The greatest areas of grasslands occur in the prairie regions of the Midwest and west. These grasslands are areas where grass is mowed and used for grazing. When the grassland is cut for hay, it is called a Meadow and if the area is used for grazing, it is called a Pasture. Meadows remain green, if cut, through summer and fall and consists of grasses such as Kentucky Bluegrass, Timothy, Orchard Grass, and Foxtail Barley while pastures are a rich green color, short and contain a number of weeds.
Flowers are also visible in late spring through fall in meadows.
Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers can be found hunting for food over agricultural land and they are both ground nesters in the grasslands. When mowing for hay it is a hazard to the grassland species. These areas are mowed in early summer at the peak of the breeding season which can destroy the nests, chicks and adults. When agricultural grasslands are not used, ceasing of mowing and grazing stop, the areas become old fields where the other grasses such as Crabgrass and Witch Grass, weeds and shrubs take over and will become forests if undisturbed. Eventually, the grasses are replaced by Redcedar, Loblolly Pine, Black Cherry and spruces and pines if a seed source is nearby.