Practical Farmers of Iowa
Practical Farmers of Iowa (also known as PFI or Practical Farmers) is a non-profit farmer organization supporting agricultural producers in Iowa, and around the central United States. PFI's mission is to advance profitable, ecologically sound, and community-enhancing approaches to agriculture through farmer-led investigation and information sharing.
 | |
| Founded | 1985 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Dick & Sharon Thompson |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Focus | Sustainable Agriculture |
| Location |
|
Area served | Iowa |
| Method | Research, Develop, Promote |
Revenue | US$ 3,986,000.00 (2021) [1] |
| Expenses | Program Services: US$ 3,230,000 (2020)[1] Support Activities: US$ 3,640,000 (2021)[1] |
| Website | practicalfarmers.org |
Practical Farmers of Iowa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. For fiscal year 2012, Practical Farmers had an operating budget of approximately $1.1 million.
History
Practical Farmers of Iowa was founded in 1985 by Richard Thompson, Larry Kallem, Rick Exner, and Rick Voland.
Programs
Practical Farmers of Iowa works with farmers to address sustainability and legacy issues and also supports research into applicable agricultural fields. [2]
Field Days: These are on-farm demonstrations where farmers can learn about sustainable farming practices from their peers.
Workshops: Workshops are hosted on topics such as soil health, livestock management, marketing, and farm finances.
Mentorship Program: This program matches experienced farmers with beginning farmers to provide one-on-one support and guidance.
Cooperators' Program: This program encourages farmers to conduct on-farm research to improve their operations and share their results with others.
Savings Incentive Program: This program provides matching funds to beginning farmers who are saving money to purchase their own farms.
Farm Beginnings: This program is a farmer-led training and support program for beginning farmers.
Policy Advocacy: Practical Farmers of Iowa advocates for policies that support sustainable agriculture, including conservation programs, local food systems, and beginning farmer programs.
Research: Practical Farmers of Iowa conducts and promotes research with local Universities. Since 2015 Practical Farmers of Iowa have been conducting research in collaboration with Iowa State University. In 2023 Iowa State University released a study conducted in collaboration with Practical Farmers of Iowa detailing the results of their "Small Grain Variety Trials." [3] In this study, their research analyzed and compared the growth and harvest yields of cash crops of small grains, specifically cereal rye and oats.[4]