Prairie strip optimizing is webinar topic

     Iowa Learning Farms will host a webinar on Wednesday, June 10 at noon about research on how to optimize nutrient reducing prairie strips.

     Targeted restoration of native perennial vegetation (e.g. prairie strips) shows great 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 ongoing research in these areas and highlight key results from prairie reconstruction field experiments and field trials.

     “As the Farm Bill rolls 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,” said Meissen. 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 re-integrating native prairie vegetation in working landscapes.

     To participate in the live webinar, shortly before 12:00 pm CDT on June 10: go to https://iastate.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 364 284 172.

     The webinar will also be recorded and archived on the ILF website, so that it can be watched at any time. Archived webinars are available at https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars.

     A Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit (CEU) has been applied for, for those who are able to participate in the live webinar. Information about how to apply to receive the credit (if approved) will be provided at the end of the live webinar.