June 30

Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm, ISU field day, 9 a.m., Sutherland. Topics at this ISU field day will include auto steer technology, fungicides, weather update, corn management and populations. Contact: Sally Medford, (515) 294-5045, smedford@iastate.edu. For more information on this field day and other ISU field days, see brochure. [PDF] and the news release.

July 2

Armstrong Research and Demonstration Farm, ISU field day, 9:30 a.m., Lewis. Topics at this ISU field day will include corn and soybean fungicides, corn and soybean production and precision planting. Contact: Sally Medford, (515) 294-5045, smedford@iastate.edu. For more information on this field day and other ISU field days, see brochure. [PDF] and the news release.

July 7

Clay County Field Day, ISU Learning Farm Field Day, 5:15 p.m., Clay County Growers demonstration site, Spencer. This ISU Learning Farm field day will focus on crop residue management and conservation farming practices, including no-till and strip-till. Registration is recommended, call the Clay County Extension Office, (712) 262-2264. Contact: Carol Brown, (515) 294-8912, cbrown1@iastate.edu. For more information, see the news release.

July 11

Rise and Shine Farm Tour, 2009 Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Field Day, 8:30 a.m.- noon, Tjelmeland Farm, McCallsburg. Direct-marketing brown eggs, free-range layers and transitioning to organic will be topics of discussion during this field day. As part of an ongoing strategic investment, the Leopold Center provides major support for PFI's on-farm demonstration and field day program. On-farm Contact: Mark and Connie Tjelmeland, (515) 434-2440, tjfarm@iowatelecom.net. For farm location and more details, check the PFI web site, news release, or the 2009 PFI Field Day Guide, above in the "What's coming up?" section.

July 12

Whole-Family Decision Making, 2-7 p.m., The Berry Patch, Nevada. This field day with Wayne and Connie Burleson will cover topics such as: making whole-family decisions, how to improve people skills in family conflicts, conflict reaction skills and holistic management practices. This event is funded by the Leopold Center and the Wallace Genetic Foundation. There is no charge, but RSVP required. Contact: Luke Gran, (515) 232-5661, luke@practicalfarmers.org.

July 14

Biomass Energy: What's Practical? What's Possible?, 2009 Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Field Day, 2 p.m., Biomass Energy Conversion (Becon) Facility, Nevada. Cellulosic biomass will be discussed at this field day, particularly three ways to yield a variety of fuels: pyrolsis, gasification and supercritical fluid extraction. As part of an ongoing strategic investment, the Leopold Center provides major support for PFI's on-farm demonstration and field day program. This event is also sponsored by USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE). This field day is part of the PFI SARE project "Bioenergy and Diversity from Sustainable Systems and Crops." Contact: Rick Exner, (515) 231-5581, dnexner@iastate.edu. For location and more details, check the PFI web site or the 2009 PFI Field Day Guide, above in the "What's coming up?" section.

July 14

Farm Energy Working Group meeting, 10 a.m to 1:30 p.m., BECON facility, Nevada. This is the second meeting of a new working group funded by the Leopold Center and coordinated by the Center for Energy and Environmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa. The group will convene to attend a Practical Farmers of Iowa field day at the BECON facility immediately following this meeting. To attend the working group meeting or for more information, contact Carole Shelley Yates, (319) 273-7599, carole.yates@uni.edu or see the web site.

July 14

Demonstration Garden Field Day, ISU field day, 6 p.m., Northwest farm, Lyon County Fairgrounds, Rock Rapids. Featuring vegetable varieties noted for maintaining their quality and preservation, including winter squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, beets and pickling cucumbers; also white pumpkins, unusual flowers and ornamental grasses. Contact: Sally Medford, (515) 294-5045, smedford@iastate.edu. For more information on this field day and other ISU field days, see brochure. [PDF]

July 15-17

Sustainable Agriculture Education Association conference, Iowa State University, Ames. Topics at the conference will include: visiting student farms and innovative sites of learning, theater, music, poetry and visual art, meals of local food and a dialogue with Fred Kirschenmann, Terry Gompert and Iowa’s Poet Laureate, Mary Swander. Registration is required. Contact: Amber Anderson, saeiowa@gmail.com. For more information, visit the SAEA web site, view the flier [PDF].

