Natural Resources Conservation Service

Plant Materials Program

United States Department of Agriculture

Beyond Traditional Borders: Working with Native American Tribes

NRCS Plant Materials Centers provide assistance to American Indian tribes on cultivation of culturally significant plants.

Feature banner image of sweetgrass braids

Developing Monarch Habitat in the South Texas Plains

Newly released native grasses and wildflowers adapted to south Texas were planted in large scale demonstrations plantings to develop pollinator and monarch habitat on the Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area.

Got Cover Crops?

Plant Materials Centers are creating the tools farmers and conservation planners in the Northwest need to successfully integrate cover crops into their
rotations for added diversity, soil health, nutrient management, and more.

Photo of six-way cover crop mix in bloom at the Corvallis, Oregon Plant Materials Center in May 2016.

How much clover seed is enough?

What are the effective seeding rates of uncoated vs. coated crimson clover seed? Field trials at the Georgia and Mississippi Plant Materials Centers are trying to answer this question.

Cereal rye, taking it to the next level

Cereal rye is a popular cover crop because of versatility & performance. Work at the Kansas Plant Materials Center and Nationally is guiding cover crop selection beyond the species level.