News
Press Release- For Immedieate Release
Iowa Nut Growers Association, contact Jeff Jensen, 515-320-6756 jeff@jenagres.com
Hazelnut Academy Starts Oct. 2nd
Enrollment Open for Iowa Nut Growers Associaton Course
FENTON, Iowa (Sept. 22nd 2022) - The Iow Nut Growers Association, as part of their IA Hazelnut Project, is enrolling individuals for the Hazelnut Academy course that starts on Sunday, Oct. 2nd. This six-session course will take attendees through the entire process of understanding the opportunities and challenges of growing hazelnuts in the Midwest.
Topics include hazelnut basics, planning a planting, establishing seedlings, where to get plants, care and mainteneance, harvest and processing, as welll as marketing, record keeping, and food safety. For full details and schedule visit the Iowa Nut Growers website at https://iowanutgrowers.com
Instructor Jeff Jensen with the Iowa Nut Growers Association and lead contact for the IA Hazelnut Project, will educate and entertain attendees over the course of six sessions, each about an hour long.
"This is a great course for anyone interested in hazelnuts specifically, or agroforestry in general, because many of the lessons are applicable to other nut crops as well," said Jeff Jensen with the Iowa Nut Growers Association.
The course is offered online through Zoom so registration is required to receive the Zoom link to attend. All sessions will be in the evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Contact Jeff Jensen at jeff@jenagres.com or via phone at 515-320-6756. Register online at this link: https://forms.office.com/r/ByPTXZeXPP.
To view a .pdf of this press release, click here.
| Session 1 - Sunday, Oct 2nd | IA Hazelnut Project: the future of Iowa is nuts! | |
| Session 2 - Sunday, Oct 9th | Hazelnut Primer: the good, the bad, and the ugly | |
| Session 3 - Sunday, Oct 16th | Planning: the best laid plans of mice and men | |
| Session 4 - Wed, Oct 19th | Planting & Maintenance: caring for your investment | |
| Session 5 - Sunday, Oct 23rd | Harvesting & Processing: Basics | |
| Session 6 - Wed, Oct 26th | Marketing, record keeping, food safety | |
October 1st Southern Iowa Nut Tour
Hazelnuts, chestnuts and a sawmill to visit
Centerville, Iowa (Sept. 19th 2022) - October is National Nut Month and the Iowa Nut Growers Association is kicking things off with a Southern Iowa Nut Tour on Saturday, October 1st starting at 10:00am. We'll start our day at Indian Hills Community College learning about the IA Hazelnut Project and getting an update on the hazelnut test plots being established around the state. Jeff Jensen will have some of the processing equipment set up to husk, separate, sort, and crack nuts. We will also take a tour of the Indian Hills Nut Research Planting that boasts chestnuts, hickories, black walnut, persimmon, paw paw, pecans and more.
After lunch, we'll visit the farm of Virgil Knobloch who is establishing a chestnut planting this fall. Learn about the planning process Virgil went through before ever putting a plant in the ground. Site selection, site preparation, planting, maintenance and more will be discussed.
The day will wrap up at a local sawmill north of Bloomfield where Raymond Yutzy is processing logs from all over the Midwest, including some impressive black walnut logs. Don't miss your chance to see what a modern-day lumber mill looks like and how it operates.
This is a free event with lunch available at the Indian Hills Community College cafeteria. More information about Nation Nut Month, the Iowa Nut Growers Association, and othr great events available on the Iowa Nut Grower website at https://iowanutgrowers.com. The direct link to register is here https://forms.office.com/r/r3tnfesgtp
Starting Location: Indian Hills Community College, 721 N 1st St., Centerville IA 52544
Chestnut Locations: Virgil Knobloch, 13222 262nd St. Bloomfield IA 52537
Sawmill Location: R J Lumber, 19198-19196 160th St Bloomfield IA 52537
Questions? contact Jeff Jensen at jeff@jenagres.com or via phone at 515-320-6756. Or Mary Ellen Miller, INGA President, at rosehaen1760@gmail.com or via phone at 515.783.6390.
To view this press release in a .pdf, click here.
To view the flyer, click here.
North Iowa Field Day at Hazel Acres
Hazelnut test plot, gravel beds, and processing to be discussed
Fenton, Iowa (Sept. 22nd 2022) - Join the Iowa Nut Growers Association, Trees Forever, Healthy Harvest of North IA, and friends for a field day at Hazel Acres and Nut Haven near Fenton Iowa on Saturday, October 8th starting at 1:00 pm. Roger Jensen and Jeff Jensen will present on the various cultivars being tested at the hazelnut test plot and showcase growing plants in a gravel bed for huge root growth.
