Mahaska County SWCD

06/02/2026

It seems as if native grasses have a bad rap of being over-aggressive and growing rank overtime.

We beg to differ and supply a species especially for this reason. Prairie Junegrass or Koelaria macrantha is mid-late spring season bloomer, as a reminder they even put its favorite month in the name!

Koelaria is a very tough native grass known for its silvery-green flower and short, dense stature. With full sun this grass can survive in just about any habitat once established.

Mahaska Native Plants also have a surplus in our inventory right now so feel free to stop by our greenhouse at 2342 HWY-92, Oskaloosa, IA. Located behind the Environmental Learning Center!

05/30/2026

Followers!!

Please come pick up some free native plants! Take some time to browse our flourishing collection and maybe make a purchase in the greenhouse. All proceeds go to improving facilities at the Mahaska County Environmental Learning Center (Mahaska County Conservation), native plant production, public outreach, local conservation efforts (Green Iowa AmeriCorps), and promoting land ethic/water & soil quality.

Thank you, this is quite literally a grassroots campaign. PUN INTENDED!!!

05/29/2026

05/27/2026

Meet the lucid legume making a late spring appearance in natural areas near you!

Baptisia alba or Wild White Indigo is a native legume making a splash on the scene right now. Commonly mistaken for asparagus before it blooms, this native is known to grow 4ft in height with luminous spikes of white, pea-like flowers and charcoal-gray stems.

Such an elegant plant, its benefits range beyond its inherent value. Baptisia alba is a crucial benefactor to pollinators and is host to the larvae of the Wild Indigo Duskywing. They thrive in dry, full sun locations once established.

Surprisingly enough, in the fall, this plant will desiccate turning inky black as well as showcasing seed pods that will rattle in the wind. As we all know, the winter prairie winds of Iowa are rather harsh so this plant has adapted by rolling away with the wind once the stem detaches just like tumbleweed!!

Mahaska Native Plants will have some seedlings in stock this summer if you’re looking to add a new and unique native forb!!

*Picture taken at Cedar Bluffs State Preserve*
Friends of Mahaska County Conservation Mahaska County Conservation

05/22/2026

🇺🇸SALE🇺🇸

We would like to invite you to stop by the Environmental Learning Center and Oskaloosa Farmers Market this weekend for our Memorial Weekend Sale.

50% off all red, white and blue bloomers.

Plants are set up in front of the ELC all day Friday, Saturday afternoon, Sunday and Monday.

Saturday morning(5/23) you're invited to visit us on the square at the farmers market 9-Noon.

Have a great weekend and happy planting🌻

🌱❤️🤍🩵🌱

Friends of Mahaska County Conservation

05/12/2026

Help us congratulate Mahaska County’s CDI poster contest winner, Ariana Adams! 👏👏

Ariana is a 1st grade homeschooler in Oskaloosa.

This years theme is SOIL: WHERE IT ALL BEGINS

05/06/2026

‼️ATTENTION ALL PRODUCERS‼️

Looking for a better way to fund new or continue regenerative agriculture practices? The IAWA Conservation Compass makes finding and comparing cost share simpler than ever!

Whether you’re a beginner or looking to expand at the right cost, here is how to use it to boost your farms bottom line:

✅ Find Your Match: Quickly filter through dozens of public and private programs by practice.

✅ Compare Side by Side: View multiple programs at once to see which offers the best payment rates and terms of your operation.

✅ Get Expert Help: Connect directly with conservation agronomists or watershed coordinators to help you navigate the fine print.

🌾 Eligibility practices included but are not limited to:
cover crop, no till/reduced till, nitrogen management, prairie strips, livestock practices, & more. 🐄

Check it out at iaagwater.org/conservation-compass/

05/04/2026

Looking for a low maintenance, stunningly attractive, & hummingbird magnet native? Come no further than to the blooms of Wild Columbine or Aquilegia Canadensis!

This shade-tolerant forb with drooping crimson red & soft golden blooms is a prolific bloomer and hardy addition to at-home gardens. The reel below explains it all and this is only its second year!

Like most flowers, Wild Columbine is co-evolved for pollinator attraction but specifically to long-tongued bees and the Ruby-throated hummingbird! This speciality makes it safer for those allergic to stings or suffer from apiphobia and/or spheksophobia.

Revolving spring blooms & dry shade tolerance makes this forb an absolute trooper for any beginner native gardeners. Mahaska Native Plant isn’t currently in stock but many native plug suppliers in Iowa readily carry this spectacular species.

04/29/2026

We're getting very excited! Trail Clean Up and Plant Sale - Saturday May 2nd! Spend an exciting afternoon cleaning up the trails, soaking in the beauty of nature, and picking up some native plants along the way! Plus, enjoy a free pint as a thank-you for lending a hand with the cleanup!

02/20/2026

Boost your lands profitability while also improving your footprint on the environment!! 🌽📈🌾

The Precision Ag & Conservation team at Pheasant/Quail Forever offers a FREE consultation service that turns data into dollars. By using your own field data to pinpoint underperforming areas, they help you identify where traditional cropping is actually losing you money!

Why is this a game-changer for your operation:

- Economic Strategy: Tranisiton low-ROI marginal land into profitable conservation programs that increase your overall field average and bottom line.

- Seamless NRCS Alignment: Specialists work directly with your local USDA/NRCS office to help navigate & unlock funding incentives.

- Environmental Impact: Boost soil health, water quality, & biodiversity without sacrificing your farm’s productivity.

This isn’t just about habitat; it’s a positively trending business decision. Get boots on the ground support to make every acre count.

To learn more, visit:
pheasantsforever.org/Conservation/Precision-Agriculture.aspx

Or contact:

Bailey Klein
(319)-231-6421
[email protected]

Dave Degues
(641)-528-6036
[email protected]

Precision ag technology is used to make a variety of agronomic management decisions on farms. Increasingly, this technology has become critically important in identifying underperforming acres within farming operations. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever support agricultural producers by assisting....