the Practical Farmer A quarterly publication of Practical Farmers of Iowa Vol. 26, No. 4 | Fall 2011 PFI member Ron Rosmann talks to field day participants about his test plots of orgainc corn and soybeans In this issue Ingredients for good buyer-seller relationships PFI farmers turn “undercover” agents Is marketing the “weak link” in your operation? Looking to the future: PFI adopts new strategic plan Special full-color photo spread: “Why I farm” 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) At-LARGE David Haden Joyce Lock Letter from the Director . 3 4458 Starling Ave . 725 54th St . Primghar, IA 51245 Des Moines, IA 50312 712 .448 .2012 515 .277 .3615 Horticulture . 4–5 highland33@tcaexpress .net stirjoy@aol .com Dan Wilson, PFI Vice-President Gail Hickenbottom, Treasurer Resarch: Local Foods Study . .6–7 4375 Pierce Ave . 810 Browns Woods Dr . Paullina, IA 51046 West Des Moines, IA 50265 712 .448 .3870 515 .256 .7876 Beef Tasting Event . 8–9 the7wilsons@gmail .com ADVISORY BOARD Annual Conference . .10–13 DisTRicT 2 (NORTH CenTRal) Larry Kallem th Sara Hanson 12303 NW 158 Ave . 2011 Field Days . .14–17 2505 220th Ave . Madrid, IA 50156 Wesley, IA 50483 515 .795 .2303 515 .928 .7690 Dick Thompson SPECIAL! Full-Color Pullout Fencing Guide dancingcarrot@yahoo .com 2035 190th St . Tim Landgraf, PFI President Boone, IA 50036 1465 120th St . 515 .432 .1560 Field Crops . .18–19 Kanawha, IA 50447 641 .495 .6367 PFI STAFF Next Generation . 20 libland@peconet .net For general information and staff connections, call 515.232.5661. Individual extensions are listed in Research: Bioenergy and Diversity . .21 DisTRicT 3 (NORTHeasT) parentheses after each name. Tyler Franzenburg 6915 15th Ave . Teresa Opheim (302) Member Contributions . 22–23. Keystone, IA 52249 Executive Director 319 .721 .2176 teresa@practicalfarmers .org PFI News . 24 tfranzenburg@hotmail .com Suzi Bernhard (301) Jeff Klinge Finance & Benefits Manager 16609 Highway 13 suzi@practicalfarmers .org Planned Giving . 25 Farmersburg, IA 52047 563 .536 .2314 Patrick Burke (303) jefkling@neitel .net Office Manager New Members . 26 patrick@practicalfarmers .org Sarah Carlson (305) DisTRicT 4 (SOUTHWesT) Calendar . 26 Research & Policy Director Earl Hafner sarah@practicalfarmers .org 303 Oak Ridge Dr . Panora, IA 50216 Kevin Dietzel (307) Join PFI . .27 641 .757 .0560 Grazing Coordinator hafnerin@netins .net kevin@practicalfarmers .org Sean Skeehan Luke Gran (308) 746 Wyoming Next Generation Coordinator the Chariton, IA 50049 luke@practicalfarmers .org 641 .203 .0758 skeebout@bluegatefarmfresh .com Tomoko Ogawa (306) Practical Farmer Market Development, Local Foods, PFI Cook the Practical Farmer keeps farmers and friends of farmers in touch District 5 (Southeast) tomoko@practicalfarmers .org with one another and provides informative articles about the latest Ann Cromwell, PFI Secretary Ann Seuferer (309) on-farm research, demonstration and observation to help all types 3303 240th St . Communications Director of farming operations to become profitable, while caring for the land Williamsburg, IA 52361 ann@practicalfarmers .org that sustains them . Provided as a member benefit to PFI supporters, 319 .668 .8248 the Practical Farmer also serves to update members on PFI programming . anniowa@commspeed .net Sally Worley (304) the Practical Farmer is published quarterly by Practical Farmers of Iowa, Linda Grice Next Generation & 137 Lynn Ave ., Suite 200, Ames, IA 50014; 515 .232 .5661 . 25739 170th St . Horticulture Director South English, IA 52335 sally@practicalfarmers .org Newsletter Editor: Ann Seuferer 319 .667 .2350 (Back issues are available upon request .) agricol@netins .net 2 the Practical Farmer From the Director True wealth I read a book last weekend, True Schor says, “A diversified income stream makes Wealth, by Juliet Schor that didn’t sense when the labor market is going through ups mention our organization by name, and downs, or long-term decline.” but the author could have. There are no You are master networkers, thriving on the more shining examples of the solutions field days, workshops and online conversation she presents than the members of opportunities that PFI staff provide. “The Practical Farmers of Iowa. networked environment makes possible a new modality of organization production that is “For most Americans, the future holds more radically decentralized, collaborative, and economic uncertainty and lower real returns nonproprietary; based on sharing resources for their labors,” Schor writes. “Standard and outputs, locally connected individuals who macroeconomics is failing. Its whole approach is cooperate with each other without relying on vacuous because it’s indiscriminate.” Our current either market signals or managerial comments,” economic system asks: How fast can we grow? says Schor. How big can we get? How much can