the .Practical Farmer .. r ~,., ' Annual Conference Jan. 9 & 1 0 ............... I Pg. 3 Dan Specht: The OP-Corn Kid ....•...•......... I Pg. 8 Apples in Iowa •••••.••••..•.••.••..•••.••••.•.••...•....•..••••.•..•.•...•.•.•. I Pg. 20 On-farm Research: OP Com ............................................. ! Pg. 24 New Resource Section ..................................................... ! Pg. 26 ··- Contents ~ {-~·. ·-:;;..~._:"', Annual Conference .............................................. 3 Focus on Food: Apples ...................................... 20 Board News ......................................................... 6 Calendar ............................................................ 23 Member Profile: Dan Specht ................................ 8 On-Farm Research: OP Corn ............................ 24 PFI Camp ........................................ .................. 12 Resources ................................. ......................... 26 Field Day Report ................................................ 14 Member Perspectives: What is Sustainable Ag? .. 28 Practical Farmers of Peru .................................. 15 Reflections: Remembering the Sacred .............. 29 Staff and Program Updates ........................... 16-17 PFI Merchandise ............................................... 30 Member News .............................................. 18-19 Join PFI ............................................................. 31 Cover photo by Rick Exner: Oats discussion at Stc'A! and June Weis field day, 1999 PFI Board of Directors Tom Wthl, 13882 I A'A!., Wapello, lA 52653-9449. Membership Services and Office Man ager Sandra Trca-Biack ( 101 ), Correspondence to the PFI directors' addresses is (319) 729-5905. [email protected] [email protected] always welcome. Advisory Board District 1 (No rthwest): KenWise,2820Wadsley Dick Thompson, 2035 19oth St., Boone, lA Communications Specialist A'A!., Sac Gty, lA SOS83-7637. (712) 662-7716. 50036-7423. (SIS) 432-1560. Todd Kimm ( 108), [email protected] Larry Kallem, 12303 N.W. 158th A'A!., Madrid lA, Leo Benjamin, 17636 Birch A'A!., Whiting, IA PFI Downtown Farmers Market Master 50156.S15-795-2303. Sl063. (712)458-2001. Katherine Parker (I OS), District 2 (North Central): Mark Tjelmeland, PFI Staff kathe rine@prac ticalfarmers.org PFI Vice President,12461 650 th Ave., For general information and staff connections, The Practical Farmer is published three times a McCallsb urg, lA S0154-8026. (515) 434-2440. call (S15) 232-S661; individual extensions are year by Practical F am1ers of lo wa at 300 Main St., ctje [email protected] listed in parenthesis after each name. Box 349,Ames,lowa 50010; S15-232-566l. A free Nina Biensen, 2454 Bin ford Ave., State Center,lA subscription is provided with each PF! member­ 50247. (641) 483-2292. Director ship (see page 31). Sample copies and back is9.les Robert Karp (102), [email protected] bie [email protected] are available. Associate Director District 3 (Northeast): Walt Ebert, 1273 12oth Newsletter Editor: Todd Kimm St., Plainfield, lA 50666-9647. (319) 276-4444. Rich Pirog ( 109), [email protected] O riginal Template: Michael Nash [email protected] Food Systems Additional Design: Mary Sailer Er ic Franzenburg, 6925 19th Ave., Van Horne, lA S2346. (319) 228-8758. Gary Huber ( 103), [email protected] [email protected] Rick Hartmann ( 104), The Praaical Farmer and the PFI on-farm demonstrations are supported, in part, by Iowa District 4 (Southwest): Angela Tedesco, 10743 hart mann@pra ct icalfarmers.org NW 142nd St., Granger, IA 50109. State U nivt:r>il y Coo pcrative Extemion, and the Andrea Wold ridge ( 107), Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. (SIS) 278-4S22. [email protected] andrea@p rae tical far mers.org Yerian VanWyk. I 5844 S. 88th Ave. E, Searsboro, lA 50242. (641) 527-2927. Farming Systems Rick Exner, (51S) 294-5486, District 5 (Southeast): Susan Zacharakis-Ju tz, [email protected], Room 2104, Agronomy PFI President, 5025 I 2oth St. NE, Solon, lA Hall,ISU,Ames, Iowa, 5001 I. 52333-9155. (3 I 9) 624-3052. [email protected] 2 .·-- ~:. Annual Conference .. - ),.~-~ Annual Conference Workshops galore! Here are some of the workshop topics that are shaping up for the annual conference. January 9 a. 10 Full details will come with your conference flyer in a few weeks. in Des Moines! Friday workshops Judy Heffernan to deliver keynote •:• Market Opportunities for Raising Niche Pork •:• Addressing Herd Health Issues in hat's right, the PFI Annual Con­ Alternative Swine Production Systems ference is coming right up. Yes, •:• Eco-labels in Iowa: What are the T the dates are now Jan. 9 and 10 Opportunities? and the location is now the lovely Air­ •:• Vegetable Production Seminar port Holiday Inn in Des Moines! You •:• Opportunities for Farmers in the will get full details and registration info New Bioeconomy in your annual conference flyer, which you should receive in just a few weeks. But here are a few glimpses to whet Saturday workshops your appetite: ·:· Tapping Niche Markets for Traditional and Small Grains The keynote ·:· Networking Session on Crop Rotations and Cover Crops Rural sociologist Judy Heffernan •!