Here are three upcoming events for women landowners to learn about resources available dealing with conservation practices and one event for women landowners and beginning farmers to discuss farmstead transition options.  Please see below for details:

Boone County

Women who own or manage farmland in Boone and neighboring counties are invited to participate in a free conservation discussion and field tour on Thursday, April 14, from 8:30 – 3:30 p.m. at the Iowa Arboretum near Madrid. The program is called Women Caring for the Land.

Women own or co-own 47% of Iowa’s farmland, and often express strong conservation values in meetings and surveys. However, many are unsure of exactly how to reach their conservation goals and what resources are available to help them. Women Caring for the Land offers a peer-to-peer, informal discussion format to allow women landowners to talk about their individual land stewardship goals, facilitated by women conservation experts who can share resources available such as USDA cost-share programs, state loans, and other tools.

All interested women are welcome, including owners, operators and inheritors of farmland, regardless of their degree of knowledge about conservation. A free lunch will be provided. In order for us to get an accurate meal count, please RSVP by Wednesday, April 13, by calling Lynn Heuss at 515-201-9405 or emailing her at lheuss@gmail.com.

Van Buren, Davis, Jefferson and neighboring counties

Women who own or manage farmland in Van Buren, Davis, Jefferson and neighboring counties are invited to participate in a free conservation discussion and field tour on Friday, April 29, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Livery Barn, Davis County Historical Complex, 201 S. Dodge St. in Bloomfield (morning) and at the Township Hall, 601 W. North St. in Cantril (afternoon). The program is called Women Caring for the Land and is facilitated by women conservation experts from NRCS, FSA, DNR, and Pathfinders RC&D who can share resources available such as USDA cost-share programs, state loans, and other tools.

All interested women are welcome, including owners, operators and inheritors of farmland, regardless of their degree of knowledge about conservation. A free lunch will be provided. In order for us to get an accurate meal count, please RSVP by Monday, April 25, by calling Lynn Heuss at 515-201-9405 or emailing her at lheuss@gmail.com.

Cherokee

Women who own or manage farmland in Cherokee and neighboring counties are invited to participate in a free conservation discussion and field tour on Thursday, May 12 from 8:30 – 3:30 p.m. at the Cherokee County Conservation Board Headquarters located on the southwest edge of Cherokee on the River Road. The program is called Women Caring for the Land.

Women who own or manage farmland in Carroll and neighboring counties, and new or beginning farmers interested in finding land to farm, are invited to participate in a FREE information discussion on Wednesday, April 27, at St. John Lutheran Church in Carroll, IA.

This gathering will be an informal discussion designed to allow women landowners the opportunity to talk about what they are looking for in a tenant.  It will also be a chance for new and beginning farmers to share their goals and plans with the people who could be their future landlady, or who will have the same values and ideas that their future landlady will hold.  This talk will be facilitated by female experts who can share resources available such as creative conservation-oriented farm leases and other tools.

All interested women are welcome, including owners, operators and inheritors of farmland, and new and beginning farmers, regardless of their degree of knowledge. A free lunch will be provided. In order for us to get an accurate meal count, please RSVP by Friday, April 22, by calling Lynn Heuss at 515-201-9405 or emailing her at lheuss@gmail.com.

Please click this link to learn about Listening Sessions with Bill Menner, the USDA Rural Development Director. The information is in the April 4 news release at the top right side of the page.  And please check back each month to see where Bill will be going next. He plans to visit the entire state, so if he hasn’t been nearby yet – he will be.  Take advantage of this opportunity to share your thoughts and listen to what Bill has to say.

NFU Beginning Farmer Institute

Calling all new farmers for a free program in DC! NFU’s focus for this national program is to develop and encourage agriculture leaders from all backgrounds. Our new nationally focused program provides an opportunity for beginning farmers to acquire leadership and farm management skills. It concentrates on building confidence in beginning farmers and farm couples, and additionally encourages them to learn, and apply leadership abilities to become actively involved in community organizations. Farmers Union employs educational sessions, business tools and professional speakers in a structured setting, yet avoids the simple “classroom” workshop feel to achieve this goal. Our training includes on-farm experiences and tours of cooperatives. Applications are being accepted March 31- April 30. Click here to view the application form.

There is a one-time $25 registration fee per accepted applicant. NFU will cover the remaining costs of the NFU Beginning Farmer Institute including travel, lodging, and meals during the event.

