Field Days & Events
Wetland and Prairie Field Day
Thursday, June 12 | 10:30am - 12:30pmHaverhill, Iowa
This field day will explore the wetland system developed on the property and aims to assist farmers and landowners with establishing and maintaining perennial vegetation. The field day will begin with landowner Tony Brink highlighting the work he has done since purchasing the property in 1990 to increase wildlife habitat through the creation of wetlands and prairie. Kay Stefanik, Iowa Nutrient Research Center Assistant Director, will discuss the benefits of wetlands on the landscape and Kevin Andersen, Iowa DNR State Private Lands Biologist, will share best management practices for establishing and maintaining prairie. Doug Roupp, Marshall NRCS District Conservationist, will share updates on cost share programs for implementing wetlands and prairie on the land. Emily Herring, Director of Marshall County Conservation Board, will be available after lunch for prairie plant identification.
For more information, or to RSVP, click here.
From Field Crops to Organic Cherries: Farming for Soil Health and Diversity
Saturday, June 14 | 1:00pm-3:00pmKeota, Iowa
Discover how one Iowa farm is blending tradition and innovation to prioritize soil health and biodiversity. Visitors will tour fields where conventional soybeans grow in a roller-crimped rye system – an approach that minimizes soil disturbance while improving resilience. Just steps away, a certified organic tart cherry orchard showcases the farm’s use of Johnson-Su compost extract, a microbial-rich input used to build soil life naturally. The field day will also feature hands-on demonstrations of tools used for organic weed control and conversations about transitioning to organic practices.
For more information, or to RSVP, click here.
Stewarding Soil Through Relay Cropping Small Grains and Soybeans
Tuesday, June 17 | 10:00am-12:00pmLeon, Iowa
Explore how Laban and Lori Miller are using innovative practices and boost productivity on their southern Iowa farm. By relay cropping small grains like rye and wheat with soybeans, the Millers are improving soil retention and nutrient cycling on their rolling fields. They also integrate livestock into the system—stock cropping with pigs and chickens and grazing cover crops and marginal acres—to build fertility and reduce erosion. With support from PFI’s Cooperators’ Program, they’ve conducted on-farm research to tract their progress and refine their methods. This field day offers a practical look at how diverse crop and livestock systems can work together to support long-term soil health.
For more information, or to RSVP, click here.
Time Management and Nitrogen Reduction for Cover Crop Success
Wednesday, June 18 | 4:00pm-6:00pmWalnut, Iowa
Discover how Grant and Aubrey Stuart are making cover crops work across their 1,400-acre farm through smart time management, strategic nitrogen reduction, and effective use of technology. By partnering with agronomic and biological product experts, they’ve been able to reduce fertilizer inputs while maintaining strong yields. At this field day, you’ll see how the Stuarts fine-tune their planter set-up, manage spring fieldwork efficiently, and use data to guide decisions. You’ll also get a firsthand look at planting into cover crops and how they track emergence and stand success.
For more information, or to RSVP, click here.
Cover Crops, Carbon and Conservation: Balancing Farm Productivity with Soil Health Practices
Thursday, June 19 | 5:00pm-7:00pmSperry, Iowa
Join Michael Fosdick to explore how conservation practices like cover crops, no-till, and strip-till can support both productivity and long-term soil health. Farming 470 acres while working as an agronomist, Michael brings practical, research-informed perspective to adopting and managing cover crops. At this field day, he’ll share insights from on-farm trials, including efforts to reduce nitrogen rates without sacrificing yield. Attendees will also learn about carbon programs, see key equipment in action, and gain real-world tips for balancing agronomic goals with conservation values.
For more information, or to RSVP, click here.
Mindful Change for a Row Crop Farm: Cover Cropping, Crimping and Composting
Saturday, June 21 | 10:30 am-12:30pmDunnell, Minnesota
Join Bailey and Mike Hobbs at Sunsprout Farm to learn how they’re blending row crops with regenerative practices and diversified enterprises. They’ll share how they manage perennial cover crops using a roller-crimper, produce compost through multiple methods, and monitor soil health under the microscope. With pastured pigs, microgreens, and garlic now part of the operation, the Hobbs family is working toward reducing chemical use while maintaining healthy soils and productive fields.
For more information, or to RSVP, click here.
Pollinator Field Day
Tuesday, June 24 | 10:30am - 12:30pmKellogg, Iowa
This field day aims to assist farmers and landowners with establishing and maintaining perennial vegetation, including trees and shrubs. The field day will begin with Emily Klein, CERA Manager and Center for Prairie Studies Outreach Coordinator, and Jacob Hill, CERA Horticulturalist, highlighting the background of the area and ongoing experimental and demonstration sites across the nearly 365-acre field station. Jason Gritsch, Iowa DNR Private Lands Biologist, will discuss cost share opportunities for pollinator habitat establishment and maintenance. Weather permitting, the field day will continue with Kevin Andersen, Iowa DNR State Private Lands Biologist, touring the oak savanna, prairie and experimental burn timing plots.
For more information, or to RSVP, click here.
Covering All Enterprises: Cover Crops for Corn, Soy and Pumpkins
Tuesday, June 24 | 9:00am-11:00amBoone, Iowa
Join Jeremy Gustafson on his farm near Boone to see how cover crops are integrated across corn, soybeans, and pumpkins. A longtime PFI member, Jeremy will demonstrate how he adapts his planter setup for effective cover crop use and share the benefits he’s seen in soil health and erosion control. You’ll also learn about diverse cover crop mixes and his experience running a cover crop seed business. The morning kicks off with doughnuts and wraps up with cake in celebration of PFI’s 40th anniversary.
For more information, or to RSVP, click here.
Innovation to Profit Summer Field Day – Turkey River Watershed
Tuesday, June 24 | 9:30am-2:00pmFort Atkinson, Iowa
Explore how conservation can boost both productivity and profitability at the Innovation to Profit Summer Field Day. This walking tour will highlight practical uses for unproductive acres—like pollinator strips, wetlands, and windbreaks—along with insights on cover crop management, relay cropping with cereal rye, and current crop conditions. Lunch and a policy update are included, with an optional woodchip bioreactor tour to follow.
For more information, or to RSVP, click here.
From Field to Wetland: Protecting Soil, Water and Wildlife
Thursday, June 26 | 12:00pm-3:00pmHolland, Iowa
Join Fred and Vicki Abels on their Grundy County farm to see how conservation practices can protect soil, water, and wildlife while supporting crop production. Since taking over the farm in the 1970s, Fred has implemented no-till, strip-till, and cover crops—and in 2020, he added a 5-acre wetland to filter runoff and create wildlife habitat. At this field day, you’ll learn how the Abels planned and established their wetland, and hear from conservation experts Shane Wulf and Mary Beth Stevenson about the broader benefits of on-farm wetlands.
For more information, or to RSVP, click here.
Farm Synergy: Partnering to Diversify Rotations, Build Resilience and Improve Efficiency
Thursday, June 26 | 4:00pm-6:00pmLinn Grove, Iowa
Join Nick Sennert, Jessob Steffen, and Niel Krummen to learn how collaboration and regenerative practices are helping them farm more efficiently and sustainably. Through each manages his own operation, these longtime friends now share equipment, labor, and ideas to diversify rotations, reduce inputs, and improve soil health. At this field day, you’ll explore their use of cover crops, livestock integration and extended rotations with crops like oats and buckwheat. You’ll also see how co-owning equipment and starting a cover crop business have helped boost both resilience and profitability across their farms.
For more information, or to RSVP, click here.