Tallgrass Prairie Center Field Day: Native Prairie Planting

Native Prairie Vegetation on Farms for Water Quality Improvement

This field day at the ISU Borlaug Center in Nashua, Iowa, will address how to plant successful native prairie plantings on agricultural fields. Most noteworthy, it is free and welcome to the public, conservation planners, technical service providers, landowners, land managers or anyone interested in learning more about the role native prairie vegetation can play on farms for water quality improvement, monarch recovery efforts and increasing habitat for wildlife and pollinators. Furthermore, attendees will learn site preparation and planting techniques, the benefits of first year establishment mowing, how to determine the proper seed mix for your site, how to evaluate the success of your native vegetation planting and much more!

Click here to learn more about prairie strips improving water quality.

For How-To videos on prairie reconstruction, click here.

Complimentary lunch provided. The Borlaug Center is west of Nashua, less than 5 minutes from the Avenue of the Saints/Hwy 218. Then, at Nashua Exit 220, go west on B60 1 mile. Turn south on Windfall Avenue 1 mile. Lastly at the T intersection, turn east on 290^th Street approximately ¼ mile. Address: 3327 290^th St. Nashua, IA 50658. Further, this field event will look at research plots planted in 2015 that compare three commonly used native seed mixes in Iowa and the effects of first year establishment mowing on the planting.

About the Tallgrass Prairie Center:

Mission – Restoring native vegetation for the benefit of society and the environment, with research, education and technology transfer.

As a result, their strategic plan’s major goals are to:

• Increase the capacity of the partners and stakeholders to establish and protect native perennial vegetation and restore ecosystem services in the tallgrass prairie region

• Increase awareness and appreciation of the Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem, and understanding of its significance to society

• Build a stronger and more resilient organization

Finally, looking ahead to field days hosted by Tallgrass Prairie Center for water quality and soil health.