Meet a MAWQCP-certified producer: Josh Krenz
 For Josh Krenz, a third-generation cattle farmer near Princeton, Minnesota, water has always been part of what he's had to think about. "Water is essential to everything we do," Krenz explains.
Krenz is MAWQCP certified, and says the program gives farmers the opportunity to ask questions, be educated in a safe environment, and get certified.
"One of the things that the program is working on with us right now is our manure handling. When you have cattle in Minnesota, at some point in the wintertime the cattle congregate." The certification program helped Krenz think about how to manage that area better to be sure there wasn't unintentional runoff carrying manure to local waterways.
Read Josh's full feature by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency here. He was also interviewed as part of the We Are Water MN exhibit. You can listen to his story at the traveling exhibit in the Sherburne History Center in Becker, MN until April 24, or online any time.
Josh is part of Windland Flats, a team of several farms in Eastern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin working together to provide year-round products to consumers.
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Additional funding opportunity for MAWQCP applicants and participants
Funding through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program - Land Management (RCPP-LM) in Minnesota is open to producers who are MAWQCP certified or are working towards certification.
These funds are available for producers looking to implement approved practices that will benefit water quality.
Applications for this round of RCPP-LM funding are due May 12. Act soon to have your local MAWQCP certifier review your eligibility.
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 Exploring land transition, land access, or agricultural employment opportunities? FarmLink is a listing service of Minnesota farms that are for sale and/or rent. It's also a way for farmers and agricultural businesses to post job and mentorship opportunities and for those interested in working on farms or in the agricultural sector to post resumes. Additionally, FarmLink can connect existing farmers seeking to pass on their legacy to beginning farmers to help facilitate learning opportunities and farm transition. Visit FarmLink to make an account and explore listings.
Live local this spring with Minnesota Grown's new magazine
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Living Local, Minnesota Grown's new seasonal magazine, is now available around the state and online. Living Local will ignite Minnesotans' love of local foods through seasonal, mouthwatering recipes and the latest information on what is in season. Each edition includes seasonal recipes, local product tips and tricks, producer features, and links and QR codes that take consumers to the Minnesota Grown directory to find producers near them. |
Consumers can flip through a digital version of the magazine, published on the Minnesota Grown website.
The MDA provides waste pesticide collections accessible to residents across Minnesota. Find county-specific collection information here. Waste pesticide disposal is free up to 300 pounds. The MDA may charge for waste pesticide volumes in excess of 300 pounds. If you have more than 300 pounds of waste pesticides to dispose of, please call 612-214-6843 or contact the Household Hazardous Waste facility in your county.
The MDA does not pay for or accept disposal of treated seeds or rinsates. For information about how to dispose of those materials, see guidance from the MN Pollution Control Agency or The Pesticide Stewardship Association.
A fourth year of data comparing the farm financials of MAWQCP-certified farms participating in the Farm Business Management Program shows that these producers continue to have higher average farm profit than their non-certified peer farms.
This data indicates a positive return on investment for the whole farm conservation management producers implement to become Water Quality Certified. The full results of this fourth economic study including the 2022 growing season will be released later this spring. Details on the economic studies can be found at AgCentric.org.
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