we buy? “We remain trapped in this myopic debate when what You thrive on the open sharing of information. we need is a conversation not about how much Ours is not the world of copyrights, patents and but about what.” trademarks — nor secrets about what worked and what didn’t on your farms. A good example of Schor describes a better economic model, one how the next generation is adopting your level where people rely less on “business as usual” of openness: Sara Hanson and Ryan and Janice spending. People spread their risk with multiple Marquardt are willing to share their complete Teresa and son Paul cart home tomatoes for sources of income and support. They rely much business plans at our upcoming annual canning from Farm to Folk in Ames. more strongly on their communities than Americans have in recent decades. conference so that we all can learn from the Excellent Joy panel of financial advisors there to advise them. Sound familiar? So many of you are diversified in your farming operations, providing you with more “Usually farm culture washes out Schor makes the point that “True Wealth” after three successive generations resilience when a crop fails or a market drops. is more “knowledge-intensive.” He says, have been removed from working “Knowledge is the scarce resource in the the land. I notice, though, that farm transition to sustainability,” but it is in culture can be rekindled in a single abundance with PFI farmers! Dick and Sharon generation. City folks who marry farm Thompson, a shining example, have a thick book people or who move to rural areas to and more of it that they have shared. (See our begin their own farming operations website if you haven’t taken a look at Thompson acquire the yen to work the soil in just Agriculture Alternatives.) a few years and pass along to their children their hardy work ethic and the spiritual commitment to make the I agree with Schor: I am optimistic “that there is land produce. This rapid reversion to a way forward that is better for humans and the farm culture probably taps into strands earth.” True Wealth involves “re-skilling, food of genetic memory that lie dormant sufficiency, renewable energy, and the forging of until agricultural activities stimulate social bonds at the community level.” Including Lion is a 15-year-old, “shelter-dog hybrid,” say Jan the emergence the PFI community! Libbey and Tim Landgraf, the pup’s owners. Lion of a wealth of got his name because as a puppy he liked to “lie” survival skills that Working for you, around in the sun so their then young children, are included in Andrew and Jess, thought he should be called Lion. their DNA.” In his youth, Lion was an avid hunter, protecting the From PFI member garden’s harvest from rabbits. “These days he does Michael R. Rosmann’s P.S. Every time you renew your membership or more watching than chasing,” says Tim. Wherever book, Excellent Joy provide PFI additional support, I am grateful Jan and Tim go on the farm, Lion is never far behind. (available at www. icecubepress.com) for the gift and vote of confidence you have A gregarious fellow, Lion loves house guests and his given to this organization! favorite treat is human affection. www.practicalfarmers.org 3 Horticulture The making of a seed saver and his seed-saving advice by Sally Worley Glenn Drowns has been an avid gardener What follows are the Drowns’ best tips for since early childhood. As a high school how to save seeds from a few crops that are senior in the late 70’s, Glenn’s love of feasible to save on a commercial scale. watermelon motivated him to create a variety that could withstand the frequent General Seed-Saving Tips frosts and the short growing season of the If you plan to save seed, pick randomly from mountain area. Named for the mountain plants of a particular variety rather than at the foot of which it grew, the Blacktail selectively picking fruit from plants that Mountain Melon was a success and have superior characteristics. “Ideally you started Glenn on the road to seed saving. want to save seed from at least 12 to 25 plants,” recommends Glenn, “to get good Glenn moved from Idaho to Iowa in 1984 and representation of that set of traits.” Tomatoes purchased the 40-acre farm that comprises When it comes to saving high-quality tomato Sand Hill Preservation Center in 1988. Glenn’s Purchase a set of multi-sized strainers. Make seeds, Glenn says, “Fermenting removes the three main goals in operating Sand Hill are sure the strainers are devoid of rims that bacteria-laden jelly coat.” If the jelly remains, to preserve rare and endangered poultry, can catch seeds, or you may inadvertently the sugar layer will gum up once the seeds livestock, and vegetable and fruit crops; use mix seeds of different varieties. are sown. Bacteria grow in that layer as soon educational outreach to showcase sustainable as you wet the soil.