lower Friday night of the PFI 2012 Annual Conference, inputs, reduce pollutants—now we realize we January 13. PFI grants this award annually need to completely overhaul the industrial to those who have excelled in demonstrating model to make it resilient enough to survive the sustainable agriculture and have been generous challenges we will be facing in the future.” in sharing what they have learned with others. Through his efforts to educate others, the seeds Kirschenmann oversees the management of his of stewardship planted by his father took root and family’s 2,600-acre, certified-organic farm, where Kirschenmann’s innovative ideas about agriculture Fred Kirschenmann oversees the management of his he grew up in south-central North Dakota. “I eventually were cast to a wider audience than family’s certified-organic farm in North Dakota. loved being outdoors and driving the tractor,” life on the farm alone could have provided. he recalls, “My father always insisted on me Kirschenmann’s practical, on-farm experiences Honored recently as a visionary and for his getting as much education as I could so there was were filled with successes and failures as he lifetime of leadership in sustainable food and never any question whether I’d go to college; pioneered new practices and sought guidance farming systems, Kirschenmann is among 10 otherwise, I’d probably have stayed on the farm.” wherever he could find it. “I started getting food pioneers, including First Lady Michelle acquainted with the sustainable ag community Obama, to receive the inaugural Leadership Kirschenmann holds a doctorate in philosophy and got connected with ISU [Iowa State Award from the James Beard Foundation. from the University of Chicago and has written University] and the Leopold Center, and that’s extensively about ethics and agriculture. He was when I heard about Practical Farmers of Iowa.” In addition, he served as a key advisor for a a teacher and administrator for several years new documentary that is due to be released before returning, in 1976, to North Dakota to Kirschenmann has been an active member of this spring called, “Symphony of the Soil,” by farm. “My father instilled in me a deep respect Practical Farmers of Iowa since 1987, when he Deborah Koons Garcia, which focuses on what’s for the land. The question he always asked when was asked to speak at the organization’s second happening to the land and changes that need to making a farming decision or considering a new annual conference. “On-farm research is critical be made to return our soil to health. A screening to farmers’ success and that’s what Practical is planned for March 27 in Cedar Falls and March Farmers is known for. Very few organizations 28 in Ames. (See the calendar on page 31.) are doing this sort of thing,” he says. “But, in doing so, PFI is supporting one of the most “We are looking at crude oil reaching $300/ important resources that we are in danger of barrel and facing weather challenges unseen in losing—farmers. The social and intellectual my lifetime.” Kirschenmann says. “It’s time to capital that this group generates will be its most shift the vision for the future from an industrial important contribution to farmers of the future.” farm model that focuses on maximum efficient production for short-term economic returns, Kirschenmann was director of the Leopold because there is nothing in that model that Center from July 2000 to November 2005, and addresses sustainability, and look instead at is currently a charter member of the Whiterock an ‘agroecological’ model, which recognizes Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that the importance of long-term resilience. By manages a 5,000-acre conservation area in west- employing ecological principals, farming will central Iowa and president of the Stone Barns emphasize self-renewing and self-regulating Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico systems for maximum long-term economic Hills, New York. He has also held numerous returns, based on nature’s wisdom.” Fred Kirschenmann accepts the Sustainable Ag appointments, including the USDA’s National award at the PFI Annual Conference in January. www.practicalfarmers.org 27 Organic Standards Board and the National Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production. Young Member Spotlight

Youth Mini Grants fuel fun and learning

Practical Farmers of Iowa offered Youth Mini Grants for the first time in 2011. Each year PFI raises funds through the Annual Conference Silent Auction to provide youth programming.

