Prairie Prophets

21/11/2024

Roeslein Alternative Energy’s (RAE) Director of Government Relations and Horizon II Grant Director, Bryan Sievers, regularly hosts educational tours at his roughly 2,500-acre farm in Stockton, IA. One group, the US Sustainability Alliance (USSA) visited Sievers Family Farms to learn about regenerative agriculture practices, including anaerobic co-digestion of manure, food waste, corn stover, cereal rye straw, and, most recently, biomass from cover crops. Sievers Family Farms is a highly integral partner in achieving the efforts of RAE’s Horizon II project.

Learn more about the Horizon II Climate-Smart Commodities Grant project and read the article from USSA about the economic and environmental benefits of a circular farming approach implemented on Sievers Family Farms!

https://hubs.la/Q02Z6-wj0

https://hubs.la/Q02Z6SVJ0

Sievers Family Farms in Iowa is one of a growing number of farms using manure-based anaerobic digesters. These digesters convert farm waste into valuable byproducts, such as renewable electricity and fertilizer, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

15/10/2024

A recent article in Iowa Farmer Today examines nutrient loss reduction strategies in the U.S. Midwestern states of Iowa and Missouri. Notably, 2024 marks a decade since Missouri, the "Show-Me State," implemented its nutrient loss reduction plan. In Iowa, the state's approach focuses on maintaining soil fertility by monitoring critical metrics, including cover crops, tillage practices, and the application of synthetic fertilizers. Nutrient loss, namely nitrogen and phosphorous, from non-point sources like agricultural run-off, negatively impacts farmers' profitability, diminishes soil productivity, and contributes to hypoxia zones in the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River.

Roeslein Alternative Energy's Horizon II project, part of the USDA's Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities Grant program, seeks to reduce the nutrient loss on farms by promoting a cyclical model that enhances on-farm energy production, ecological services, and wildlife restoration for small and mid-sized farmers in Iowa and Missouri. Over the next five years, we aim to plant over 40,000 acres of winter-hardy cereal rye cover crop material and restore an additional 40,000 acres of prairie harvested for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) production in Northern Missouri and Southern Iowa.

Nutrient loss from Midwestern fields has caused problems for farmers and in the faraway waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

23/07/2024

Have you watched Season 1 of Prairie Prophets yet? Filming for season 2 is underway - and it's going to be a great continuation of telling the stories that are inspiring our journey! Now streaming on https://hubs.la/Q02HFM3f0 and https://hubs.la/Q02HFxSm0

11/07/2024

The ability to store natural gas in salt caves acts as a natural battery, which can decrease the carbon intensity of America’s energy system. This natural battery is available, viable, and already in use. https://hubs.la/Q02GbK_b0

09/07/2024

The full Season One of Prairie Prophets is now live on our YouTube channel!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWNDUmEYZB9uvUiBdySMcBKhIb64hG4TL&si=eL692pTL6OFwVQUR

28/06/2024

The Conservation Federation of Missouri won the coveted “Affiliate of the Year” award last night in Washington DC at the National Wildlife Federation’s Annual Awards Dinner. Tyler Schwarze, Executive Director of the Federation, accepted the award and was joined on stage by his Board of Directors. Congratulations to all of your hard work and continued support of our Horizon II Initiatives!

25/06/2024

Get to know the vibrant and multi-purposed prairie plant - Blue Wild Indigo with Frank Oberle.

21/06/2024

The Prairie is speaking to us - calling us all to action. We need the prairie as much as the prairie needs us right now.

17/06/2024

Filming for Season 2 of Prairie Prophets has officially started with Prairie Power Author, Kathy Love as our first guest! Kathy understands how prairies can truly heal the planet. Looking forward to compelling season!

05/06/2024

Frank is back with another Prairie Minute with Frank Oberle - this time with Golden Alexander, a flowering herbaceous perennial of the carrot family.

30/05/2024

The Prairie is gorgeous this time of year!

17/05/2024

Seed Service Contractor

The contractor will provide quote and seed according to following standards: -Quote for the following seed mix. -Seed must be northern Missouri or southern Iowa ecotype seed. -Seed will be planted in dormancy (winter of 2024-2025) -Seed germination tests must be up to date (Mar 1, 2024) according to...

25/04/2024

Unlocking soil balance for crop success

Utilizing nutritional cultural practices can effectively manage a farm’s ecosystem and provide the necessary soil balance for successful crop development, southeast Iowa farmer Michael Vittetoe said during the National Cover Crop Summit last month.

23/04/2024

Field of Dreams: If you build biodiversity, soil health will come

Have you seen the movie “Field of Dreams”? In the movie, Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella is inspired by a voice to build a “totally illogical” baseball field where his cornfield used to be.

03/04/2024

Don't miss out! Mark your calendars.
Native Plant Sale @ MU Bradford Research Center in Columbia

02/04/2024

IDALS, Ducks Unlimited to construct wetlands

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and Ducks Unlimited are partnering in a five-year, $7.1 million project agreement to construct up to 60 water quality wetlands and install other proven conservation practices like multipurpose oxbows, bioreactors and saturated buffers a...

21/03/2024

The USDA featured the work we are doing with the Climate Smart Commodities Grant in their latest publication found under, "Policies and Programs for Capacity Building and Market Development in Biomass Supply Chain Systems".

21/03/2024

Roeslein Alternative Energy unveils plans for Horizon II Project in northern Missouri

Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) successfully launched its Horizon II information session on March 1, attracting approximately 75 individuals eager to