Minnesotans take pride in generally good water quality in
lakes and streams, and they have a lot of ideas how to keep it that way or
improve it where necessary. More than 2,000 attended Water Quality Town Hall
meetings this past summer and fall, and more participated on line. Together they provided more than 3,500 comments about water quality goals and
actions.
Governor
Mark Dayton hosted the meetings in 10 communities to solicit ideas for the '25 by 25' campaign, a 25 percent
improvement average in water quality by 2025. Environmental
Quality Board staff presented a summary of the town hall meetings at the
Dec. 20 EQB meeting. A final report is being planned for sometime in January.
Local groups and communities were key partners in organizing meetings and providing input. Some of the top messages heard included the need for education,
communication, civic engagement, and reducing runoff by holding more water on
the land. The meetings and final report will provide a strong foundation for accelerating
action and innovation towards meeting the 25 by 25 goal. Town hall meetings took place in Rochester, Mankato, Marshall,
Crookston, St. Cloud, Ely, Bemidji, Minneapolis, Burnsville, Stillwater. Photo:
St. Cloud meeting Sept. 6.
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A new post has been published
to the Minnesota Crop News Blog: Nutrient Management
Podcast: Managing Nutrients in the Winter Season. In this episode of the
podcast, Dan Kaiser, Jeff Vetsch, Fabian Fernandez and Brad Carlson talk about
managing nutrients as we head into winter. We're talking fall urea, tile flow,
cover crops and hard freeze, and how all those factors affect nutrient loss. Click here to listen: https://z.umn.edu/35y3.
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Two Wadena County forage-based farming operations have joined the ranks of Minnesota's Water Quality Certified farms. Tom Schulz farms in central Wadena County near Sebeka. Tom's farming operation involves forage production and pasture, and he uses rotational grazing practices to improve forage availability and prevent overgrazing. Tom's operation also involves timber farming and agroforestry practices, and he has enrolled some areas of his farms in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
Chuck Horsager's farm is also in central Wadena County near Sebeka. Chuck's farm is in continual hay production and also has five acres of tree planting. Since the farm is in perennial vegetation, the water and/or wind erosion rates are extremely low. Water runoff and delivery of any soil or nutrients to streams or lakes is negligible, and the land use of Chuck's farm also prevents the leaching of nutrients into ground water resources. With this farm in either hay or timber, this vegetation serves as a filter or buffer, protecting any nearby streams or ponds.
Across Minnesota, more than 480 farming operations of all types are now certified as protecting water quality in Minnesota's three-year old Ag Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP). Wadena Pioneer-Journal photo: L-R: Brian Napstad, BWSR Board Chairman; Matt Wohlman, Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture, MDA; Tom Schultz; Kathryn Kelly, BWSR Board Member; Rebecca Flood, MPCA Assistant Commissioner; John Jaschke, BWSR Executive Director.
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State law requires companies, site managers and applicators that manage or apply manure for hire to obtain a Commercial Animal Waste Technician (CAWT) license from the Dept. of Agriculture. Six certification workshops have been scheduled around the state, beginning Jan. 16 at Pork Congress in Minneapolis. The workshops include CAWT program update, runoff risk advisory forecast, tile drainage, record-keeping, and 'manure math'. Workshop schedule:
- Jan. 16: Pork Congress, Minneapolis Convention Center.
- Jan. 31: Sauk Centre City Hall.
- Feb. 22: Hutchinson, Days Inn.
- March 6: Mankato National Guard Armory.
- March 14: Pizza Ranch, Slayton.
- March 16: Steele County Four Seasons Center, Owatonna.
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Farmers, agronomists and other ag professionals with an interest in nutrient management and water issues are encouraged to attend upcoming conferences showcasing the latest research on fertilizer and manure management, water quality and tile drainage, and more.
The Fourth Annual Nitrogen: Minnesota’s Grand Challenge and Compelling Opportunity Conference will be held Feb. 6 at the Rivers Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud, with registration beginning at 8:15 a.m. Attendees can expect to learn more about cover crops, tile drainage and on-farm testing to improve profitability and water quality. Speakers include Dr. Matt Helmers, Iowa State University; Dr. Howard Brown, Illini FS; along with several University of Minnesota researchers. Click here to register.