In years past, these funds paid for a summer camp with an agriculture-related theme. After board and staff evaluated the goals and effectiveness of PFI’s youth program, they decided the Sophia Roland stands next to a poster she Welcome, new members audience served, largely farm kids, were already made to illustrate the results of her Garden well-versed in the themes the camps offered, Plot Comparison, which compared yields from conventional rows, wide rows and block planting. District 1—Northwest and created instead the Youth Mini Grant Basil and Billie Bergquist, Rockwell City program to better serve young members. Practical Farmers of Iowa is excited to offer Youth Timothy Chapman, Spirit Lake Mini Grants again in 2012. Applicants must be 18 Betsy Dahl, Rolfe Practical Farmers of Iowa was founded by a group or younger and members of Practical Farmers Dave and Meryl Hiler, Rockwell City of farmer researchers, and that tradition has of Iowa. Practical Farmers of Iowa reimburses Duane Johnson, Lohrville remained central to the organization through for documented supplies up to $250 for each Caleb Wilson, Paullina the years. The Youth Mini Grant program was project. Applications will be available soon. If created to equip young PFI members with you are interested in learning more about the District 2—North Central research skills that will help them to find Youth Mini Grant program, please contact Luke Dawn Anderson, Badger answers to their farming-related questions. Gran, [email protected], 515.232.5661. Gregory Artz, Ames Glenn Atkinson, Marshalltown Omar de Kok-Mercado, Ames This first year of offering Youth Mini Grants Youth Research David Eckles, Nevada has been fun for PFI staff and youth alike. Finding solutions Tim Foerster, Story City Applications filled in with pink pens, hearts Nicole Friess-Schilling, Jefferson • Chicken Project, Barak Fall and smiley faces abound, bringing light hearts Kevin Griggs, Boone to PFI staff. Many applications lacked a • Growing Produce, Victoria Fall Danny and Sue Harrison, Nevada specific question to be answered, or a way to • Rabbits, Christy Fall Cheryl Johnson, Eagle Grove objectively measure results. Next Generation David Keninger, Ackley • Do Rowcovers Pay? Heidi Coordinator Luke Gran worked with applicants and Hollianna Fank Erwin and Janet Klaas, Ames to develop these components. This process Chad Krull, Ames • Pros and Cons of Warre and Kenya Matt Mayer, Cedar Rapids taught young researchers how to structure an Beehives, Scott and Luke Fank on-farm research or demonstration trial. Tracy Meise, Mason City • Summer Garden & Cooking Jeffrey Murra, Buffalo Center Project, Carrie Herrman, Byron Olson, Boone Fourteen Youth Mini Grants were awarded for UrbanDreams AgCulture April Richards, Boone 2011. Youth displayed their results at the Annual • Food Safety Investigation, Erich Sneller, Ames Conference through poster presentations. Mason Osborne Sarah Willis, Mason City Julie and Rick Zrostlik, Ames • We Fight Cancer, Melanie Honey Philavanh District 3—Northeast • Rabbits: Money Maker or Anne Daily, Anamosa Hobby? William Roland Mike Gooder, Cresco • Learning to Deal with the Common Jeff Libe, Hiawatha Problems of Jumping, Burrowing Susanne Myres, Palo Goats, Mary Elisabeth Roland Kim Paulsen, Cedar Rapids • Farm Dog Training, Peter James Roland Jeff Scott, Decorah • Comparison Garden Plots: Yields Lore Swartzendruber, Atkins from Conventional Rows, Wide Rows Nathan Wicks, Decorah Scott Fank shows his poster about and Block Planting, Sophia Roland Scott Young, Lisbon

Warre and Kenya beehives to PFI Annual • Growing Tomatoes in a High Tunnel, Conference goers. Jim Russ, New Hampton FFA (Continued on page 30.) • Goats for Show, How Fast Do They 28 the Practical Farmer Eat As They Grow? Sarah Daisy Member Discussion Groups PFI members’ fungicide debate highlights need for openness and understanding by Patrick Burke

