Growing and Harvesting Seed

As previously mentioned, some counties maintain seed production plots to supplement the seed they receive through the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program or purchase. To learn how to establish and harvest seed production plots, refer to the Tallgrass Prairie Center’s Native Seed Production Manual. After becoming familiar with the basics of growing and harvesting seed, it can be helpful to talk with county conservation employees and roadside managers who have plots about their experiences. You can find out who currently maintains plots by emailing the roadside management Google Group email list, talking to the roadside program manager at the Iowa Roadside Management Office, or networking at the annual roadside conference or winter Association for Integrated Roadside Management (AFIRM) meeting.