This year marks the tenth Annual Nutrient Management Conference. Conference will be held Feb. 20 at the Verizon Conference Center in Mankato, with registration starting at 8:15 a.m. Sessions will cover trends in phosphorus and sulfur management, in-season nitrogen applications and cures for phosphorus runoff losses from farmland. Dr. Don Flaten, University of Manitoba and Dr. Emerson Nafziger, University of Illinois will be joined by Minnesota researchers. Click here to register.
Hosted by the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center and University of Minnesota Extension along with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and several other sponsors, the two conferences continue a partnership effort that has grown in recent years and attracts several hundred attendees. Several presentations will provide updates on research funded by the Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council, an industry-led program funded through an assessment on fertilizer sold in Minnesota. Learn more about AFREC here.
Certified crop advisors will earn continuing education credits in nutrient management and water quality. To register, go to http://mawrc.org/events/. Online registration is encouraged but not required. Conference registration is $20 up to one day prior to the event, which can be paid online (requires a $3.16 service fee) or at the door by check or cash. On-site registration is $25, payable by cash or check.
For the latest nutrient management information, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow on Twitter or visit their website.
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The
"SWCD of the Year" award presented Dec. 5 at the MASWCD convention went to Crow Wing. The
award recognizes business, leadership, and program activities. Crow Wing SWCD
has been a leading county in Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) easements for lake
and forest protection. As a host district for their Technical Service
Area, they excel at tracking and reporting grants, and providing GIS
technical support. The Outstanding Conservationist award went to Sandhill
Dairy and Toad River Farms, represented by the Bob Dombeck Family of
Perham. Photo: Sheila Boldt, CW SWCD (left), Darren Mayers, CW
SWCD, Melissa Barrick, CW SWCD, Diane Jacobson, SWCD Board Supervisor, Bob Albrecht,
SWCD Board Supervisor, Scott Kittleson, NRCS District Conservationist, Joanne
Weaver, SWCD Board Supervisor, Leonard
Koering, SWCD Board Supervisor, and Tasha Koering, CW SWCD (right). Missing: Beth Hippert, CW SWCD; and Roger
Waytashek, SWCD Board Supervisor. Photo credit: Red Canoe.
Other awards presented at the awards
lunch Dec. 4:
- MASWCD/MPCA Community
Conservationist -
Cheryl
Seeman, nominated by Anoka CD, and presented by Glenn Skuta, MPCA
Watershed Division director (at right in photo).
- MASWCD/DNR Division of
Forestry Outstanding Forest Steward - Dave Parent, nominated by Itasca
SWCD.
- MASWCD Legislator of the Year
- Sen. Carrie Ruud.
- MASWCD Teacher of the Year -
John Sammler, Hopkins High School.
- Outstanding SWCD Supervisor -
Paul Krabbenhoft, Clay SWCD Supervisor, MASWCD Northwest Area 1
Director, and MASWCD Secretary/Treasurer.
- DNR Division of Ecological
and Water Resources Appreciation Award - Olmsted SWCD.
- Conservation District
Employee Award, presented by the Board of Water and Soil Resources -
Peter Mead, Becker SWCD Manager.
Various programs of the MPCA were represented at the trade
show Monday, Dec. 4, and Tuesday, Dec. 5, at the "Conservation
Information Fair." The Minnesota Association of Soil and Water
Conservation Districts represents the 89 soil and water conservation
districts of Minnesota.
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Increased
temporary water storage in the upper basin offers the greatest opportunity and
least cost for reducing sediment in the Minnesota River, according to Patrick Belmont of Utah State University.
Belmont gave an overview of sediment and nutrient issues in the Minnesota River
at the Minnesota River Congress' ninth meeting Nov. 16 in Jordan. Despite much
effort and expense over the past decade, there have been no reductions in
nitrogen or sediment, while phosphorus has dropped 33 percent, mostly due to
improvements in municipal wastewater treatment.
