September 10 prairie event near Stuart

By Andi Anderson

Farmers and landowners are invited to attend a Prairie Establishment and Management Field Day on September 10, hosted by Iowa Learning Farms in partnership with the Science-Based-Trials-of-Rowcrops-Integrated-with-Prairie-Strips (STRIPS) program.

The event, taking place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Carl Varley’s crop farm near Stuart, Iowa, is free and includes a complimentary meal for attendees.

Iowa Learning Farms, a conservation initiative connected with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, aims to help farmers and landowners establish and maintain perennial vegetation, such as prairie strips and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) areas.

These areas offer numerous environmental benefits, including reducing soil erosion, improving soil health, enhancing wildlife and pollinator habitats, and adding beauty to the landscape.

The field day will feature several expert speakers, including Tim Youngquist, a farmer liaison for the Iowa State University STRIPS program.

Youngquist will share findings from over 15 years of research on prairie strips and provide practical recommendations for integrating prairie strips into corn and soybean fields.

Host Carl Varley, an Adair County landowner, along with Chris Smith from Hertz Farm Management, will discuss strategies for working with tenants to successfully incorporate prairie strips, highlighting both the benefits and challenges of this conservation practice.

Additionally, Tom Rosburg, a professor of ecology and botany at Drake University, will cover topics related to seed mix design and species selection to meet specific conservation goals. Jon Judson, owner of Diversity Farms and a Carroll County farmer who seeded the site, will offer tips for successfully seeding and managing prairie areas.

The field day will conclude with a presentation by Nick Thompson, a Pheasants Forever farm bill biologist, who will discuss current programs available to assist farmers in establishing prairie on their land.

The event will be held at Carl Varley’s farm, located north of 1175 Sheldon Avenue, Stuart.

Directions to the farm are as follows: from the I-80/Stuart Exit 93, head south on Stuart Road/P28 for 1.2 miles, turn right onto 118th Street, continue for 1 mile, turn left on Trenton Avenue for 0.2 miles, and then turn right onto 120th Street for 1 mile. Finally, turn right onto Sheldon Avenue, and the field day site will be on the west side of the road, marked with field day signs.

Photo Credit: iowa-state-university