Iowa NRCS Publications

Attracting Iowa Wildlife - This 36-page brochure explains what habitats support Iowa wildlife on private lands.

Better Wetlands
(Out of Print)

A Community Leader's Guide to Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention (827 KB)
(Out of Print)

Complete Conservation for Your Farm - Learn about resource management planning and protecting the five major resource on your farm--soil, water, air, plants and animals
(Out of Print)

Conservation Choices - This 36-page book serves as a guide to 30 environmental and conservation practices that can be used in a resource management system.

Conservation Crop Rotations: Iowa Job Sheet (542 KB)

Conservation Milestones at the Millennium (862 KB) - In the year 2000 Iowa reached 10 conservation milestones. Click here to see the significant accomplishments that private landowners, government agencies, businesses, non-profit organizations, and others achieved by working together.
(Out of Print)

Conservation Strategies for Growing Communities (2.2 MB) - This 32-page book provides information and direction relating to conservation in urban areas.

Contour Buffer Strips: Iowa Job Sheet (430 KB)

Contouring: Iowa Job Sheet (585 KB)

CRP Land: It's In Your Hands (1.8 MB) - A look at possible land use choices for land coming out of CRP.   

(Out of Print)

Ways CRP Helps Landowners Plant Trees in Iowa (2 MB)

Dams In Danger (259 KB) - Learn how aging watersheds are threatening both Iowa's people and its environment.

Faces of CSP (1.2 MB) - Find out what six Iowa farmers say about their experiences with the Conservation Security Program (CSP).

Favored Food & Cover - Wildlife Poster/Brochure (874 KB) - A guide to basic habitat needs of popular wildlife species in the Midwest.
(Out of Print)

Field Borders: Iowa Job Sheet (415 KB)

Filter Strips (777 KB) - Iowa NRCS conservation practice job sheet.

(Out of Print)

Food Plots for Wildlife: Iowa Job Sheet (368 KB)

Preventing Soil Loss with Grassed Waterways (3 MB) New!

From the Ground Down (3.2 MB) - An Introduction to Iowa Soil Surveys.
(No Print Copies Available)

A Guide to Conservation Programs (471 KB)

Improving Lives, Communities and the Environment Through Natural Resources Conservation (2.5 MB)

Protecting the Indiana Bat: An Endangered Species (158 KB) New!

Interseeding (356 KB) - Interseeding is a good way to improve existing stands of single species grasses. Learn general rules, pros and cons of several different establishment methods, and seed selection.
Updated 5/8/07

Iowa NRCS Conservation Atlas (2.5 MB) - This booklet contains maps which reflect program funding and broad accomplishments in several programs. Individual landowner feature stories are also part of the Atlas.

Landowner Responsibilities for Installing Conservation Projects with USDA Assistance (80 KB)

Updated 4/25/08

LESA - Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (133 KB)

Out of Print

Lines on the Land (6.9 MB)

Managing Iowa Acreages (4.4 MB) - topics include managing storm water, low-maintenance lawns, buffering stream banks, pond maintenance and pasture management.

Native Prairie: establishment & management of native prairie (933 KB) - Learn how to establish and manage native prairie.

No-Till Garden Recipe (25 KB) Basic No-till Garden Recipe--a one-page recipe of instructions on how to build a great soil and grow a great garden.

Nutrient Management Q&A (97 KB) - Get some basic answers to some of the most common questions about the different types of nutrient management plans, definitions and terms.
(Out of Print)

Options for CRP Mid Contract Management (961 KB)

Organic Material (17 KB) Organic Material for a no-till garden--a one-page sheet with suggestions on how to incorporate organic matter into your garden for better results.
(Out of Print)

Pasture Conditioning Score Fact Sheet (260 KB) - Answers what a pasture conditioning score is, when to conduct one and how it is used in the implementation of the Conservation Security Program (CSP).

Pest Management: Iowa Job Sheet (254 KB)

The Phosphorus Index: Iowa Job Sheet (126 KB) - Learn about why the Phosphorus Index was created, who it was created for and why it was created and what it does.

Prescribed Burning (784 KB) - This fact sheet provides background information on how to plan and implement a prescribed burn plan; it includes a sample burn plan.

(Out of Print)

Profitable Pastures (2.4 MB)

Iowa Rain Garden Design and Installation Manual (3.1 MB) New!

Residue and Tillage Management: Iowa Job Sheet (536 KB)

Restoring Iowa Wetlands (11.2 MB) - A snapshot of Iowa's wetland types, benefits, restoration processes and programs for land users.

Restoring and Managing Habitat for Reptiles and Amphibians   
(No Print Copies Available)

Web-Version

Riparian Forest Buffer: Iowa Job Sheet - (935 KB)
(Out of Print)

RUSLE2 - Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation 2 (262 KB)

Seeding Native Landscapes (1 MB)

(Out of Print)

Soil Conditioning Index Fact Sheet (430 KB) - Answers what a soil conditioning index is, why it is important, its role in the implementation of CSP, and other uses.

Stream Solutions: A Landowner's Guide (647 KB) - This brochure provides environmentally beneficial, cost-effective alternatives to straightening a stream channel.

Stripcropping: Iowa Job Sheet (164 KB)

Strip-Till: Iowa Job Sheet (392 KB)

Technical Service Providers (554 KB) - Information for prospective TSPs, interested landowners and NRCS employees in Iowa.

Terraces: Iowa Job Sheet (165 KB) - Learn about the different types of terraces, how they work, installation requirements of each, and maintenance.

Tillage Equipment Pocket ID Guide (3.7 MB)

Urban Conservation Fact Sheets - A set of six urban conservation practice fact sheets. Practices include: Low Impact Development (LID), Bioswales, Native Landscaping, Pervious Paving, Rain Gardens, and Soil Quality Restoration.
(Limited Availability)

Women, Land and Legacy^sm: Building Your Farm's Future Today -  (179 KB)
(Out of Print)