Interview: February 10, 2023

Monica Thelen
Land Management Coordinator, Wildlife Bureau

Special thanks to Mike Chandler of Illinois DNR for also participating in this conversation.

Management: The policies, statutes, and laws that govern the management of Iowa DNR-owned land (as well as the land it manages but does not own) are all interrelated and interwoven. Iowa DNR staff need to navigate all of these carefully. The first priority of all decisions is the stewardship of the natural resources.

Iowa DNR has 16 wildlife management units around the state. Each unit manages a number of wildlife management areas that each have their own management plan. Farming is one of a large suite of management options, and Iowa DNR believes farming is a good option, When habitat restoration is the long-term plan for a property, farming can provide good seedbed preparation for future restorations. It can also serve to keep invasive plant pressure at bay in some landscapes. Farming can also provide food for deer so that nearby private lands don’t suffer as much depredation. In addition, on smaller “pocket” properties, farming can be the most efficient use of Iowa DNR resources. 

Leasing Structure and Conservation: Of the 400,000+ acres that IDNR manages (some of which it owns), around 38,000 acres (about 8 percent of all lands) are under “habitat management leases” using farming practices. There are approximately 400 habitat management leases. The manager of the specific wildlife management area develops the terms of each lease to serve the management and habitat needs for that area with specific terms and conditions that are appropriate. Although most leases are three years in length, there can be some variability.

Once a particular lease is developed, the Land & Water Bureau within the Iowa DNR administers the lease. Nathan Schmitz is the staff person within the Bureau who holds that responsibility. Nathan is leading the effort to coordinate and standardize the leasing approach across wildlife management areas to achieve more consistency where that is practical. This effort is being balanced with recognition that the right farming practices and farming lease structure need to vary based on the particular conditions of a site or region. Applying a cookie-cutter farming approach across the state would not be appropriate.

If the likely value of a lease is under $5,000, there is no need to bid out the lease. Instead, an arrangement can be worked out directly with the farmer of choice.

Many of Iowa DNR’s leases require cover crops, but capacity for monitoring and enforcement are limited so compliance with that requirement can be an issue. Many of the leases also require planting of food plots and have restrictions on forage cutting dates. 

There can be some limitations on leasing and land management practices based on how land was purchased as the funding sources for land acquisition can sometimes impose restrictions that must be followed after the land is acquired. In addition, when the Iowa DNR manages land for other entities, those entities may also have unique requirements and prohibitions.

Bidding and lease pricing is set at normal market rates, but the net payable amount is reduced to reflect additional requirements expected of the farmer. Invoices document “custom farming” value (using custom farming rates for the state) for what farmers do as part of the lease, whether that be planting of cover crops and food plots or removing brush.  

Farmers are often required to leave 10-15% of planted crops unharvested for wildlife use and to then recover what is left after March 1. 

Iowa DNR does have some herbicide restrictions in its leases. Conversation is beginning at Iowa DNR about neonicotinoids in light of data showing negative ecological impacts. However, Iowa DNR also understands that getting uncoated corn seeds can be an issue for farmers. 

Lease to Beginning Farmer Program: Through the Lease to Beginning Farmer Program, Iowa DNR is directed to contribute to Iowa agriculture by making it easier for qualified beginning farmers to gain access to land early on in their business’ development. When a beginning farmer is qualified, they must then contact the local wildlife management area manager and let the manager know of their interest if leasing opportunities coming up. Leases are only offered when in the best interest of the habitat or recreation of a given property. Beginning farmers are given priority access to properties set aside for the program. 

In November, DNR staff post available leases for the following crop year. If a beginning farmer is interested in one of these leases, they must be certified to have met all qualifications by completing the certification form administered by the Iowa Agricultural Developmental Division. Some of the certification requirements relate to things like residency (a farmer must be a permanent resident) and assets (the latest application specified that to qualify a beginning farmer must have a net worth less than $686,000). Other requirements relate to the farmer’s readiness to farm in terms of education, experience, available equipment, and financing access through a bank. If a farmer is certified, the farmer then needs to reach out to the local wildlife management area manager and let him/her know of the farmer’s interest in bidding on lease opportunities coming up. If no beginning farmer is interested or available to farm a particular property, Iowa DNR staff then follow normal bidding procedures.

The Iowa DNR encourages beginning farmers to look over the lease details and the properties in question carefully because the terms often differ from standard ag leases due to conservation requirements. In addition, most Iowa DNR sites “…have some farming challenges, such as limited access, potential to flood or small fields.” (quote from Iowa DNR press release of 2019).

Farmer Relationships: The Iowa DNR considers its ties with farmers to be partnerships, and as such, it’s important to respect and value them.

Farming: Most farming on Iowa DNR land is the row cropping of corn and beans. About 3,000 acres are being grazed with cattle for conservation outcomes. This is usually done with cattle, but there is some use of goats as well. The grazing is typically not year-round but is instead done temporarily (this includes patch-burn grazing) for habitat management needs. To help the public understand that the grazing is being done for conservation purposes, the Iowa DNR carries out public outreach in a variety of ways. It uses, for example, signs that read, “Grazing to produce prairies.”

Iowa DNR has some acres devoted to sorghum for both the production of seed and as habitat for pheasants and other wildlife. Sunflowers are also grown in some areas as food for doves. With grant funding support, Iowa DNR is also producing some triticale and wheat seed for use on its own lands as cover crops.