A wide variety of wildlife species give out Butternut Grove Farm as their home address. Through CRP, owners of the Iowa farm planted a cornucopia of trees, grasses, and forbs to support an abundance of animals.

The plantings attract native wildlife that had gone missing while the land was farmed. Among other wildlife, majority owner Jim Tabor has identified 50 bird species, such as the downy woodpecker, eastern meadowlark, red-tailed hawk, wild turkey, and great horned owl.

The property's 55 wildflower species include black-eyed susans, shooting stars, purple cone flowers, and blanket flowers. Jim explained that he and his sons John and Joe took special care when planting the ash, black walnut, and red oak trees. They planted the 35,000 trees on a contour to catch maximum water for the wildlife and to improve soil conservation. Much of the work was done by hand.

Farm owner Jim Tabor noted an increase of monarch butterflies after the CRP plantings took shape.

Goldfinch clutch in tree planted on CRP.

Gamma grass planted on CRP prevents soil erosion and provides wildlife habitat.

A rabbit finds shelter in a hollow log.

Turkey eggs nested among CRP grass and forbs mixture.

A variety of wildflowers can be found in native prairie mixed species planted on CRP.

Ash Colonnade installed by the Tabor family using CRP cost-share assistance.

Big blue stem prairie grass--one of the diverse species planted on this CRP contract acreage.

Grove of ash trees. The Tabors planted the trees on the contour.

Grove of ash, walnut, and oak trees planted with CRP cost-share assistance.

Jim Tabor inspects eastern gamma grass planted on CRP acreage.

Jim Tabor surveys ash trees and gamma grass successfully installed in his wildlife haven on CRP.

Jim Tabor uses a tractor to survey grass and tree plantings on his farm.

The Tabor family enrolled newly planted and existing trees in CRP.

Panoramic view of gamma grass-big blue stem planting on Tabor CRP acreage.

Panoramic view of transition between grass mixture and tree planting in the valley.

Panoramic view of tree planting.

Panoramic view of tree planting in valley. Jim Tabor inspects the acreage by tractor.

Silver maple colonnade installed by the Tabor family.

Wild lupine is among the plant diversity achieved on the Tabors' CRP acreage.