CRP seed in Iowa.
Iowa-ecotype CRP seed for the heart of the Corn Belt.
Iowa has more CRP acres per square mile than almost any state, and the strongest Iowa-ecotype seed supply in the Midwest. We match every mix to your county's soil moisture zone and CP practice code — from Loess Hills mesic prairie to Des Moines Lobe wet-prairie buffers.
~1.7 million acres enrolled statewide
Recommended mixes for Iowa
Cleaned, blended, and shipped for Iowa soils and CP contracts. Request a quote and we'll match the mix to your county.
All-Iowa ecotype CP25 mesic prairie blend with 30+ species locally sourced.
Tallgrass-dominant CP25 blend built to the 30/10 grass-to-forb PLS ratio.
High-diversity CP25 mix with 40+ species at a 20/20 grass-to-forb ratio.
70–90 species Leopold-inspired CP42 pollinator mix for maximum bloom diversity.
88-species EQIP/CSP-eligible CP42 pollinator mix — the deepest bloom diversity we carry.
CP23 hydric-soil wetland buffer mix for saturated and frequently flooded ground.
Shortgrass and forb buffer mix built for bobwhite quail edges.
Milkweed-forward pollinator mix for monarch habitat restoration.
Primary CP practices in Iowa
Signature native species
Soil moisture zones
Loess Hills and western uplands lean dry; central and eastern Iowa is mostly mesic silt-loam; the Des Moines Lobe and Missouri/Mississippi bottoms carry wet-mesic and hydric soils. Match mix moisture to your county's dominant soil.
When to plant in Iowa
Dormant seeding November through early March is preferred statewide for cold-stratified forbs. Frost seeding into snow works well on the Des Moines Lobe.
Program notes
Iowa NRCS strongly favors — and many grants require — Iowa-ecotype seed sourced from remnant prairies. Confirm ecotype requirements with your local field office before ordering.
Always confirm current requirements with your local USDA-NRCS and USDA-FSA field offices before ordering.
Pollinator & monarch angle
Iowa sits on the primary monarch migration corridor. CP42 with strong milkweed content and 40+ forb species scores well on EQIP and CSP pollinator enhancements.
Iowa CRP seed FAQ
›Does Iowa require locally sourced ecotype seed for CRP?
Not always for standard CRP, but many state grants (REAP, Monarch Fueling Stations) and NRCS enhancements do. Ask your county office what the current contract specifies.
›When are Iowa CRP general sign-ups?
General sign-ups are announced by USDA-FSA; continuous CP practices (CP21, CP23, CP33, CP42) are open year-round. Check with your county FSA office for the current window.
›What's the biggest cause of Iowa CRP stand failure?
Planting too shallow or too deep, seeding into an unprepared cool-season sod without killing it first, and skipping the year-one mow. All three are fixable with a good seeding plan.
Quote a Iowa mix for your acres.
Tell us your county, CP practice, acres, and dominant soil type. We'll price a mix built for your specific ground and ship it to your farm.
CRP seed for sale by Iowa county
All 99 Iowa counties, each with local soils, common CP practices, planting windows, and the NRCS field office serving that county.