Wallaces Farmer

Iowa Learning Farms webinar June 10 will explain how to optimize nutrient-reducing prairie strips in fields.

June 9, 2020

2 Min Read
Wildflowers in field
PRAIRIE STRIPS: This conservation practice in farm fields can be managed to be more successful, multifunctional and cost-effective. ISU

How can you optimize the water quality nutrient reduction function of prairie strips? This conservation practice is being installed on more farms to help improve water quality in the drainage coming from fields. Iowa Learning Farms will host a webinar at noon June 10 explaining research results on how to optimize the nutrient-reducing ability of prairie strips. 

Targeted restoration of native perennial vegetation such as prairie strips shows promise as a nutrient reduction practice. To optimize the potential value of this practice, applied research focused on improving the chances of successful implementation, maximizing the ability to provide multiple ecological benefits and improving cost-effectiveness is needed.

Justin Meissen, research and restoration manager at the Tallgrass Prairie Center, will give an overview of research in these areas and highlight results from prairie reconstruction field experiments and field trials.  

Prairie strips at work 

The Tallgrass Prairie Center is located at the University of Northern Iowa. “As USDA and the federal farm bill roll out new conservation practices like prairie strips and more farmers try prairie reconstruction for the first time, it’s important that good recommendations are available to ensure farmer success. Prairie reconstruction research provides the foundation for those recommendations,” Meissen says.  

Meissen is a researcher at the University of Northern Iowa’s Tallgrass Prairie Center whose work focuses on understanding barriers to establishment in prairie restorations, incorporating ecology and practicality in seed mix design, and methods of reintegrating native prairie vegetation in working landscapes. 

To participate in the live webinar, shortly before noon June 10, visit iastate.zoom.us/j/364284172. Or go to iastate.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 364 284 172. Another option is to call 312-626-6799 or 646-876-9923. The webinar will be archived on the ILF website at iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars

A certified crop adviser board-approved continuing education unit (CEU) has been applied for. Information about how to apply to receive the credit (if approved) will be provided at the end of the live webinar. 

Source: ILF, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset. 

 

 

 

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