practical farmers of iowa

CLIMATE CHALLENGE: Hydrological changes

GRANT AWARD: $250,000; YEAR AWARDED: 2020

The Driftless Area of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin is a fragmented, agricultural landscape increasingly lacking the habitat quality, quantity, and connectivity that pollinators and other wildlife need to withstand climate-driven temperature increases and volatile precipitation patterns. These climate impacts have also led to flooding and drought. The Practical Farmers of Iowa will implement a multi-pronged strategy to adaptation, including diverse prairie plantings of climate-adapted species and timber stand improvements to enhance habitat. This restoration of pollinator habitat will also increase carbon sequestration, increase water infiltration, and reduce run-off to help maintain spring-fed cold water stream temperatures that support local fish species.

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PRACTICAL FARMERS OF IOWA| Protecting Pollinators

TOOLS AND RESOURCES:

Pollinators & Climate Change: Making an Impact on the Farm

In this “Farminar,” hosted by Practical Farmers of Iowa, Xerces Society climate change lead Angela Laws and Xerces Society farm bill pollinator conservation planner and NRCS partner biologist, Sarah Nizzi share how climate change impacts pollinators and the cost-share and technical assistance programs that can help you sustain pollinators on your farm.

Designing Diversity: Climate-Smart Habitat Management for Pollinators - Live From the Farm

Learn about strategies and approaches for habitat management to maximize diversity from Erik Sessions, a PFI member, farmer and landowner from Decorah, Iowa, who is currently working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture to increase the diversity of several acres of grassland enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. Gregg Pattison of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will also discuss the importance of diverse and connected habitats for wildlife in the Driftless Region.