Grazing Year-Round Are These Buds for You? Taming the Waterhemp
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the PRACTICAL FARMER SPRING 2019 Taming the Waterhemp Beast Are These Buds for You? Grazing Year-Round » Field Crops BY NAME 2 the Practical Farmer Spring 2019 » Field Crops BY NAME CONTENTS FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 6 LIVESTOCK 5 EXECUTIVE Grazing Year-Round DIRECTOR NOTE Farmers are incorporating annual forages into crop rotations to complement perennial pastures. 30 MEMBER BOOK REVIEW 9 INFOGRAPHIC “Wildly Successful The Importance of the Cow Farming: Sustainability PFI co-founder Dick Thompson believed cows were a vital and the New link on the farm. This graphic highlights why. Agricultural Land Ethic” – Gary Gadbury 10 FARM TRANSFER The Beginnings of a Farm Transfer 31 PFI NEWS Shared values help connect beginning farmers John and • Labor4Learning jobs Halee Wepking with Paul Bickford, who was searching for • Beginning farmer farmers to transition his operation to. survey • 13 BEGINNING FARMERS Join our team SIP Class of 2020 • FindAFarmer gets a Meet the newest class of participants in PFI’s Savings makeover Incentive Program. • Meet our newest staff members 14 FIELD CROPS • Subscribe to our new Interseeding Cover Crops in Extra-Wide cover crop e-newsletter Corn Rows • New multimedia Farmers are using on-farm research to experiment with offerings different cover crop options before corn. 34 WELCOME NEW 16 HORTICULTURE MEMBERS Are These Buds for You? Interest in tree crops (and beverages) has drawn new 35 CALENDAR members to recent PFI events. April – June 18 COVER CROPS 36 THE FINAL WORD Taming the Waterhemp Beast Cover crops can provide effective control against Iowa’s most challenging superweed. 38 JOIN PFI 22 ANNUAL CONFERENCE PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS 26 SUSTAINABLE AG ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Honored for Sustainability Efforts Long-time PFI members Doug Alert and Margaret Smith have been using on-farm research for many years to guide their farming decisions, and freely sharing their knowledge with others. 28 POLICY Commissioners Bring Local Conservation Jeremy Gustafson plants soybeans Issues to Iowa’s Capitol into a green cereal rye cover crop PFI members represented their soil and water and corn stalks on his farm near conservation districts and met with legislators. ON THE COVER: Dick Sloan loads his planter in Boone, Iowa, on May 17, 2018. preparation for planting corn on his farm near Rowley on May 17, 2018. Spring 2019 the Practical Farmer 3 BOARD MEMBERS & STAFF We love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact your board members or staff. General info and staff connections: (515) 232-5661. Staff email addresses: @practicalfarmers.org. DISTRICT 1 (NORTHWEST) PFI STAFF Nathan Anderson – Secretary Sierra Becker 400 Locust St., P.O. Box 14 Sustainable Agriculture Assistant (sierra@) Aurelia, IA 51005 Samantha Beckman PRACTICAL (515) 708-5199 Office Support (samantha@) [email protected] Debra Boekholder working together, always learning DISTRICT 2 (NORTH CENTRAL) Membership & Events Assistant (debra@) Wendy Johnson – President Alisha Bower 2038 March Ave Strategic Initiatives Manager (alisha@) WHAT WE DO Charles City, IA 50616 Maggie Cannon (562) 852-7044 Membership Manager (maggie@) Practical Farmers of Iowa was founded in 1985 [email protected] Sarah Carlson as an organization for farmers. We use farmer- DISTRICT 3 (NORTHEAST) Strategic Initiatives Director (sarah@) Steve Carlson Ann Franzenburg – Vice-President led investigation and information sharing to help Next Generation Coordinator (steve@) 6925 19th Ave. farmers practice an agriculture that benefits both Van Horne, IA 52346 Celize Christy the land and people. (319) 640-0262 Swine & Poultry Coordinator (celize@) [email protected] Henry Corbin Multimedia Assistant (henry@) DISTRICT 4 (SOUTHWEST) Meghan Filbert Mark Peterson Livestock Program Manager (meghan@) OUR MISSION 2311 N Ave. Laura Frescoln Stanton, IA 51573 Associate Director (laura@) Practical Farmers of Iowa’s mission is equipping (712) 370-4004 Stefan Gailans farmers to build resilient farms and communities. [email protected] Research & Field Crops Director (stefan@) DISTRICT 5 (SOUTHEAST) Jace Hadish Gayle Olson Media Assistant (jace@) 2272 140th St. Suzi Howk OUR VISION Winfield, IA 52659 Finance & Benefits Director (suzi@) (319) 931-1351 Tamsyn Jones [email protected] An Iowa with healthy soil, healthy food, clean air, Outreach & Publications Coordinator (tamsyn@) clean water, resilient farms and vibrant AT-LARGE FARMERS Liz Kolbe communities. Jack Boyer Horticulture & Habitat Programs Manager (liz@) 1031 Hwy T55 Shannon Kooima Reinbeck, IA 50669 Strategic Initiatives Assistant (shannon@) (319) 345-2265 Sarah Krumm [email protected] Graphic Design & Multimedia Coordinator (sarah_k@) OUR VALUES Vic Madsen Hayley Nelson 2186 Goldfinch Ave. Research Assistant (hayley@) Welcoming everyone Audubon, IA 50025 Nick Ohde (712) 254-3057 Communications & Marketing Director (nick@) Farmers leading the exchange of experience and [email