Agriculture-related scientific studies difficult to nail down because pigs and cattle and is there any real risk?” asks Dunn. “Granted, the are a common topic on the PFI email chickens are slaughtered early in their lives.” GMO consumption concentration rises greatly discussion lists. Back in October, if you consider meat from PFI member Judy Beuter linked to a In terms of the effects of GMOs on My guess is that some animals fed GMO crops,” new study indicating that genetically humans, there seems to be three ill effects of GM feed are she adds. But what side modified feed causes organ disruption areas of concern among those effects, if any, are caused in animals. (To read the full report, participating in the discussion: masked or difficult to by eating that meat? go to: http://tinyurl.com/GMOfeed). 1) direct human consumption of nail down because pigs Beuter asked the logical question GMOs (eating ingredients derived “[The safety of GMOs] is a about GMO feed: “So what might it from GM corn, for example); and cattle and chickens topic I continue to struggle do to us?” 2) indirect human consumption are slaughtered early in with and have so many The study, published in March 2011 in the of GMOs (eating meat from unanswered questions,” says journal Environmental Sciences Europe, did not an animal raised on GM feed); their lives. Angie Tagtow. Regarding involve new experiments on animals; instead, and 3) human consumption of Jack Knight the pesticides applied it was a review of 19 previous studies, plus pesticide residues associated to GMOs, Tagtow asks, analysis of data from several 90-day-long rat with GMOs (glyphosate, etc.) “Is there research that tests. The reviewed studies analyzes the chemical all dealt with mammals fed We need to ask the Regarding direct consumption residue from these crops through the food GM corn or soybeans “which of GM foods, Drake Larsen system? And why are we not studying the represent, per trait and plant, question, ‘How will points out that many common compounded load of glyphosate and other more than 80 percent of all our bodies deal with ingredients in processed agricultural chemicals in the human diet?” environmental genetically foods, including corn syrup, modified organisms (GMOs) increasing concen- corn starch, citric acid and Uncertainty and unanswered questions seem cultivated on a large scale.” trations of the novel xantham gum, come from to be common in every discussion about the The purpose of the study was the same GM corn supply. safety of GMO crops. As Fred Kirschenmann to discover the limitations of proteins found in “Unless a product specifically observes, “It sometimes takes a lifetime the safety assessments used GM foods?’ says non-GMO or organic, it or more to determine negative unintended for genetically modified crops is a safer bet to assume it is health or environmental consequences in Europe and suggest possible Angie Tagtow made with GMO crops,” says from introducing novel technologies.” improvements to that system. Larsen. And because US eaters are consuming more and Unfortunately, novel technologies are often Among the convergent data uncovered by more highly processed food, “the compounded widely adopted before they are fully understood. comparing the different studies, researchers load of genetically modified ingredients in In this case, one thing is clear: More research is found evidence of kidney and liver problems US diets is significantly necessary to understand exactly in animals. While some of the studies took as multiplied,” adds Angie It sometimes takes how GM feed affects livestock long as two years to complete, others were only Tagtow. “We need to a lifetime or more to and how that translates to 90-day tests, and these were too short to say ask the question, ‘How humans who consume GMOs. conclusively whether changes to the kidney and will our bodies deal with determine negative liver indicated the onset of chronic disease. increasing concentrations unintended health or Interested in participating However, that alerted the researchers to one of the novel proteins in lively discussions like this problem with GMO safety assessments: There found in GM foods?’” environmental conse- one? PFI offers five email is currently no required minimum length for quences from introduc- discussion lists for members: studies of health effects of GMOs. The concern Margaret Dunn wonders if General, Grazing, Horticulture, is that short-term studies could overlook side the proportion of GMO to ing novel technologies. Policy, and Poultry. Just email effects that longer-term studies might uncover. non-GMO food in the diet Fred Kirschenmann patrick@practicalfarmers. is significant. “In animal org and let me know which One member participating in the discussion, Jack feeding trials, the only ones you’d like to join. Knight, expresses similar concerns: “My guess is thing the animal eats may that some ill effects of GM feed are masked or be the GMO [but] if a person eats a GMO ear of corn amidst a relatively balanced diet otherwise, www.practicalfarmers.org 29 New Members & PFI Calendar

Feb | March | april

February 23 | Food and Farm Policy March 17 | Capturing and Organizing in the US: Building the Economy Data for Organic Certification | Mar- and National Security with Public ion, IA | Noon–4 p.m. GAPs Compliance Health | Michael Hamm | Ames, IA and Other Endeavors; Location: Marion Public 8 p.m. Great Hall, ISU Memorial Union, Library, Marion; Contact: Jason Grimm, Iowa Ames; Contact: ISU Lectures Program, Valley Resource Conservation and Develop- Welcome, new members 515.294.9934, [email protected] ment, [email protected], 319.622.3264 (Continued from page 28.) February 23–25 | Midwest Organic March 17 | Farm Dreams: Assess- ing Risk & Resources to Start a Small District 4—Southwest and Sustainable Education Services Organic Farming Conference | LaCross Farm or Garden |Angelic Organics Betty Baker, Des Moines Center | LaCross, WI Visit: http://www. Learning Center | Caledonia, IL Sarah Costa, Greenfield 1–5 p.m. Thomas and Janna Feldman, Honey Creek mosesorganic.org/ofc_registration.html Will cover farming careers in northern Illinois Marian and Sam Gelb, Des Moines and southern Wisconsin. Cost: $60; Visit: Linda Gobberdiel, West Des Moines February 28 | Pricing Poultry: http://www.mosesorganic.org/events.html Golden Hills RC&D Eggs, Broilers and Turkeys | Chad Hensley, Council Bluffs Farminar | 7 p.m. Visit: www. March 31–April 1 | Student James and Neisha Horn, Newton practicalfarmers.org/farminar Meg Johnston, Exira Initiatives in Sustainable Agriculture Conference | Appleton, WI James Martin, Panora march 4 | Environmental Pollution, Bahia Nightengale, Oakland (SISA) is a national event for current and re- Climate Change and Our Health: Chandler Nunnikhoven, Harvey cent college students dedicated to sustainable Shivvers Memorial Lecture | Sandra Nicholas Ohnmacht, College Springs gardening and farming. This year’s conference

