Now that harvest is over and the fields are covered with a blanket of winter snow, it’s the perfect time to brush up on skills, explore new techniques and focus on farm financial management.

Practical Farmers of Iowa has developed a free winter online seminar series in an effort to help farmers learn from each other without having to travel.  These “farminars” will cover livestock, vegetable and row crop production and will be presented live each Tuesday starting January 8 through February 26 from 7:00 to 8:30 P.M.  There is also a special lunchtime farminar scheduled for Thursday, January 24 from 12 Noon to 1:30 P.M. dealing with specialty crop insurance.

Panora farmers, Earl and Jeff Hafner will be featured January 22 during a “Cover Crop Basics for Corn and Soybean” segment.  Earl organically farms about 2,000 acres near Panora with his son Jeff.  They use cover crops extensively in their operation.  The Hafners use tillage to kill the cover crops in the spring and also grow small grains in organic rotation.

The series is open to the public and any computer with an Internet connection may be used to participate.  To participate in any of these seminars, go to www.practicalfarmers.org/farminar.