July 25

All Abuzz About Habitat, 2009 Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Field Day, 4 p.m., One Step at a Time Gardens, Kanawha. Learn about the benefits of diversity on the landscape as part of a sustainable farm, hear presentations by the local County Conservation Board and local Natural Resources Conservation Service, hear discussion led by PFI staff member Sarah Carlson about opportunities with the EQIP program of the 2008 farm bill and tour the community supported farm (CSA). As part of an ongoing strategic investment, the Leopold Center provides major support for PFI's on-farm demonstration and field day program. On-farm Contact: Tim Landgraf and Jan Libbey, (641) 495-6367, libland@peconet.net. For location, directions and more details, check the PFI web site or the 2009 PFI Field Day Guide, above in the "What's coming up?" section.

July 26

Post Harvest Handling Techniques, Washing, Grading and Packing Vegetable Produce, 1 p.m., Rock Spring Farm, Decorah. Learn more about wholesale sales and preparing produce. Sam Beatties, Iowa State University Food Safety Extension specialist will be on hand to participate in the discussion of food safety issues related to this area of the production and marketing process. Sponsors of this workshop are: The Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Working Group, Rock Spring Farm, the Iowa Department of Agriculture Specialty Crops Grant Program and the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services (MOSES). Contact: Margaret Smith, (515) 294-0887, mrgsmith@iastate.edu or Malcolm Robertson, (515) 294-1166, malcomr@iastate.edu. On-farm contact: Chris Blanchard, (563) 735-5613, realfood@rsfarm.com. Flier [PDF]

July 27

Post Harvest Handling Techniques, Washing, Grading and Packing Vegetable Produce, 1 p.m., Black's Heritage Farm, Ames. Learn more about wholesale sales and preparing produce. Sam Beatties, Iowa State University Food Safety Extension specialist will be on hand to participate in the discussion of food safety issues related to this area of the production and marketing process. Sponsors of this workshop are: The Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Working Group, Black Heritage Farm and the Iowa Department of Agriculture Specialty Crops Grant Program. Contact: Margaret Smith, (515) 294-0887, mrgsmith@iastate.edu or Malcolm Robertson, (515) 294-1166, malcomr@iastate.edu. On-farm contact: Norine and Duane Black, (515) 292-1936, norine@blacksheritagefarms.com Flier [PDF]

July 29

Strip Tillage, Living Mulches and Pasture Walk, 2009 Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Field Day, 1-3 p.m., Fred and Vicki Abels' farm, Holland. Discussion at this field day will include: homemade strip-till implement, Kura clover as a grazing grass and as a cover crop and Reed Canary grass. As part of an ongoing strategic investment, the Leopold Center provides major support for PFI's on-farm demonstration and field day program. This event is also sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and lunch provided by Iowa Forage and Grasslands Council. On-farm contact: Fred and Vicky Abels, (319) 824-6428, farm50642@webtv.net. For location, directions and more details, check the PFI web site or the 2009 PFI Field Day Guide, above in the "What's coming up?" section.

August 2

An Afternoon on a Small (but busy!) Farm, 2009 Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Field Day, 4-7 p.m., Abbe Hills Farm, Mount Vernon. This field day will include a tour of a passive solar greenhouse, gardens, fields and wetlands and discussion of the research and demonstration work going on at the farm. As part of an ongoing strategic investment, the Leopold Center provides major support for PFI's on-farm demonstration and field day program. On-farm contact: Laura Krouse, (319) 895-6924, laura@abbehills.com. For location, directions and more details, check the PFI web site or the 2009 PFI Field Day Guide, above in the "What's coming up?" section.

August 2

Grazing to Increase Biodiversity, 2009 Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Field Day, 1-5 p.m., (two parts to this field day), Maxwell.

