Practical Farmers of Iowa
Practical Farmers of Iowa (also known as PFI or Practical Farmers) is a non-profit farmer-led organization with over 6,000 members from Iowa and beyond. PFI’s mission is to equip farmers to build resilient farms and communities. PFI is an inclusive organization representing a diversity of farmers. Farmers in their network raise corn and soybeans, hay, livestock large and small, horticultural crops from fruits and vegetables to cut flowers and herbs, and more. Members have conventional and organic systems; employ diverse management practices; run operations of all sizes; and come from a range of backgrounds. These farmers come together, however, because they believe in nature as the model for agriculture and are committed to moving their operations toward sustainability.
| Formation | 1985 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Dick & Sharon Thompson, Larry Kallem |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Focus | Sustainable Agriculture |
| Location |
|
Area served | Iowa |
| Method | Research, Develop, Promote |
| Website | https://practicalfarmers.org/ |
Mission
Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
Vision
An Iowa with healthy soil, healthy food, clean air, clean water, resilient farms and vibrant communities.
Values
- Welcoming everyone
- Farmers leading the exchange of experience and knowledge
- Curiosity, creativity, collaboration and community
- Resilient farms now and for future generations
- Stewardship of land and resources
History
Practical Farmers of Iowa was founded in 1985, a time when farmers were under great economic pressure. During that time, Iowa agriculture was in a threefold crisis: Evidence of the negative ecological consequences of current farming practices was mounting; the collapse of commodity prices called into question the economic sustainability of agriculture; and the demise of thousands of farms was draining the vitality of rural communities. Amid the turmoil of that time period, farmers sought ways to bring greater diversity to their farms as a means of reducing the need for costly inputs. A group of like-minded farmers came together looking for answers to how to make crop and livestock diversity work for them.
It was during this time that Larry Kallem, a staff member with the Iowa Institute for Cooperatives in Ames, attended a field day at the Boone-area farm of Dick and Sharon Thompson. Impressed by the scientific methods the Thompson used to conduct research trials on their farm – and their sustainable, low-input, practical approach to farming – Larry invited Dick, Sharon and two other speakers to present at an Iowa Institute workshop on low-input farming in the autumn of 1984.
Following the workshop, Larry asked Dick if he would agree to help start an organization to make Dick and Sharon’s methods, philosophy and results more widely known to farmers. Dick was speaking the next day at a biological farming workshop at Iowa State University and said he would ask the audience members if they would be interested in such an organization. The response was a resounding “yes.” Thus, Dick, Sharon and Larry worked together to co-found the fledgling organization.
Founding members rallied farmers across Iowa to conduct randomized, replicated on-farm research to improve their profitability, efficiency and stewardship – sustainable agriculture goals that infuse our work and are at the heart of Practical Farmers’ mission to strengthen farms and communities through farmer-led investigation and information-sharing.
Early work focused on field crops and livestock. While these remain our two most popular program areas, farmer members’ interests have expanded to include horticulture, small grains, on-farm energy and local foods. In recent years, Practical Farmers has experienced rapid growth. Today, PFI's membership comprises over 6,000 farmers and friends of farmers located across Iowa and beyond.
Board of Directors
Practical Farmers of Iowa is governed by a 12-person board of directors. To ensure a focus on members’ priorities, 10 of the 12 board members must be farmers. One farmer director is elected from each of our five Iowa districts. Additionally, five farmers and two non-farmers are elected from the membership at-large. Board members serve in many capacities, from ensuring fiscal soundness and effective programs to providing leadership, advice and direction to staff and volunteers.