Growing the Ag Environment

Ryan and Lana Reed of Wapello County spent an almost-spring-like March day tending to the windbreak near two of their hog barns. Planted in 2010, the fast-growing austree hybrid willow trees, common in new windbreaks for providing cover until other trees grow to maturity, were nearing the end of their life. “We don’t need them...

Ames Landscaper Joins Green Farmstead Partner Program

West Des Moines, Iowa – April 4, 2023 — Landscape Legends of Ames has been designated a participating landscape professional in the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers’ (CSIF) Green Farmstead Partner Program. The Green Farmstead Partner program provides information and resources to farmers wanting to plant trees and shrubs around new and existing cattle feedlots,...

Derecho Brings Opportunity for Story County Family

Brian Sampson of Story County is an optimist. “I like to be around people who think most things are possible,” says Sampson. When the derecho rolled through his farm last year, he did not see it as an ending. He saw it as a new beginning. “I guess you could say it was the crescendo...

Farmer Finds New Passion in Trees

Rembrandt farmer works with CSIF to grow his tree dreams Trent Hatlen grew up with hogs. His parents raised them. He raised them. Then, in 2010, with a weak swine market and aging facilities, he reluctantly decided to get out of the hog business. He kept farming corn and beans, worked sheep with a cousin,...

Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers on State of Soy

Farmers tap CSIF program for tree replacement after derecho

On August 10 of last year, Mark Flamme and his son stood in their machine shed doorway and watched a massive storm, known as a derecho, flatten nearly everything in sight. As trees from the grove went flying by, they pondered making a run for the safety of the nearby house basement. There was a...

Iowa City landscaper joins Green Farmstead Partner Program

West Des Moines, Iowa – March 16, 2021 — Sustainable Landscape Solutions (SLS) of Iowa City has been designated a participating landscape professional in the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers’ (CSIF) Green Farmstead Partner Program. The Green Farmstead Partner program provides information and resources to farmers wanting to plant trees and shrubs around new and existing...

Solon landscaper joins Green Farmstead Partner program

Ben Harrison of Solon has been designated a participating landscape professional in the Green Farmstead Partner Program. Harrison, an Iowa native, owns and operates EcoScapes IA, a company focused on providing quality service in the areas of trees, ecology and landscaping. The Green Farmstead Partner Program provides information and resources to farmers wanting to plant...

Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers offers windbreak assistance to livestock farmers impacted by the derecho

CONTACT: Brian Waddingham, Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers 800.932.2436, bwaddingham@supportfarmers.com WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – August 28, 2020 – The derecho that tore across the U.S. Midwest on Monday, August 10, caused widespread property damage with its hurricane-force winds. The storm left its mark on cities, rural towns and on farms across much of Iowa. It...

CSIF In-Depth: Green Farmstead Partner Program

The Green Farmstead Partner program was created in 2009 to bridge the gap between farm families who want to plant trees + the nursery professionals who have expertise in tree plantings on farms + in rural areas. It’s offered by the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers with the help of Trees Forever + the Iowa...