More recently, scientists have been studying how artificial
drainage affects stream flow. At the field scale it helps water infiltration,
while creating flow spikes at the watershed scale, Belmont says. Managing
land use is the key to reducing sediment loss at low and moderate flows, using
tools such as drainage and ditch management, wetlands, buffers, water
retention, increasing soil organic matter, cover crops, and bank stabilization.
During his postdoctoral research, Belmont led a large
collaborative project developing a sediment budget and morphodynamic sediment
routing model for the Le Sueur River. At Utah State he continues to
develop his research program in watershed hydrology, environmental
geochemistry, and geomorphology. Anyone interested in getting copies of
Patrick's papers can contact him directly or check his webpage.
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After 40
years of combined service to the state, MPCA Assistant Commissioner Rebecca
Flood has announced she is retiring, effective Feb.16, 2018. Flood, in the
photo at right, served at the Metropolitan Council from 1978 to 2008,
responsible for ensuring that metropolitan area wastewater treatment plants
were meeting environmental requirements. She joined the MPCA in 2008 as the
assistant commissioner for water policy, and also served as the agency's agricultural liaison.
Shannon Lotthammer will serve as the new assistant commissioner
for water policy effective upon Flood’s retirement. Lotthammer has been with
the MPCA for more than 20 years, and has served as the Environmental Analysis
and Outcomes (EAO) division director since 2012. In that role, she has
demonstrated great skill in leading the agency in establishing science-based
water quality standards, expanding air quality monitoring, revising the wild
rice rule, helping adapt MPCA work to address environmental justice, and
championing a variety of improvement projects.
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The
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency closed its office in Willmar,
effective Friday, Dec. 8, 2017. The six staff members assigned to the office
have been re-assigned to alternate work locations, and also work from the
Marshall MPCA office. Agriculture Stewardship newsletter editor Forrest Peterson
can be contacted at 320-979-1776, or forrest.Peterson@state.mn.us.
One of seven MPCA regional offices outside the Twin City metro
area, the Willmar office opened in 1999 at 201 28th Ave. SW. In 2006, it moved
to 1601 E. Hwy. 12. With the fewest staff among regional offices, MPCA
officials decided that closure would reduce costs with minimal effect on
services.
Along with the MPCA office in Marshall, the Willmar office served 18 counties
in southwestern Minnesota. The Marshall office, which opened in 1976, will
continue to work with citizens and businesses in protecting the environment.
Other regional offices are located in Duluth, Brainerd, Detroit
Lakes, Mankato, and Rochester. More information about these MPCA offices is
available on the agency's MPCA offices webpage.
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Gov. Dayton sends letter on farm bill priorities Governor Mark Dayton has sent a letter to Minnesota’s congressional delegation, outlining the priorities of the state for the next federal farm bill. The governor’s letter includes recommendations to support Minnesota’s farm and rural economies, nutrition, and conservation and water quality in the farm bill. For more information contact Sam Fettig, press secretary, 130 State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155. Office: 651-201-3408.
Farm Advocates expand statewide reach MDA news release, 12/18/17 Minneapolis Tribune series on agriculture and food, Dec. 17-20: • Part 1: Changing consumers ignite food revolution
• Part 2: Rise of grass-fed meat forces industry to shift
• Part 3: More shoppers demand ethical meat treatment
• Part 4: A better French fry, but will consumers buy it?
Soil and Water Conservation Society NewsBriefs, 12/28/17
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Jan. 11-12: Minnesota Organic Conference, River's Edge Conference Center, St. Cloud. Jan. 17: South Dakota Soil Health Coalition annual meeting, Watertown. Jan 24: Minnesota Ag Expo, Verizon Center, Mankato. Feb. 6: Minnesota Nitrogen Conference, Rivers Edge Conference Center, St. Cloud. Feb. 15: Minnesota Independent Crop Consultants Association winter meeting, Hutchinson. Feb. 19: Nutrient, soil, and water management conference, Fergus Falls. April 12-14: State of the Water Conference, Breezy Point Resort, Brainerd.
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The
MPCA Feedlot Update welcomes news from partners about, projects, people, and
upcoming events. Email submissions to forrest.peterson@state.mn.us.
Past issues of Feedlot Update are available on the feedlot program publications webpage.
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