The multifunctional agronomic, ecological, economic and social uses of grass-based agricultural systems in peri-urban Marion County, Iowa, were the subject of investigation from 2003 to 2005. Following a sociocultural analysis that identified diverse motivations of cow–calf operators, an on-farm, agroecological experiment was established with a member of the study group. The objective of the experiment was to investigate the feasibility of establishing a multifunctional prairie pasture in response to the operator's interest in certified organic, warm-season plant species paddocks. At the field level, the implementation of native grasses and legumes into fallow pasture without the use of herbicides under flash grazing, mowing and unmanaged control treatments showed differences in species establishment and pasture composition. After three growing seasons, native species were evident in all treatments, with no significant differences between grazing and mowing in total native species establishment. There was a trend toward greater native legume establishment in the control over the managed treatments. Thus, total species abundance was greatest in control plots, suggesting this treatment for maximum prairie pasture establishment without herbicides. Concurrence was observed between motivations expressed by cow–calf operators in the sociocultural study (i.e. biodiversity preservation and sustainable management of natural resources) and outcomes from the prairie pasture experimental system. Support for grass-based systems from local institutions at the community level is necessary for the expansion of prairie pastures in Iowa and throughout the tallgrass prairie region.

Cow-calf operations in grass-based agricultural systems in Marion County, Iowa, are multifunctional in their provision of agronomic, ecological, economic and social uses. Since 1992, however, pastureland and cow-calf operations have decreased because of urban encroachment, leading to a speculative loss of some beneficial functions. The goal of this interdisciplinary project, conducted from 2003 to 2005, was to employ a farming systems research and evaluation platform to investigate grassland multifunctionality at farm, field and community levels. A socio-cultural analysis was conducted with the objective of identifying motivations of cow-calf operators to remain on the land despite increasing urban pressure. Environmental, as well as socio-economic, parameters were evaluated in understanding grassland multifunctionality in semi-structured interviews and a focus group. Typology classes derived from the study placed the majority of participants as maintaining integrated cattle and grain operations as full-time income sources. At the farm and community levels, themes from participants' responses suggested that the relevance of profit from a cow-calf operation is mediated by a wide range of livelihood and lifestyle choices, and that operators have diverse criteria regarding the suitability of land for pasture. Themes encompassing farm preservation and building intergenerational social capital were particularly evident among the full-time, integrated cattle/grain crop family farm members. At the community level, governmental policies rewarding practices that increase field and farm biodiversity, as demonstrated by a prairie pasture system implemented in a follow-up on-farm experiment, will facilitate greater support of grass-based systems from local institutions. In order to address the educational needs expressed by study participants, extension and federal environmental agencies are encouraged to provide relevant design and implementation recommendations in recognition of local knowledge related to farmland multifunctionality and sustainable land usage for integrated crop and livestock operations.

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