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Farmers explore vegetable opportunities

Farmers are learning about adding vegetables to their row crop operations. 

Steve Rachut grows onions, potatoes, corn, and soybeans near Fertile, where he hosted a Practical Farmers of Iowa field day Wednesday. He says there’s interest in vegetable production.

“And trying to figure out if there’s a way to try and grow more vegetables and produce in the state of Iowa, and maybe get some ideas on what they can do on their farms. So we’re just here to talk to them about what we do and hopefully everybody can learn something.”

He tells Brownfield farmers are responding to consumer interest in where their food comes from.

“There’s been like a real push to have locally grown, (consumers) want to know their farmer.”

Rachut says growing vegetables can be a challenge, but finding a market is often more difficult.

“Getting them interested in buying your product, showcasing what we have available, emphasizing that we’re locally grown (and) we have high quality, and just building that relationship.”