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Tallgrass Prairie Center

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Prairie On Farms

Prairie on Farms

ESTABLISHING PRAIRIE TO IMPROVE LANDSCAPE SERVICES ON FARMLAND

 

The Prairie on Farms program aims to scale up the use of prairie as a reliable, durable, and multifunctional conservation practice on agricultural lands. We share our knowledge of prairie restoration and management techniques with farm operators, managers, landowners and technical service providers.

Luze Demonstration Site in Year 2
The Prairie on Farms program has three primary components:
 
Agricultural and environmental benefits of prairie:
  • Reduce erosion
  • Limit nutrient loss
  • Improve soil quality
  • Sequester carbon
  • Filter water and runoff
  • Add biological diversity
  • Suppress weeds
  • Aesthetic beauty
  • Provides wildlife habitat
 
Cost-share options:

Prairie Strips are now eligible for cost-share options through the USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) CP-43. Connect with your local USDA Service Center or NCRS Office for more information on the details of incorporating prairie strips on your farm. The CRP-43 has two targeted resource concerns:

  • Reduce soil erosion and improve water quality
  • Create diverse habitat for wildlife

 


 

If you would like to learn more about planting prairie on your farm, want to get involved in the Ag Conservation Working Group, or would like to receive demonstration field day updates contact Anne Phillips.


 
Funders and Collaborators:

Past and Current Funders:

University of Northern Iowa, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa Nutrient Research Center, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Economic Development Authority, The New York Community Trust, US Department of Agriculture North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, US Housing and Urban Development Disaster Resilience Grant to Iowa, Sitka Gear Ecosystem Grant.

Partners and Collaborators:

Iowa State University STRIPS, Iowa State University Borlaug Learning Center, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever, Monarch Joint Venture, Women Food and Agriculture Network, AmeriCorps Land and Water Stewards, Iowa State University Extension, The Xerces Society, The Sand County Foundation, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Hertz Farm Management, Peoples Company, and Iowa Watershed Approach