Practical Farmers Of Iowa

SMALL GRAINS UNLOCK POTENTIAL TO KEEP NITROGEN IN CROPS ANDUT OF AIR AND WATER: MARKET-BASED INNOVATIONS TO OPTIMIZE FERTILIZER AND MANURE MANAGEMENT IN EXTENDED ROTATIONS

FARMERS OF IOWA, KITCHEN TABLE CONSULTANTS, AND IOWA VALLEY RCAND D TO PRESERVE AND SIGNIFICANTLY SCALE THE INSTITUTIONAL MARKETS FOOD HUBS HAVE DEVELOPED IN IOWA. THIS PROJECT WILL EXPAND FOOD HUB CAPACITY TO CAPTURE MORE INSTITUTIONAL SALES, ONBOARD NEW FARMERS, AND GROW SALES TERRITORY TO EQUITABLY SERVE MORE OF THE STATE. OUR WORK WILL ALSO LEVERAGE UPCOMING, SHORT TERM INSTITUTIONAL PURCHASING INCENTIVES TO CONVERT NEW INSTITUTIONS TO PERMANENT LOCAL FOOD CUSTOMERS, TRANSFORMING THE SCALE OF FARM TO INSTITUTION IN IOWA. BECAUSE OF FARMTABLE PROCUREMENT AND DELIVERY S CENTRALITY TO IOWA S LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM, THE FOOD HUB NETWORK, AND TO FARMERS ACROSS IOWA, THE PARTNERSHIP SHARES A COMMITMENT TO TRANSITIONING THE FARMTABLE FOOD HUB TO A NON PROFIT AND ENSURING ITS LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY. AS A SUPPORT PARTNER WITH A STRONG STATE WIDE FARMER NETWORK, PRACTICAL FARMERS OF IOWA (PFI) WILL PROVIDE KEY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION FOR FARMERS TO LEARN ABOUT FOOD HUBS AND BECOME FOOD HUB VENDORS. PFI WILL ALSO ADMINISTER AND EVALUATE THIS PROJECT. IOWA VALLEY RCAND D WILL FACILITATE CONTINUED SPACES FOR FOOD HUBS TO COLLABORATE WITH EACH OTHER, WHILE KEY EXPERTS AT KITCHEN TABLE CONSULTANTS WILL OPTIMIZE FOOD HUB KPIS AND PROVIDE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COACHING. FOOD HUB PARTNERS WILL MAXIMIZE THEIR ADDED CAPACITY MADE POSSIBLE BY THIS PROJECT, ALONG WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TO ADD MORE FARMER VENDORS, INSTITUTIONAL CUSTOMERS, AND TERRITORY TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES AND EXPAND THE FOOTPRINT OF FARM TO INSTITUTION IN IOWA.

THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $979,915 TO THE PRACTICAL FARMERS OF IOWA TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS WITH IMPROVING WATER QUALITY IN THE GULF OF MEXICO BY REDUCING NUTRIENTS AND SEDIMENT RUNOFF INTO SURFACE WATER FROM NONPOINT SOURCES LIKE AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS. FARMERS WILL ADOPT PRACTICES THAT HELP PROTECT LOCAL WATERWAYS AND THE GULF OF MEXICO BY KEEPING SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENTS LIKE NITRATES AND PHOSPHOROUS IN THE FIELDS WHERE THEY ARE ASSETS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME REDUCING EROSION AND NUTRIENT LEACHING.

THIS ACTION PROVIDES FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $935,788 FOR PRACTICAL FARMERS OF IOWA TO EQUIP IOWA FARMERS WITH TOOLS TO ACCELERATE IMPLEMENTATION OF COVER CROPS THROUGH SHIFTING THE TONE OF MAINSTREAM AGRICULTURE, DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF COVER CROP CHAMPIONS, LOWERING BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTATION; AND MEASURING A 5% IMPROVEMENT IN WATER QUALITY. FARMERS WILL BE TRAINED TO BECOME 'COVER CROP CHAMPIONS' SO THEY CAN EDUCATE AND MENTOR OTHER FARMERS.

PRACTICAL FARMERS OF IOWA IS LEADING THE EXPLORING, ESTABLISHING AND ENHANCING FARM ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH DECISION-MAKING, FARMER-TO-FARMER TRAINING AND NETWORKING BUILDING PROJECT TO EQUIP THE NEXT GENERATION OF IOWA BEGINNING FARMERS TO START AND SUSTAIN SUCCESSFUL FARM BUSINESSES, TO HELP PRESERVE IOWA'S FARMING LEGACY OF FOOD PRODUCTION, RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP AND RURAL COMMUNITY VITALITY. THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED REALIZING THAT BEGINNING FARMERS NEED DIFFERENT SUPPORT AND RESOURCES AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT STAGES WITHIN THEIR FIRST 10 YEARS OF FARMING. THIS PROJECT WILL CREATE PROGRAMMING AND CURRICULA TO TRAIN, EDUCATE AND INFORM ASPIRING AND BEGINNING FARMER IN EACH STAGE OF FARMING. EACH SERIES WILL PROVIDE BUSINESS PLANNING FOR DECISION-MAKING, FARMER-TO-FARMER TRAINING, AND FARMER-TO-FARMER PEER SUPPORT TAILORED EACH OF THE FOLLOWING STAGES.EXPLORE FARMING SERIES IS TAILORED TO ASPIRING FARMERS (NOT YET FARMING).ESTABLISH FARMING SERIES IS TAILORED TO START-UPFARMERS (0 TO 5 YEARS EXPERIENCE).ENHANCE YOUR FARM SERIES IS TAILORED TO INTERMEDIATE FARMERS (6 TO 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE).BY THE END OF THIS PROJECT, 76 FARMERS WILL REPORT THEY WERE ABLE TO START FARMING, AND 263 WILL REPORT THEY WERE ABLE TO STRENGTHEN THEIR FARM BUSINESSES AS A RESULT OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION, 75 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WILL HAVE ACCESSED THE EXPLORING, ESTABLISHING AND ENHANCING FARMER TRAINING CURRICULUM TOOL KIT CREATED DURING THIS PROJECT, AND WILL HAVE RECEIVED COACHING FROM PFI STAFF ON HOW TO USE THE CURRICULUM TOOL KIT TO HELP BEGINNING FARMERS START AND IMPROVE FARMS IN THEIR REGIONS.

