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Examining the benefits of prairie strips for row crop farmers

Pictured: Kent Boucher with Hoksey Native Seeds talks with an attendee of the 2025 Practical Farmers of Iowa annual conference in Des Moines. (Photo by Brent Barnett/Brownfield)

A prairie seeds specialist says he’s seeing more growers adopt prairie strips as a conservation practice.

Kent Boucher with Iowa-based Hoksey Native Seeds says prairie strips help protect soil and water while also providing habitat for wildlife. “It holds soil, but also works like a sponge,” he said. “All these root systems that network together, they can collect and hold a lot of water locally in those strips.”

Research from Iowa State University has found that integrating small amounts of prairie into strategic locations within corn and soybean fields – in the form of in-field contour buffer strips and edge-of-field filter strips – can yield disproportionate benefits for soil, water, and biodiversity.

Boucher tells Brownfield prairie strips can help farmers manage challenging growing seasons troubled by drought. “Absolutely holding soil in place,” he said. “The root systems of our native prairie plants are unrivaled by anything. We’re losing a lot of our surface water almost as quickly as it’s hitting the ground.”

Iowa State University says prairie strips can be one of the most affordable conservation practices for a grower.

Boucher spoke to Brownfield at the recent Practical Farmers of Iowa annual conference in Des Moines. The full interview can be found below.