"The hazelnut test plot is one of several across Iowa testing out almost 30 different experimental cultivars to see what will work best for growers in North Iowa, eventually we'll be releasing some of these promising cultivars for commercial production," said Jeff Jensen with the Iowa Nut Growers Association.
Attendees will tour the Iowa Nut Growers Association Hazelnut Test Plot, see the gravel beds where seedlings are being grown to put on huge root mass, and experience hazelnut processing to remove the husk and get to clean in-shell nuts for sale.
The field day begins at 1:00 pm and is free to attend; registration is requested. Door prizes, hazelnut seedling giveaway, hazelnut treats and more will be on hand for a fun day of learning and fellowship. Want to experience picking hazelnuts? We'll hae a few shrubs that haven't been picked so you practice your picking skills. Register online at this link https://forms.office.com/r/f7vFdcsfjd or contact Jeff Jensen at jeff@jenagres.com or via phone at 515-320-6756.
Directions:
Test plot is 1/2 mile south of Nut Haven, 3404 20th Ave, Fenton IA 50539 or 3 miles north of Fenton IA at the intersection of Hwy 15 and 340thSt. - Look for the signs
Hazel Acres address:
3503 40th Ave
Fenton IA 50539
Questions? contact Jeff Jensen at jeff@jenagres.com or via phone at 515-320-6756. Or Mary Ellen Miller, INGA President, at rosehaen1760@gmail.com or via phone at 515.783.6390.
To view this press release in a .pdf, click here.
To view the flyer, click here.
Growing Hazelnuts in Central Iowa Field Day
Hazelnut production, processing, and water quality to be discussed
Earlham, Iowa (Sept. 21st 2022) - The Iowa Nut Growers Association will host a hazelnut field day at the Rich Taylor Farm near Earlham on Sunday, October 16th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Owner Rich Taylor will lead a tour of his mature hazelnut planting, one of the biggest in the state, and showcase how he husks the nut clusters to get in-shell nuts to sell or process for value added products.
"This will be a field day for new growers, experienced growers, or those looking to learn more about the opporunity to grow this perennial crop right here in Central Iowa. The Nut Growers will be talking about the IA Hazelnut Project and how others can get involved; we'll be processing some nuts, it is going to be a really fun day," said Rich Taylor, owner and operator of the farm.
The IA Hazelnut Project is an effort led by the Iowa Nut Growers Association and partners to commercialize hazelnuts in Iowa as a perennial crop for diversification, improved water quality, and enhanced rural vitality. The Nut Growers Association works with landowners to establish hazelnut test plots all over the state to evaluate promising hazelnut seedlings with improved genetics.
The field day begins at 1:00 pm and is free to attend; registration is requested. Door prizes, hazelnut seedling giveaway, hazelnut treats and more wil be on hand for a fun day of learning. Register online at this link https://forms.office.com/r/BF6Jz3r7xs or contact Jeff Jensen at jeff@jenagres.com or via phone at 515-320-6756
Rich Taylor Address:
19873 365thSt.
Earlham IA 50072
To view this press release in a .pdf, click here.
To view the flyer, click here.
Marion Iowa Hazelnut Field Day October 22nd
Celebrate National Nut Day with Iowa Nut Growers
Marion, Iowa (Sept. 23rd 2022) - October 22nd is National Nut Day and the Iowa Nut Growers Association (INGA) is celebrating with a hazelnut field day at the Dell Lawrence Hazelnut Test Plot near Marion Iowa starting at 5:00 pm. Let out your inner nut and join the INGA in raising a glass of hazelnut beer to all things nuts.
Iowa produces more than corn and soybeans, we also grow black walnut, hazelnut, hickories, chestnuts, pecans, butternuts, heartnuts, and more. The INGA hazelnut test plot contains more than 20 different experimental cultivars being tested for the region with a focus on eventual release to growers for commercial production. Promising plant material from Canada, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa will be showcased.
Jeff Jensen will present on agroforestry, water quality, and the IA Hazelnut Project. "Hazelnuts have huge potential as an agroforestry crop because of all the things you can do with them. They are an oilseed crop with the kernel being 50% oil and the oil is almost identical to olive oil, our healthiest cooking oil," said Jeff Jensen with the INGA.
The field day begins at 5:00 pm and is free to attend; registration is requested. Light refreshments provided along with roasted hazelnut samples while supplies last. Enjoy fellowship and tell storeis around the campfire with other growers and "nuts" from around the state.
Directions:
Test plot is 1/4 mile south of the intersection of Oxley Rd and Marion Airport Rd just outside of Marion Iowa. - Look for the signs.
Register onliine at this link https:/forms.office.com/r/nAXrQgAhKD or contact Jeff Jensen at jjensen@treesforever.org or via phone at 515-320-6756.
To view this press release in a .pdf, click here.
To view the flyer, click here.