Adam O’Neal, Winterset Steingraber | Ames, IA | 7 p.m. will feature a keynote address by agricultural Sun Room, ISU Memorial Union, Jacob Petersen, Knoxville economist John Ikerd, and much more! Visit: Ames; Contact: Leopold Center, Jeff Schulz, Pleasant Hill http://www.sisaconference.org/ Jason Smith, Mondamin 515.294.3711, [email protected] Teresa Troxel, Crescent March 27 | Symphony of the Soil Michael Von Weihe, Carson march 6 | Determining Whether Your Iowa Screening | Cedar Falls | 7 p.m. alendar Wallace Centers of Iowa Produce Farm Will Flourish or Wilt | Contact: Kamyar Enshayan, University of Chris Westphal, Casey Farminar | 7 p.m. Northern Iowa Center for Energy and Envi- C Visit: www.practicalfarmers.org/farminar District 5—Southeast ronmental Education, Kamyar.enshayan@uni. edu, 319.273.7575 Dick and Deb Baker, Atalissa march 6–7 | Iowa Water Conference William Borrenpohl, LaMotte Iowa State University march 28 | Symphony of the Soil Christina Cowles, Burlington Ames, IA Iowa Screening | Ames, IA | 7 p.m. Doug Darrow, Oxford Scheman Building, Ames; Contact: Auditorium, 2245 Coover Hall, Iowa State Stephen Pierce, Grinnell 515.294.6429, [email protected] Weston Rockafellow , West Liberty University, Ames; Contact: Jeri Neal, Leopold March 11 | The Care and Pruning of Center Ecology Initiative, 515.294.5610, District 6—Out of State Fruit Trees | Angelic Organics Learn- [email protected] Blackbrook Farm, Minneapolis, MN ing Center | Caledonia, IL | 1–5 p.m. April 3 | Local Food Summit Mark Brisky, Salt Lake City, UT Cost: $50; Visit: http://www.mosesorganic. Judy Christianson, Ladoga, IN Ames, IA org/events.html Robert DeMoss, Lincoln, NE Iowa State University Scheman Building; Charles King, Kodiak, AK March 12 | Good Agricultural Prac- Contact: Craig Chase, 515.294.1854, cchase@ Kerri McClimen, Chicago,IL tices (GAP) Training | Oregon, IL iastate.edu David Mixdorf, South Sioux City, NE Visit: http://www.mosesorganic.org/events. Greg and Nancy Rasmussen, Lockwood, MO html Rebecca Wiinanen, Grand Marais, MN Joanne Wilson, Baltimore, MD

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The Gift of the Month Club is an easy way to support Practical Farmers of Iowa! Send in your pledge with your credit card information, and we will automatically deduct your donation the first of each month.

YES! I would like to give _____ per month to PFI, to be automatically charged to my credit card the first of the month. ($10 per month minimum)

Practical Farmers of Iowa is a 501(c) 3 organization. Your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Thank you! opportunity Individual, Farm or Organization Name*:______health Mailing Address:______friendship Street:______research City, State, ZIP:______Primary Phone (with area code):______answers Alternate Phone (with areaguidance code):______stewardship Email:______friendship * For Farm/Household membership, please list names of persons included. For Organization membership, please list one or two contact persons. answers Payment: stewardship

Total: $______= $______membership + $______donation

n Check or money order enclosed. (Please make payable to “Practical Farmers of Iowa.”) guidance

TO PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD, PLEASE GO TO: http://practicalfarmers.org/join-pfi.html research opportunity www.practicalfarmers.org 31 Practical Farmers of Iowa 137 Lynn Ave ., Suite 200 Ames, IA 50014

Our Vision for Iowa

Farms that are prized for their diversity of crops and livestock their wildlife, healthy soils, innovations, beauty and productivity their connection to a rich past and a fulfilling present where individuals and families are earn- ing a good living

Wholesome food that is celebrated for its connections to local farmers to seasons, to hard work and good stewardship Communities alive with diverse connections between farmers and friends of farmers

Places where commerce, cooperation, creativity and spirituality are thriving Places where the working landscape, the fresh air and the clean water remind us of all that is good about Iowa.