Text Box: Prairie plants that often resist grazing are unpalatable to livestock and therefore survive to flower and reproduce. Rough dropseed (Sporobolus asper), is known to contain silica in its cell walls, much like scouring rush or snake grass. Livestock avoid this grass as it becomes mature and can be visible in remnants throughout the year. Other native grasses such as big bluestem and Indian grass are not visible because of heavy grazing selection. Rough dropseed can be a red flag., proving that a closer look for less visible plants may prove rewarding. Some forbs may also prove less tasty for livestock and signify prairie sites. Flowering forbs like ironweed, white wild indigo, or mountain mint can show that prairie still exists on a site where it wasn't expected. In 1994 Floyd Wink and Gerald Wilhelm came up with a way to categorize the floristic quality of certain prairie species. This subjectively constructed list called a floristic quality index, gives a plant a value of one through ten. These numbers are known as a C value, or coefficient of conservatism. A score of 0 means that the plant can be found almost anywhere. A score of 10 may lead to the idea that the area could be a high quality remnant that somewhat represents pre-settlement conditions. These values can give a person an idea as to the quality of their remnant. This scoring is a more quantitative way to describe the composition of an area rather than using the relative description; low, high, or so-so quality. Plants native to Iowa have been classified separately by botanists within the state. Quality remnant sites often rely upon harsher conditions that limit their exotic competitors ability to thrive. As mentioned previously, native prairie plants have adapted to survive in hot and dry environments, much like those found on the upper slopes of the Loess Hills. Here, water is limited and the sun harsher. When looking for quality examples of Loess Hills prairie, start mid- slope and go up. Chances are that the higher you go, the better examples of Loess Hills prairie you will find.

Page

          Loess Hills Conservation

Loess Hills Mobile Fire Crew No Longer Available

The mobile fire crew sponsored by the Loess Hills Alliance and formerly headed by Matt Greave will no longer be available for prescribed burning.

Last year, the mobile fire crew was directly responsible for 540 acres of Loess Hills prescribed fire and assisted with another 2,170 acres.

Landowners using prescribed fire in the Loess Hills previously had the opportunity to hire the burn crew using Loess Hills Stewardship Initiative cost share funds. The funding used previously for the crew will still be available to private landowners through application to the program. However, landowners will now be responsible for hiring private contractors or conducting the burn themselves.

A list of contractors available for burning or writing burn plans is available from the Mills County NRCS office or by directly contacting Private Lands conservationist, Dustin Farnsworth. A brochure containing prescribed burn information is also available.

In previous years, prescribed burn workshops for landowners have been organized. Similar workshops may be available later this fall/winter; dates and locations have yet to be determined.

Identifying Remnants Continued….