Part One, 1-3 p.m., Chichaqua Bottoms Wildlife Area, Maxwell. Part one of this field day will take place at the research location of a project to increase biodiversity in two different ecosystems. This project is funded through the Leopold Center, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Polk County Conservation. Read the project description. On-farm contact: (515) 323-5364.

Part Two, 3:30- 5 p.m., Carney Family Farm, Maxwell. Discussion at part two of the field day will include rotational grazing and pasture condition scores. On-farm contact: Bruce and Connie Carney, (515) 387-8769.

As part of an ongoing strategic investment, the Leopold Center provides major support for PFI's on-farm demonstration and field day program. For location, directions and more details, to parts one and two of this field day, check the PFI web site or the 2009 PFI Field Day Guide, above in the "What's coming up?" section.

August 6

Horticulture Research Station, ISU field day, 8 a.m., Ames. Topics at this ISU field day will include horticulture research projects, including vegetable production; apple, grape and small fruit production; lawn and turf management; urban tree development; landscape design and installation; organic horticulture and farm pond and surface water management. There is a fee for this field day. Contact: Sally Medford, (515) 294-5045, smedford@iastate.edu. For more information on this field day and other ISU field days, see brochure. [PDF]

August 7

Carbon Credits, Narrow-Row How-to and Grain-fed Beef, 2009 Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Field Day, 2-5 p.m., Fratzen farm, New Hampton. A carbon sequestration program, narrow-row organic farming equipment and details of grain fed organic beef production will all be discussed at this field day. As part of an ongoing strategic investment, the Leopold Center provides major support for PFI's on-farm demonstration and field day program. This event is also sponsored by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program and Stonebridge Ltd. For location, directions and more details, check the PFI web site or the 2009 PFI Field Day Guide, above in the "What's coming up?" section.

August 8

Demonstration Garden Field Day, ISU field day, 4 p.m., Northeast farm, Nashua. Featuring vegetable varieties noted for maintaining their quality and preservation, including winter squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, beets and pickling cucumbers; also white pumpkins, unusual flowers and ornamental grasses. Contact: Sally Medford, (515) 294-5045, smedford@iastate.edu. For more information on this field day and other ISU field days, see brochure. [PDF]

August 10

Demonstration Garden Field Day, ISU field day, 6:30 p.m., McNay Research and Demonstration farm, Chariton. Featuring vegetable varieties noted for maintaining their quality and preservation, including winter squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, beets and pickling cucumbers; also white pumpkins, unusual flowers and ornamental grasses. Contact: Sally Medford, (515) 294-5045, smedford@iastate.edu. For more information on this field day and other ISU field days, see brochure. [PDF]

August 11

Demonstration Garden Field Day, ISU field day, 6:30 p.m., Armstrong Research and Demonstration farm, Lewis. Featuring vegetable varieties noted for maintaining their quality and preservation, including winter squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, beets and pickling cucumbers; also white pumpkins, unusual flowers and ornamental grasses. Contact: Sally Medford, (515) 294-5045, smedford@iastate.edu. For more information on this field day and other ISU field days, see brochure. [PDF]

August 12

Demonstration Garden Field Day, ISU field day, 6 p.m., Northwest Research and Demonstration farm, Sutherland. Featuring vegetable varieties noted for maintaining their quality and preservation, including winter squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, beets and pickling cucumbers; also white pumpkins, unusual flowers and ornamental grasses. Contact: Sally Medford, (515) 294-5045, smedford@iastate.edu. For more information on this field day and other ISU field days, see brochure. [PDF]

August 15

To Market, To Market: Grower Collaboration, 2009 Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Field Day, 3 p.m., Bloomin Wooley Acres, Nashua. Sweet bell pepper diseases, heirloom tomatoes, collaborative production, season extension and processing will all be discussed at this field day. As part of an ongoing strategic investment, the Leopold Center provides major support for PFI's on-farm demonstration and field day program. This event is also sponsored by Iowa State University On-Farm Research and Demonstration Program. On-farm contact: Loyd and Renee Johnson, (319) 240-5540, bloominwooleyacres@myclearwave.net. For farm location and more details, check the PFI web site or the 2009 PFI Field Day Guide, above in the "What's coming up?" section.

