McLean farmer to showcase regenerative farming practices

McLEAN – A McLean family will be showcasing regenerative farming practices as part of a Practical Famers of Iowa Field Day event.

Junior, Katelyn, Gene and Julie Pfanstiel will be hosting the event at their McLean farm from 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, June 27.

The Pfanstiel family raises corn, soybeans, small grains, grain sorghum, buckwheat, forage peas and pinto beans on 270 acres they are transitioning to a regenerative organic system.

Junior Pfanstiel started the transition to regenerative farming when nitrogen costs spiked at more than a dollar per pound. It was at that time he decided to grow his own nitrogen by planting legume cover crops.

The free program, “Farming Outside the Box: A Fresh Approach to Diversification on a Nebraska Farm,” will take place on the Pfanstiel farm located near 868 Road and 550 Avenue in rural McLean. Attendees can RSVP by visiting https://practicalfarmers. org/events/field-days/2024-fielddays/ farming-outside-the-box/ or by calling 515-232-5661.

Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) 2024 Field Day season includes 59 farmer-led events across Iowa and surrounding states from June through November. All events are led by PFI farmer members who believe in sharing their knowledge, discoveries, mistakes and successes so others can learn and grow their own operations.

“What makes PFI field days special is the open, honest conversation,” says Liz Kolbe, PFI’s farmerled education director. “Hosts are transparent and share what’s working and what’s not. Attendees also get to see practices in action, which sparks new ideas to bring back to their own farms.”

Field day topics span the agricultural spectrum and showcase farmers with operations of all sizes and production practices. This year, events explore conventional and organic field crops, cover crops and small grains; livestock systems of differing scales and species; vegetable production, flowers and orcharding; collaborative farming; efforts to add habitat and conservation practices; land access and more.

Practical Farmers has planned a record 12 out-of-state events.

In addition to Iowa, field days this year will take place in Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

“We’re excited to have so many out-of-state events this year,” Liz says. “We’re able to bring more farmers together than ever, connect them to PFI’s broader network and spread the spirit of curiosity and learning.”

PFI field days are free for anyone to attend.