FARM CAMP from the Iowa Farmers Union

Discover the small wonders and big taste of a farm this summer!

$175 per child

$140 with IFU membership ($25/year)

In June, children will explore the ecosystems of a farm – from lettuce plants and apple trees to worms and honeybees. This camp will be taught by experienced and creative educators.  After and before camp child care will be available upon request. Youth entering grades 3 through 6 in the fall are encouraged to sign up for this hands-on day camp. Application is due May 20, 2011.

The April/May 2011 Grassroots Newsletter is here! You will find great articles about the Legislative Supper, on-farm renewable energy projects, and hear updates from young farmers.  Enjoy by following this link.

Many new and old members of the Iowa Farmers Union gathered on a Sunday afternoon for a wine tasting, legislative updates, and a meal.  The IFU Booster Club Annual Legislative Supper was held at  White Oak Vineyards in Cambridge.  The supper is held each year to provide legislative updates to members and to raise money for IFU’s work at the capitol.  Our featured speaker was Dr. Francis Thicke, who spoke about the need for independent family farms to produce their own energy, and to sell into local markets.

Thicke advocated for “Teddy Roosevelt-style trust busting of monopolized markets to restore profitability to agriculture.  And, we should work to expand local food production and on-farm energy production to keep more profits in the pockets of family farmers.”

IFU President Chris Petersen and policy advocate Kent Hartwig talked to the group about upcoming legislation.  One bill that IFU helped to get started and will continue to support is the Iowa Local Food and Farm Plan.

The Local Food and Farm Plan includes recommendations to the legislature to create an Iowa Local Food and Farm Coordinator, increase access to loans for local food businesses, provide more food processing education, and provide training to beginning and minority farmers.

A deep thank you to our sponsors – Marvin Shirley, Cornelia & Jan Flora, Kermit Miskell, Donna & Russell Winburn, John & Beverly Gilbert, Mary & John Krier, Dale Cochran, and Aaron & Nicole Heley-Lehman – who helped make the event happen.

With the help of donations for the dinner from sponsors, attendees, and others we were able to raise money for our legislative work. Thank you for your help in making sure that the IFU continues to represent family farms at the capitol.

Join us on Sunday, February 27th for a great meal and legislative updates from the Iowa Farmers Union lobbyists. At the Legislative Supper our featured speaker will be Dr. Francis Thicke, who ran for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in 2010. This event is a fundraiser for the IFU’s work at the capitol, please support us!

Tickets are $30 per person; RSVP by February 22nd to sue@iowafarmersunion.org

WHEN: Sunday, February 27th,

Do you appreciate farmers and ranchers? Show them love this February with a call.

This Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday call the White House to show support for the Fair Livestock Competition rule (also called GIPSA) to help independent farmers and ranchers get a fair share.

If we don’t show our support, processors and packers will win and take more than their share. Call 202-456-1111 to tell the White House to let the USDA complete the GIPSA proposed rule now.

This following announcement comes from State Republicans: “House and Senate Republicans are initiating a listening tour to identify burdensome and anti-business rules and regulations. Beginning this weekend, legislators are traveling the state to hear from Iowans who can identify rules and regulations for elimination that will make Iowa more pro-business. The hearings are scheduled for the following locations and times below.”

Iowa Farmers Union applauds all legislators who make themselves available for public comment.  We feel it is extremely important that our members attend these listening sessions in order to speak out in support of small and medium size family farmers so that their rights aren’t diminished at the expense of “pro-business” corporate agriculture entities.

If you attend, please write and let us know how legislators responded to your requests.  info@iowafarmersunion.org

Saturday, February 12

9:30-11:30 AM, Ames Public Library, Ames
1-3 PM, Newton Manufacturing, 1123 1st Ave East, Newton
4-6 PM, Interpower, 100 Interpower Ave, Oskaloosa

Friday, February 25
10:30 – 12:30 AM, Morningside College, Sioux City
3-5 PM, Council Bluffs Public Library, Council Bluffs

Saturday, February 26, 2011
9-11 AM, CS Bank, 111 North Elm Street, Cresco
1-3 PM, Hurst Center for the Arts, Cedar Falls
5-7 PM, Best Western Conference Center, 3100 Dodge Street, Highway 20 West, Dubuque

Saturday, March 12, 2011
9-11 AM, CRST International, 1332 Edgewood Road SW, Cedar Rapids
3-5 PM, Comfort Suites, 1780 Stonegate Center Drive, Burlington