• Organic Weed Control Strategies will kick off Saturday's program with ·:· Whole Farm Landscape Design a keynote address on the challenges ·:· The Latest on Grass-Based Marketing, and opportunities facing rural com­ Health Claims and CLA Research munities. Judy is a nationally re­ •!• Improve Your Soils with the Organic nowned speaker and author on the University of Wisconsin (Madison) Matter Budgeter economic crisis in rural America; the where she completed work beyond her •!• On-Farm Food Safety for the concentrat ion of power within the M.A. Following extensive teaching Small Farmer food industry; and how communities experiences in colleges and universities, •!• Networking Session on Small can help make changes. Judy served as a research associate in Livestock and Poultry In 1989, Judy became the execu­ the Department of Rural Sociology at ·:· On-Farm Research: Why and How? tive director of the newly for med the University of Missouri. Her major ·:· Generating Sales through the Buy Heartland Network for Town and Ru­ research interest has focused on farm Fresh, Buy Local Campaign ral Ministries, a mission agency of the women, farm families and the farm •!• Land Ownership in Iowa: Trends United Methodist Church. In this role, and rural crisis. Former Secretary of and Opportunities Judy resources, consults with, advo­ Agriculture Bob Bergland named her ·:· Making Progress? An Update on cates for and networks on behalf of to a national farm women's advisory Developments in Federal Food and town and rural clergy, churches and committee in 1979. Farm Policy communities in North and South Da­ Judy and her husband, fellow ·:· Networking Session for Small Farm kota, Nebr aska, Kansas, Oklahoma, sociologist Bill He ffe man, have Entrepreneurs Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota. worked closely with many local, state •!• From Sustainable Farms to Judy is a Magna cum laude gradu­ and national organizations dedicated Sustainable Communities ate of Hanover College (IN). She was to finding solutions to the problems ·:· Everything You Wanted to Know a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at the of rural Arner ica. r~ about the Benefits of Local Food ·:· Celebrity Chef Cooking Class 3 • '<' Annual Conference . :_~- ... Friday Night Mu Farmer troubadour Chuck Suchy orth Dakota farmer/singer/songwriter Chuck Suchy will provide musical entertainment fOllowing a Friday evening reception. Crossroads N Magazine called Suchy "one of the shining lights ofthe Upper Great Plains folk scene for many years now. His well-crafted songs deal with the family, home, and working the land." Suchy was born and raised in the blue hills along the Missouri River south of Mandan, North Dakota. After perfo rrning for years in area halls, clubs and lounges, he heard a tape of Canadian troubadour Stan Rogers singing his classic, Field Behind The Plow. "It was at that moment;' Suchy says, "that I realized that the life I was immersed in was worthy of song." He began writing his own ballads and songs, slipping them into his performances and it was soon obvious that he was on to something quite unique-sensitive and honest portrayals of contemporary American farm life, but from an insider's point of view. Suchy's songs have since reflected changes in rural life, including farm cri­ ses, loss of population, and a major restructuring of the agricultural economy. Chuck remains an astute observer of it all, and his songs chronicle not only the events, but the emotions that accompany them. ~ New Location! Discuss PFI's role in policy and politics at the PFI Airport Holiday Inn, Des Moines Business Meeting on Friday, Jan. 9 at 5 pm! PFI board and staff have been eserve your rooms now at the working on a document that incredible rate of $69 a night! will guide any PFI involvement RThe Airport Holiday Inn is the in public policy-related activi­ most family-friendly venue we have ties. A draft of this document ever had for the conference, with a large (included on the facing page) indoor pool and play area under a will be discussed at the annual sunlit dome, ping pong and other games business meeting. A revised set for kids, and very friendly staff. The of strategic directions for the or­ meeting rooms are superb as well. This ganization will also be shared is a great hotel that has been locally and discussed. This