Producers who are raising small ruminants can gain valuable insights and practical knowledge by participating in the 2025 Small Ruminant Webinar Series. This educational series takes place on the fourth Thursday of each month through April and features expert speakers from the field.
Many small food processing businesses start in their operators’ home-based kitchens. For those wishing to expand beyond their home, the next step may be to utilize a shared-use kitchen facility. Small food processing businesses can learn about shared-use kitchens during an upcoming workshop at Iowa State University.
Iowa Learning Farms will host a series of monarch and pollinator habitat workshops in February and March. Farmers, landowners and urban residents are welcome to attend these free workshops that include a complimentary meal.
Registration is open for the 2025 Iowa Specialty Producers Conference, Feb. 11-12, at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. Session topics include viticulture, enology, fruits, vegetables, specialty crops and business and marketing.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds specialty crop producers to apply for assistance for marketing and food safety certification expenses. Specifically, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is providing an additional $650 million in funding for the new Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program and extending the MASC application deadline to Friday, Jan. 10, 2025.
The 2025 Farm Transitions Conference will be held Feb. 6-7, 2025, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. The conference is hosted by the Beginning Farmer Center at Iowa State University.
The Iowa Tourism Office and Choose Iowa have partnered with the Iowa Restaurant Association to launch a seasonal farm-to-table dinner series, celebrating the connection between Iowa’s agricultural diversity and its culinary talent.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is encouraging Iowans to celebrate Iowa Local Food Day on Wednesday, September 25. Initiated in 2018 by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Local Food Day is held annually on the fourth Wednesday in September.
Small farms and food entrepreneurs can apply for grants from the United States Department of Agriculture to help reimburse costs related to growth and expansion.
Iowans can learn more about the dairy industry and experience modern dairy farming methods as the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach dairy team celebrates National Dairy Month in June.
