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Prairie Strips for Soil Conservation & More
Lisa Schulte MooreIowa State University
Committee on Agricultural
Development
Image: Sac County, Tim Youngquist
Image: Story County, Todd Ontl
Image: Story Co., Drake Larsen
The question is “HOW”?
Image: UMN IonE
Image: Story County, Gary Guthrie
Outline for Talk• Research support for prairie strips
• Farmer testimonials
• Prairie strips on your farm?
Image: UMN IonE
Jim Adelman, J. Arbuckle, Heidi Asbjornsen, Steve Bradbury, Cindy Cambardella, Mike Castellano, Rick Cruse, Nancy Grudens-Schuck, Bob Klaver, Laura Jackson, Mark Johnson, Matt O’Neal, Mike Rentz, Kevin Roe, Mark Tomer, John Tyndall, John Westra
Brian Gelder, Maged Noshi, Tim Youngquist, Dave Williams, Chris Witte, Xiaobo Zhou
Bethany Brittenham, Rachael Cox, Julia Dale, Javed Iqbal, Jose Gutierrez-Lopez, Virginia Hernandez-Santana, Rene Hessel, Sarah Hirsh, Drake Larsen,
Delise Lockett, Anna MacDonald, Vilma Mateos-Remigio, David Mitchell, Amy Moorhouse, Julie Mueller, Matt Stephenson, Marlín Pérez-Suárez, Tomorra Smith
Lisa Schulte Moore, Matt Helmers, Pauline Drobney, Mary Harris, Matt Liebman, Randy Kolka, Jeri Neal
Committee on Agricultural
Development
Photo credit: Meghann JarchowImage: Jasper Co., Anna MacDonald
STRIPS 1:Research & demo on
small experimentalwatersheds
Low
Envi
ronm
enta
l B
enef
its
Proportion of Landscape in Perennials
High
Low High
“Disproportionate Benefits” Hypothesis
Source: Schulte et al. 2006, Asbjornsen et al. 2014
= reconstructed prairie
= corn and soybean row crops
Experimental Treatments 12 small watersheds – 1-8 ac:
Randomized Incomplete Block Design: 3 reps X 4 treatments X 3 blocks
0% 10% 10% 20%
Photo: Jasper Co., Sarah Hirsh
Treatment = Prairie!!!
Photo: Jasper Co., Sarah Hirsh
Prairies function!!! Perennial communities with diverse, native plants with dense root networks & stiff upright stems
Photo: Jasper Co., Meghann Jarchow
32 (+1) native perennials sowed in 2007
39 found by 2011115% cover overall
Source: Hirsh et al. 2013
2 year corn/soybean rotation managed as a no-till system
Photo: Jasper Co., Drake Larsen
Photo: Jasper Co., Anna MacDonald
In-depth scientific monitoring
100% crops90% crops : 10% prairie 100% prairie
Imag
es: J
ose
Gut
ierr
ez
Sources: Zhou et al. 2012, Helmers et al. 2012, Hernandez-Santana et al. 2013, Iqbal et al. 2014, Mitchell et al. 2014, Zhou et al. 2014
Photo: Jasper Co., Chris Witte
Photo: Jasper Co., Anna MacDonald
Improve footslope soils within 3 yearsIncrease total nitrogen by 100%Increase soil organic carbon by 37%
Source: Perez-Suarez et al. 2014
Source: Zhou et al. 2010; Helmers et al. unpublished data
Reduce groundwater nitrate by 70%
Photo: Jasper Co., Anna MacDonald
Photo credit: Jasper Co., Anna MacDonald
2 times greater bird richness & abundanceMore beneficial insects
Source: MacDonald 2012, Cox et al. 2014, Schulte et al. 2016
Photo: Jasper Co., Anna MacDonald
NO influence on per acre crop yieldNO additional weed issues
Source: Hirsh et al. 2013; Liebman et al. unpublished data
Prairie strips are an affordable option:29¢ a linear foot$24-35 / treated acre$3 / treated acre with CRP
Photo: Jasper Co., Anna MacDonaldSource: Tyndall et al. 2013
Source: Brandes et al. 2016
Economic Case for Prairie
Photo: Jasper Co., Chris Witte
Harvested prairie biomass averages 3.1 tons / acre
Source: Liebman et al. unpublished data
Measured impacts of 10% prairie stripscompared to 100% no-till row crops
% c
hang
e fro
m 1
00%
cro
ps s
yste
m
Image: Jasper Co., The Furrow
“Anybody who farms does not want their soil to leave their
ground.”
Our first adopter…
STRIPS 2:Research &
demonstration on commercial farms
Image: Page Co., Tatum Watkins, Age 8
“This is the kind of agriculture I love, to talk about the soil, about sustainability, about production…will I be able to say that I left the land better than I found it?
That’s what matters to me.”
Our next first adopter…
Image: Seth Watkins, Taylor Co.
Image: Seth Watkins, Taylor County
Photo: Story Co., Tim Youngquist
Image: Ida County; Tim Youngquist
Image: Greene Co., Tim Youngquist
Photo: Wright Co., Tim Smith
Image: Carroll Co., Lisa Schulte Moore
Image: Jasper Co., Drake Larsen
See prairie strips as a practical optionDon’t interfere with spring managementMinimize conflict with tractor movementAddresses their goals for their farms
Image: Fry et al. 2011
Low
Envi
ronm
enta
l Ben
efits
Proportion of Landscape in Perennials
High
Low High
Level of benefits with ~10% prairie strips on commercial farm fields
“Disproportionate Benefits” Hypothesis
Source: Schulte et al. 2006, Asbjornsen et al. 2014
Image: Tama CountyImage: Wright County
How about “YOU”?
Image: UMN IonE
Image: Story County, Gary Guthrie
Prairie strips are an affordable option:29¢ a linear foot$24-35 / treated acre$3 / treated acre with CRP
Photo: Jasper Co., Anna MacDonaldSource: Tyndall et al. 2013
Potential sources of cost share:• Federal: USDA FSA CRP & NRCS EQIP• State: Iowa Dept Ag & Land Stewardship,
others?• Private: Pheasants Forever, Trees Forever,
STRIPSPhoto: Jasper Co., Sarah Hirsh
• Farm Goals• Design with the land• Farmability
– Equipment Width• Feasability• Past Land Use/Cropping System• Existing Conservation Practices• Maintenance Access• Flexibility
Image: Montgomery Co., Tim Youngquist
What do I need to consider in designing prairie strips for my farm?
Image: Taylor Co., Anna MacDonald
How do I layout the prairie strips?
Options:- GPS
- Measuring Wheel- Open Reel Tape
Measure- Laser Level
What kind of seeds do I use for the prairie strips?
I Li C Ti Y i t
Options:- Native seed drill
- Broadcast seeder- Hand broadcast
What kind of equipment do I use to plant the prairie strips?
Image: Linn Co., Tim Youngquist
When to I establish prairie strips?Easiest in soybean stubble in fall…
Image: Cass County, Tim Youngquist
Image: Marshall County, Tim Youngquist
Some management required…
Image: Story County, Tim Youngquist
Patience is key…
Photo credit: Meghann JarchowImage: Jasper Co., Anna MacDonald
Benefits accrue even during establishment!
Field days & trainings! Coming to a farm near you?
Image: Jasper County, Lisa Schulte Moore
Thank You!!!
www.prairiestrips.org
Committee on Agricultural
Development