protected] Greg Padget knowledge Mark Quee Next Generation Director (greg@) 1951 Delta Ave. Jorgen Rose Curiosity, creativity, collaboration and community West Branch, IA 52358 Habitat & Farm Transfer Coordinator (jorgen@) (319) 530-3782 Chastity Schonhorst [email protected] Resilient farms now and for future generations Bookkeeper (chastity@) David Rosmann Jason Tetrick Stewardship of land and resources 1809 N Willow St. Digital Media Coordinator (jason@) Avoca, IA 51521 Sally Worley (612) 219-7396 Executive Director (sally@) [email protected] Julie Wheelock THE PRACTICAL FARMER 3381 230th St. CO-FOUNDERS Sac City, IA 50583 Larry Kallem Sharon Thompson the Practical Farmer is published quarterly as a benefit of (712) 830-2402 1417 Indiana Ave. Boone, IA membership to help keep farmers and friends of farmers in [email protected] Ames, IA 50014 The late Dick Thompson touch with one another through informative articles on relevant (515) 337-1272 Boone, IA farming topics, current on-farm research, upcoming events and AT-LARGE FRIENDS other news of interest. OF FARMERS CONTACT US Lisa Schulte Moore Practical Farmers of Iowa Magazine Editor: Tamsyn Jones 728 Brookridge Ave. 1615 Golden Aspen Dr. Ames, IA 50010 Ames, IA 50010 Back issues are available upon request. Unless otherwise noted, (515) 294-7339 (515) 232-5661 articles may be reprinted or adapted if credit is given. Clippings [email protected] and notice are appreciated. practicalfarmers.org Kurt Van Hulzen – Treasurer facebook.com/practicalfarmers 2397 Wadsley Ave. twitter.com/practicalfarmer Sac City, IA 50583 youtube.com/pfivideos [email protected] linkedin.com/company/practical-farmers-of-iowa 4 the Practical Farmer Spring 2019 From the Executive Director Inspiration From PFI Leaders would love to bottle the energy, “You have an option to spend your time warmth and inspiration present at our in many different ways and groups. Why Iannual conference, to bring out on a PFI? The first thing about PFI members day when I am feeling tired or lonely. The is their curiosity. Inquiring minds want camaraderie that exists in this group is to know. So many questions, you just so prevalent at this meeting. “Cultivating can’t keep us from asking questions. The Connections” was a fitting description curiosity quotient here is amazingly high. for this time to get together, support each other and learn. Words spoken “The second factor of PFI members is during this year's Sustainable Agriculture their humility. We note that how we’re Achievement Award presentation aptly farming isn’t perfect, and we aren’t afraid embody Practical Farmers and this to admit it. We know we can do better. annual gathering. This doesn’t mean we aren’t proud of what we do, but humility tempers pride Mark Quee, who farms near West and makes us more sympathetic, real Branch and serves on our board of people. directors, presented the award to this year’s recipients, Doug Alert and “I love the cheerful spirit among PFI Margaret Smith, long-time members members. We always leave a gathering who farm near Hampton. “In some ways, with some renewed spirit, an enthusiasm I can trace my involvement in Practical to go out and try to do it another year. Farmers back to Margaret’s hospitality," “The powerful sense of community Mark said. "When I was a new member is one of the main objectives and you and still trying to find where I fit in this achieve it wonderfully. Most members organization, it was daunting to show up here are integral and active members at a big event like this. Early on, when so Doug Alert and Margaret Smith pose with the 2019 of their own geographic community. many faces were unfamiliar, I was always Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award after They’re also members of the greater ag seen by Margaret. She acknowledged my the award ceremony on Jan. 18, held during Practical community and PFI specifically. presence, made me feel welcome and Farmers’ 2019 annual conference. invited me into this vibrant community. I “The last characteristic of PFI members hope we can all follow her example.” is a strong sense of spirituality. We are not of the same organized faith community, and it doesn’t matter. In PFI style, Doug and Margaret talked about what Practical Farmers I think we come from perspectives on faith that embody and look of Iowa has meant to them, rather than what they have done for PFI. at the aspects of faith that encompass love of land and love of You can learn about Doug and Margaret’s many contributions on community." pages 26-27 of this magazine. These are only excerpts from Doug and Margaret's powerful and Doug said: “When researching some esoteric agricultural detail, you moving acceptance speeches. You can watch the entire award are the first people I query. Google is second. When hatching one of presentation on our website. You can also find photos of some of my wild ideas, you are the people I use as a sounding board. When this year's conference highlights on pages 22-25 of this magazine. turning these ideas into research trials to verify my theory, you are the people who help me see the right question is being asked.