Rotationally Raised

Science can do more than develop new technology to improve crop productivity. It can also teach us lessons that can enable us to save money. By adding additional crops — and in some cases livestock — to their farming operations, many farmers across the state have been able to reduce the amount of purchased inputs they rely on. With decreased reliance on purchased inputs comes independence. For many PFI members, that ability to independently make decisions about their farms and lives is a big reason why they're farmers. Episode 2 of Rotationally Raised, "Freedom from Inputs," goes to the roots of Practical Farmers of Iowa – conducting on-farm research to reduce input costs and take better care of our land and communities.

Side-by-side comparisons were what got PFI started in the first place, back in the farm crisis of the 1980s. That tradition of strips trials, started by PFI co-founder Dick Thompson, has been carried on by Matt Liebman in his work at Iowa State University's Marsden Farm over the past 15 years. Back in 1998 when Matt arrived in Iowa, he saw crop and livestock diversity as the key to successful, sustainable farms — including Dick's farm — and set to work designing a long-term research study to quantify some of the benefits. Nearly two decades later, he and other colleagues have published numerous findings related to profitability, crop production, weed dynamics, soil health, water quality, disease suppression and more.

Practical Farmers of Iowa owes a big thanks to Matt Liebman of Iowa State University for this one. Not only for taking the time to be interviewed for this episode, but for the work he's done over the last couple decades for the members of PFI and for the state of Iowa as a whole. If you're interested in more of Matt's research, see his website or check one of his presentations at PFI events:

• 2016 Small Grains Short Course
• 2017 Annual Conference presentation
• 2018 Small Grains Conference Keynote

To learn more about small grains production in Iowa, check out Practical Farmers of Iowa's small grains page. There, you can find research reports, production manuals, articles, blogs, conference presentations and more.

You can watch the video version of this podcast on our Youtube channel!

Over the past few years, more and more farmers have been growing small grains again, and even more want to find ways to grow them on their farm. At Practical Farmers of Iowa, we've been trying to help with that process.

Starting with the first episode "Small Grains: A Revival" – you can learn more about small grains, from the benefits of adding diversity to your crop rotations to growing, harvesting and marketing the crops.

Like everything else we do, this series is farmer-led. The podcast is a result of extensive interviews with PFI farmers – young and old, organic and conventional, and from every corner of the state. We also talked with a couple scientists at Iowa State who are avid PFI supporters and focus their careers on diversified rotations and small grains research.

At the same time, we know that there are two big barriers to adding a third crop like small grains to corn and soybean rotations: markets and knowledge about growing the crops. Our members have hosted field days, led workshops and conference sessions, and presented at farminars. Our staff has been working with Sustainable Food Lab, an association of food and beverage retailers, to work with companies up and down the feed, food, and beverage supply chains to come up with creative ways to grow small grains markets in the state. If you want to learn more about this initiative to get more small grains in the corn belt or you're interested in taking part in a pilot project by growing small grains for the first time on your farm, contact Sarah Carlson – [email protected].

I personally want to thank all the PFI families who opened their farms (and offices) up to a video camera during this project. First and foremost, I want to thank John and Beverly and John C., Sarah, and Isabel Gilbert. Especially John. He let me spend a couple days at their farm figuring out how we'd tell this story, and was patient while I moved him around, shoved microphones in his face and shone bright lights in his eyes (oh, and that was right in the middle of corn and soybean harvest).

Here are some of the members who offered their time, in no particular order:

Dan and all the Wilsons at 7W Farm

Paul Mugge

Paul Ackley

Darren Fehr

Mark Tjelmeland

Craig Fleishman

Wade Dooley

Jon Bakehouse

Earl Canfield

Wendy Johnson

Nathan Anderson

Tim Sieren

Aaron Heley Lehman

Jeff Olson

Ron Rosmann

Vic Madsen

Earl Hafner

Matt Liebman (Iowa State)

David Weisberger (Iowa State)

And Matt Woods (check him out, he's an awesome musician) for the music that he recorded at Alexander Recording Kompany (ARK) in Ames (thanks to Dennis Haislip at ARK for producing the music).

And finally, thanks to Freya Yu an intern from the University of Iowa who helped on this project!

To learn more about small grains production in Iowa, check out Practical Farmers of Iowa's small grains page. There, you can find research reports, production manuals, articles, blogs, conference presentations and more.

You can watch the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel.