As farming evolves in Iowa, one of the most exciting developments for both landowners and tenants is the rise of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies that improve both yields and conservation outcomes.
In 2025, prairie strips, wildflower borders, and beetle banks are no longer experimental ideas. They are becoming mainstream tools for reducing pesticide use while building healthier, more resilient farms.
At Stalcup Ag Service, where we specialize in farm management, farmland appraisals, and auctions, we see firsthand how these conservation-minded practices are reshaping the future of agriculture across Iowa.
Whether you’re an absentee landowner, a farm tenant, or a hands-on operator, understanding how IPM works and how it adds value to your farm is key.
- What Is Integrated Pest Management
- Prairie Strips: Turning Margins into Assets
- Wildflower Borders & Beetle Banks
- Financial Support for Conservation Practices
- What This Means for Farm Owners and Tenants
- IPM and Land Value: The Appraisal Perspective
- Conservation and Auctions: What Buyers Want
- The Bigger Picture: Resilient Iowa Farms
What Is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?
Integrated Pest Management is a strategy that combines biological, cultural, and mechanical tools to control pests while reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals. Instead of automatically reaching for pesticides, farmers use methods that:
- Encourage beneficial insects that prey on crop pests.
- Break pest life cycles with crop rotation and habitat diversification.
- Improve soil and water quality, making crops more resilient in the long run.
Prairie strips and other habitat plantings are one of the most visible (and effective) IPM tools now being used in Iowa’s corn and soybean country.
Prairie Strips: Turning Margins into Assets
A prairie strip is exactly what it sounds like: a strategic strip of native grasses, wildflowers, and deep-rooted plants integrated into a crop field. Instead of planting every acre in corn or soybeans, a farmer dedicates 5-10% of the land to these habitat rows.
The benefits are significant:
Pest control
Wildflower rows do more than add color to a field. They create a refuge for pollinators and natural predators that take on the heavy lifting of pest control.
Soil health
Prairie plants drive their roots deep into the soil, opening channels for rainwater to soak in instead of rushing away and taking topsoil with it.
Water quality
Think of prairie strips as living filters. Instead of watching valuable nutrients wash downstream, these strips keep them working for your crops while protecting Iowa’s rivers and lakes.
Wildlife habitat
Prairie strips bring more than soil and water benefits—they turn crop acres into shared spaces where birds, butterflies, and pollinators can thrive, adding biodiversity without taking farmland out of production.
What’s remarkable is that by giving up a relatively small fraction of cropland, farmers gain multiple layers of value in return.
Wildflower Borders & Beetle Banks
In addition to prairie strips, farmers are adopting:
1. Wildflower borders planted along field edges or between rows. These “insectary” plantings support bees and beneficial predators.
2. Beetle banks, which are small raised strips planted with bunch grasses. These provide year-round habitat for ground beetles and spiders that prey on cutworms, aphids, and other crop pests.
Together, these habitat features form an IPM system that reduces pesticide dependence and strengthens ecological resilience.
Financial Support for Conservation Practices
For both farm operators and absentee owners, one of the most common questions is: “Who pays for this?” The good news is that Iowa farmers don’t have to shoulder the costs alone.
Several programs offer cost-share and technical support, including:
- USDA programs such as EQIP and CSP.
- Practical Farmers of Iowa, which provides on-farm research and peer-to-peer learning.
- Xerces Society, which specializes in pollinator habitat planning.
- Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) initiatives supporting water quality improvements.
These programs help cover seed costs, design, and implementation, making prairie strips a financially viable conservation choice.
What This Means for Farm Owners and Tenants
For Farm Owners (Including Absentee Owners)
Integrating IPM practices like prairie strips not only protects natural resources but also enhances the long-term value of your land. Reduced erosion, improved soil health, and cleaner water all contribute to higher sustainability scores and better tenant interest.
When it comes time for an appraisal or eventual sale, land with strong stewardship practices often stands out in the market.
For Farm Tenants
IPM strategies create an opportunity to reduce input costs by cutting down on pesticide applications. They also help build a reputation as a progressive operator who cares about stewardship—a quality that strengthens long-term relationships with landlords. Tenants who embrace IPM often gain an edge in lease negotiations.
For Farm Managers
For professional farm managers like Stalcup Ag Service, prairie strips and IPM tools are part of ensuring farms are both productive today and resilient for the future. By overseeing implementation, securing cost-share funding, and monitoring results, we help both owners and tenants capture the full benefits of these conservation practices.
IPM and Land Value: The Appraisal Perspective
An important angle for absentee owners and investors to consider is how conservation practices tie into land value and appraisals. While a prairie strip may slightly reduce cropped acres, it also enhances soil stability, reduces long-term input needs, and demonstrates proactive compliance with conservation expectations.
From an appraisal standpoint, farmland that integrates IPM and conservation measures can be viewed as more sustainable and better protected against environmental risk, an increasingly important consideration in today’s market.
Conservation and Auctions: What Buyers Want
We’re also seeing shifts on the auction and farmland sales side. Buyers are asking more questions about soil health, water management, and conservation practices. A farm that already has prairie strips or habitat plantings in place often appeals to buyers who want long-term stability and compliance with conservation programs. Prairie strips can send a strong message that the land is productive today and protected for the long haul.
For sellers, highlighting these practices in auction marketing can make a property stand out and potentially draw more competitive bidding.
The Bigger Picture: Resilient Iowa Farms
Integrated Pest Management is about building farms that are resilient to weather, market shifts, and environmental pressures. By turning field edges and marginal acres into habitat, Iowa farmers are showing how innovation and conservation go hand in hand.
We work with landowners and tenants in Buena Vista County and across Iowa to implement strategies like prairie strips that make sense both agronomically and financially. Whether through farm management, farmland appraisals, or farm real estate, we help ensure every acre is positioned for long-term success.
Ready to Explore IPM on Your Farm?
If you’re a landowner—local or absentee—or a farm tenant interested in conservation practices like prairie strips, we’d love to talk. Our team can help you evaluate financial incentives, design a management plan, and understand how IPM fits into the bigger picture of your land’s value and productivity.
Call us at 712-732-4811 or complete our contact form, and we’ll get back to you. Learn more about how Stalcup Ag Service can help you protect and grow your farm for the next generation.