GROUNDTRUTHING FARM VIABILITY: PROVIDING A CONTINUUM OF ADVICE, SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO CREATE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY FOR BEGINNING FARMERS

SUPPORTING THE SURGE OF BEGINNING IOWA FARMERS

STRENGTHENING PUBLIC CORN BREEDING TO ENSURE THAT ORGANIC FARMERS HAVE ACCESS TO ELITE CULTIVARS: OUTREACH

FRUIT,VEGETABLE AND FLOWER FARMERS IN IOWA FACE SUBSTANTIAL CHALLENGES. THE DISTRIBUTION,RISK MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL TOOLS,PRODUCTS AND ADVISORS FOR SPECIALTY CROP AND LOCAL FOODS ARE UNDER- RESOURCED - PARTICULARLY COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL ROW-CROP AGRICULTURE IN THE STATE. AT THE SAME TIME,THE ON-FARM PRODUCT AND MARKETING DIVERSITY REQUIRED TO MAKE A LIVING WITH LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION REQUIRES INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT. DESPITE THE MYRIAD CHALLENGES THEY FACE,THERE IS A STRONG CONSTITUENCY OF SPECIALTY CROP FARMERS IN IOWA WHO ARE COMMITTED TO GROWING LOCAL FOOD FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES. THEY HAVE THE MOTIVATION,WORK ETHIC AND POTENTIAL TO INCREASE THE SALE AND CONSUMPTION OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS IOWA. THIS PROJECT,"STRENGTHENING MARKETS AND BUSINESS PRACTICES FOR DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER SPECIALTY CROP PRODUCERS IN IOWA," PROPOSES TO SUPPORT SPECIALTY CROP PRODUCERS IN IOWA BY: 1) ENHANCING DIRECT-TO- CONSUMER MARKETS THROUGH INCREASED CONSUMER KNOWLEDGE AND ENTHUSIASM ABOUT LOCAL FOOD OPPORTUNITIES,2) PROVIDING MARKET EVALUATION AND BUSINESS COACHING TO EQUIP INDIVIDUAL FARMERS TO GROW THEIR MARKETS,BUSINESSES AND PROFITS AND 3) DISSEMINATING WHAT THEY LEARN TO GROWERS ACROSS THE STATE THROUGH PFI CHANNELS. WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL REACH 200,000 IOWANS THROUGH OUR FIRST OBJECTIVE WHICH INCLUDES A ROBUST,DIVERSIFIED OUTREACH CAMPAIGN. WE ANTICIPATE WE WILL DIRECTLY REACH 480 FARMERS WITH OUR SECOND AND THIRD OBJECTIVES: 14 WILL RECEIVE ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATION,AND 480 WILL ATTEND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS ABOUT MARKET DEVELOPMENT. THESE FARMERS WILL INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND MAKE CHANGES TO IMPROVE THE MARKET SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER SPECIALTY CROPS IN IOWA.

PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO GRAZING LIVESTOCK FARMERS, WITH A PRIORITY ON BEGINNING FARMERS, FARMERS OF COLOR, AND VETERAN FARMERS.

ASSETS FOR INDEPENDENCE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM

PROMOTE INVERTEBRATE HABITAT PRACTICES SUCH AS BEETLE BANKS ANDINSECTARY STRIPS INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TO ALSO BENEFIT FARM PRODUCTION.

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

HELP PRODUCERS EXPLORE THE VIABILITY OF NO-TILL IN ORGANIC PRODUCTIONSYSTEMS, BY SUPPORTING 20 ON-FARM TRIALS INVESTIGATING PRACTICES ONROW-CROP AND VEGETABLE FARMS.

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

2016 RMEPP AWARD

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS

RME OUTREACH

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

GROWING PASTURE#RAISED MEAT SUPPLY CHAINS IN IOWA

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

2017RMEPP

ENGAGING FARMERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF CORN VARIETIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

ENGAGING FARMERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF CORN VARIETIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

ENGAGING FARMERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF CORN VARIETIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

ENGAGING FARMERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF CORN VARIETIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

STRENGTHENING PUBLIC CORN BREEDING TO ENSURE THAT ORGANIC FARMERS HAVE ACCESS TO ELITE CULTIVARS: OUTREACH

ENGAGING FARMERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF CORN VARIETIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

ENGAGING FARMERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF CORN VARIETIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

DEMONSTRATING CONSERVATION ON AGRICULTURAL WORKING LANDS

TO DEVELOP AND DEMONSTRATE AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO INTEGRATE RUMINANT LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION.