Man in prairie

Program Overview

Are you interested in establishing native prairie or trees on row crop grounds? Do you have underperforming acres on your farm? Our incentive payment program can help you reach your goals!  

We encourage you to look over the program details below to check your eligibility before submitting an enrollment form.  

Program Highlights

There are two incentive payment rates:

Rate 1: Only enrolling in PFI's Row Crops to Prairies and Trees program

  • $2,000 per acre total over the five-year agreement period 
  • Year 1: $1,200 per acre 
  • Years 2-5: $200 per acre  

Rate 2: Stacking with publicly funded cost-share program

  • $1,000 per acre total over the five-year agreement period, split evenly at $200 per acre per year 

Eligibility

  • Participants must farm in Iowa. 
  • Participant must establish native prairie or trees on a field where corn or soybeans are grown. 
  • Acres must be conventionally managed; certified organic acres are not eligible. Acres transitioning into organic are okay. 
  • Acres can overlap with any publicly funded cost-share programs on a county, state or federal level (ex. CRP, EQIP, etc.). 
  • Acres cannot overlap with any privately funded cost-share program, such as a carbon market (ex. Indigo, SWOF, TruCarbon, ADM re:generations, etc.). 
  • For both native prairie and trees, establishment must be completed by Dec. 31 for 2026 enrollment. 
  • For spring establishment, check back for 2027 enrollment period. 
  • Established prairie or trees must be maintained for at least five years.

Program Requirements

Native prairie seed mix requirement:

  • Seed mix must have a minimum of 20 species, with at least 10 forb species.
    • Eligible CRP equivalent seed mixes are CP25, CP42 and CP43.
  • Seeding rates must be at least 40 seeds per square foot. 

Participant must provide the following production information:

  • FSA tract map and 578 certifications 
  • Tillage type and number of passes 
  • Total nitrogen or manure application 
  • Crop yield 

Program Steps

  1. Have fields eligible for the program in 2026. See program eligibility guidelines to ensure your practices fit the program requirements. 
  2. Enroll in the program by Sept. 30, 2026. 
  3. Book a consultation with PFI habitat staff. 
  4. Agreement and release of information must be signed within 30 days of PFI emailing it to you. This is a nonbinding agreement between Practical Farmers of Iowa and the contract holder; you sign it online. If for some reason the contract conditions cannot be satisfied, the contract will be canceled with no cost-share paid on the enrolled acres and with no penalty to the contract holder. Note that contracts can be canceled through Dec. 1, 2026. 
  5. Begin the production questionnaire by inputting information on field passes, fertilizer and chemical applications.  
  6. Establish native prairie or noncommercial trees by Dec. 31, 2026. 
  7. Complete the production questionnaire by submitting the yield data and establishment documentation by Jan. 17, 2027.  
  8. Receive complimentary one-year membership to Practical Farmers of Iowa. Membership will be gifted to the farm operator. If the participant is a nonoperating landowner, the membership will be gifted to the tenant farmer. If the participant is the operator, the membership will be gifted to the participant. Learn more about membership benefits. If you’d like family members to be included on your membership, please ensure their names are listed on your application. 
  9. Year 1 payment will be processed by March 31, 2027 after all relevant paperwork is received and establishment is confirmed. Payments for years two through five will also be processed by March 31 in the following years after proof of maintenance is received and confirmed. 

Frequently Asked Questions

The field would be eligible if it could be verified through prior crop certifications that corn or soybean is a part of the normal extended rotation. 

Once the prairie is established, starting at year four, it can be grazed as long as the prairie is grazed mindfully and does not cause permanent damage.

Mowing is required during the first growing season to ensure successful prairie establishment. Documentation of this establishment mowing will be required for the second payment. Prescribed burning is not required for this program. However, prescribed burning is one of the most effective methods to combat undesirable species and manage prairies. Routine burning is highly recommended after the prairie is fully established after Year 3.