Faculty Publications

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Poster presented at the National Native Seed Conference, March 27-30, 2023, Washington, D.C.

Document Type

Other

Journal/Book/Conference Title

National Native Seed Conference, March 27-30, 2023, Washington, D.C.

Abstract

PURPOSE AND HISTORY

The Tallgrass Prairie Center (TPC) Plant Materials Program at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) aims to increase the availability and affordability of regionally appropriate, Source Identified (SI) native seed for roadsides and other restorations. We serve a linking role within the native seed system in our region by:

1) developing SI foundation stock seed that is regionally adapted and genetically diverse for the native seed industry.

2) fostering communication across the native seed supply chain.

A plant materials program, originally named the Iowa Ecotype Project (IEP), was initiated in 1990 at UNI, in partnership with several agencies and with funding from the Iowa Living Roadway Trust Fund. The State of Iowa enacted legislation in 1988 declaring Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM) to be in the public interest. This stimulated demand for regionally adapted native seed. Iowa’s remnant prairies were too fragmented to support wild collection for large scale restoration. Few species of native seed, primarily cultivars, were available for purchase. Public funding of SI stock seed development reduced risk to growers and communication among partners influenced demand for new species, helping to foster a diverse native seed market in the region.

Department

Department of Biology

Department

Tallgrass Prairie Center

Original Publication Date

3-27-2023

Object Description

1 PDF file

Repository

UNI ScholarWorks, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa

Date Digital

3-27-2023

Copyright

©2023 Laura Fischer Walter and Laura Jackson

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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