August 16

Southwest Iowa Food & Farming Initiative, 2009 Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Field Day, 4 p.m., Rolling Acres Farm, Atlantic. Discussion at this field day will include local and regional food systems, producing for a CSA and food systems education. As part of an ongoing strategic investment, the Leopold Center provides major support for PFI's on-farm demonstration and field day program. On-farm contact: Denise O'Brien and Larry Harris, (712) 249- 3197, hnob@metc.net. For farm location and more details, check the PFI web site or the 2009 PFI Field Day Guide, above in the "What's coming up?" section.

August 21

Completing the Cycle: Soil Health to Finished Animal, 2009 Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Field Day, 2 p.m., Greg and Kathy Koether's farm, McGregor. Discussion at this field day will include the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Carbon Monitoring, grazing and a discussion about soil fertility. In addition, there will be a pasture walk and a herding dog demonstration. As part of an ongoing strategic investment, the Leopold Center provides major support for PFI's on-farm demonstration and field day program. On-farm contact: Greg or Kathy Koether, (563) 873-3385 or Sarah Carlson, (PFI staff), (515) 441-3062. For farm location and more details, check the PFI web site or the 2009 PFI Field Day Guide, above in the "What's coming up?" section.

August 25

Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farm, ISU field day, 4 p.m., Greenfield. Topics at this field day will include aphid resistant soybeans and sustainable and organic crop production. This field day will also feature some research projects that were funded by the Leopold Center. Contact: Sally Medford, (515) 294-5045, smedford@iastate.edu. For more information on this field day and other ISU field days, see brochure. [PDF]

August 27

Carbon, Cover Crops & Aphid-Resistant Soybeans, Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Field Day, Rosmann Family Farms, 1- 4 p.m., Harlan. Topics of discussion at this field day will include planting cover crops in corn at cultivation, measuring soil carbon, Aphid-resistant soybean trial and organic swine and beef production. There will also be a presentation on Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan. As part of an ongoing strategic investment, the Leopold Center provides major support for PFI's on-farm demonstration and field day program. On-farm contact: Rosmanns, (712) 627-4653, ronrosmann@fmctc.com. For farm location and more details, check the PFI web site or the 2009 PFI Field Day Guide, above in the "What's coming up?" section.

August 29

Whiterock Conservancy Celebration, Coon Rapids. This event is a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Khrushchev, focusing on how agricultural innovation can help further international understanding. During the day there will be a farm machinery parade, a two-person play, music and a tour of Whiterock Conservancy. Contact: Rachel Garst, (712) 999-7031 or (712) 684-2697. See the schedule for more information or visit the web site, Creating Great Places.

August 29

Water, Cattle and Organic Transition, Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Field Day, 4 p.m., South English. Topics of discussion at this field day will include water quality and infiltration, water systems, cattle paddock system, organic and transitioning to organic production, crop rotation and a flown-on cover crop and converting cropland into pasture. As part of an ongoing strategic investment, the Leopold Center provides major support for PFI's on-farm demonstration and field day program. On-farm contact: Linda Grice, (319) 667-2350. For farm location and more details, check the PFI web site or the 2009 PFI Field Day Guide, above in the "What's coming up?" section.

October 27

2009 Pesek Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture, 8 p.m., Great Hall, ISU Memorial Union, Ames. Shahid  Naeem, professor and chair of Columbia University's Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology and a member of the university's Earth Institute, will present "The environmental significance of biodiversity in managed and unmanaged ecosystems: From China, to Sub-Saharan Africa, the Great Plains, and Iowa." The annual event is coordinated by the ISU Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture and co-sponsored by the Leopold Center. Contact: Marcia Minear, (515) 294-8654, mminear@iastate.edu.