Activities
Coaching
Conversations in Farming for Landowners - Do you sometimes just want to talk about farming with another landowner? I offer conversation time per hour to help you navigate getting conservation happening, whether understanding the techniques or results or thinking through conversation strategies. This is not professional consulting for how you should manage your farm. If you need a lawyer, agronomist or certified farm manager, please choose those resources for advice! Extension Services in every state offer free or affordable help for legal, farm transitioning, and agronomic help.
I have experience with cash rent farming, working with a tenant, cover crops and strip till, and have listened to the stories of more than 3500 women landowners across many states for more than 14 years. I have worked in conservation for 44 years and on projects as diverse as forestry, prescribed fire in wildlands, urban-wildland interface for fire prevention, invasive species control, all things prairie, soil and water conservation and I know the coolest wildlife folks ever!
I can help you learn terms and acronyms, understand how conservation practices work, and help you untangle some of the government agencies, or figure out what to ask the consultants listed above. I can offer a judgment-free, confidential conversation about farming, be a sounding board, or a conversation partner interested in all things conservation to protect the land.
Reach out by email jean@eresourcesgroup.com to set up a time to talk, or a free 10-minute conversation before you commit.
I will be launching working groups of landowners who are ready to start taking steps forward towards goals that are right for them and their land. One working group will be exploring how landowners can invest in newer soil testing technology to help with better conversations with their farmers. Another working group will be focused on more diverse goals for water, wildlife, erosion control, crop rotations guided by participant needs and interests. If you are interested in receiving notices about these working groups, please send an email to jean@eresourcesgroup.com
Working Groups
Protecting Your Land Working Group – Grow with a small group of women taking action to address soil erosion and water quality, add cover crops and change tillage, add perennials for pollinators and wildlife, implement new technology soil testing, and more. This facilitated series will support you in changing your land to be productive in an uncertain climate future and leave a healthy land legacy. Appropriate for women who rent their land and have some beginning steps in mind.
Next Level Soil Testing Working Group – The world of soil testing is not just for farmers, and you can initiate soil testing yourself, get help interpreting results and set goals with and for your farmer. Join a small group of women exploring the next generation of soil tests that measure microbial activity and diversity and transforming the conversations with their farmers. This facilitated series is appropriate for women starting from scratch or who are already on a path towards soil health.
Past Workshop Topics
Hunters and Your Land
Landownership and hunting rights are confusing. With the help of guest speaker, we sorted out some of the myths for land in Iowa. Our conversation included conservation in written leases, posting land, and more. This session was open for women and men – think siblings and spouses co-managing land!
Habitat Management for Mysterious Wildlife
Have you ever wondered how you can manage your land to welcome wildlife other than deer or pheasants? It’s fun to manage for amphibians, bats, reptiles, and small mammals you might not know you have – an Antiques Roadshow-type of moment! A wildlife biologist shared specific habitat management techniques that can be used to manage wildlife that’s behind the scenes and a sign your land is above average! This session was open for women and men – think siblings and spouses co-managing land!
Land Transition for Women: sales, gifting, inheritance, taxes, family
Passing land forward to the future has a lot of moving parts and figuring out where to begin and how to move forward can be really confusing. There are so many tax considerations, business decisions, and family concerns that it can often be difficult to know where to start. Get some direction from a tax professional and an International Farm Transition Network (IFTN) Coordinator who has years of experience with Estates and Trusts. Questions asked by attendees shaped the discussion. This session was oOpen for women and men – think siblings and spouses co-managing land!
Understanding Soil Testing for Landowners
Most soil testing hasn’t changed in 60 years, but there’s a newer, widely available test – the Haney Test - to see if your soil is as good as it can be. An agronomist highlighted aspects of the Haney Test looking at real data. I talk to a lot of landowners who don’t know how degraded their soil has become after 40 years of row cropping. This is doable, and understandable even if you aren’t the farmer. This session was open for women and men – think siblings and spouses co-managing land!
