The next time you happen to be cruising around the countryside, be on the lookout for signs of progress on agriculture and water quality. Literally, signs, like the one at right announcing that a farm has achieved Agricultural Water Quality Certification. More are appearing as the Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture program is making steady progress. As of January 2018 more than 500 farms managing more than 300,000 acres have met the certification requirements with best management practices for water quality. In return they will be considered in compliance with any new water quality regulations for 10 years.

Financial incentives also help farm owners and managers take the step. Since 2014 more than $5 million in Clean Water Funds have been spent or committed through local partners such as Soil and Water Conservation Districts. In seven regions around the state technical service providers within SWCDs work with farmers on the application and required BMPs. Participating farmers are eligible for grants up to $5,000, and gain leverage for EQIP financial assistance, which brought more than $1.8 million last year.

Feedback from participating farmers so far has been very positive. Among the responses in a recent survey, many say they would be very likely to encourage other farmers to participate. The current goal is to have one million acres enrolled by 2020, says Brad Redlin, program director. A major step occurred recently when Land O' Lakes became an ally through its SUSTAIN program. In the Red River Valley the U of M's Northwest Regional Sustainability Partnership is helping out. "We really rely on many agencies and resources to make progress," says Marcie Weinandt, operations coordinator.

MAWQCP in the news

Certifiably the best: Farmers adopt conservation practices
Fergus Falls Daily Journal, 2/20/18
Forrest Briard farm earns Minnesota water quality certification
Perham Focus, 2/10/18

MAWQCP welcomes new staff

Clarissa Levi began working as the MAWQCP Agronomy and Conservation Services Coordinator in September 2017. Her primary responsibilities include development and implementation of a certified farm auditing process and providing technical support to field staff. Clarissa has more than 14 years of experience in agronomy and conservation work, including time with the Minnesota Pesticide Applicator Recertification Program, Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s Pest Survey Program, Alaska’s Citizens Advisory Commission on Federal Areas, the Nevada Conservation Corps, and Caledonia Farmers Elevator. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Michigan State University and a M.S. in Agronomy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Danielle Isaacson started in December 2017 as the MAWQCP Program Development Specialist. Her primary responsibilities include program communications, operations, and partnership development. Danielle has a degree in Environmental Studies from Denison University and five years of experience in the environmental field. Most recently, she worked at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency with the MN GreenCorps program.

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Governor Mark Dayton released a new report summarizing key findings from ten Water Quality Town Hall meetings held last year with Minnesotans across the state. The report, which summarizes more than 3,500 suggestions from more than 2,000 meeting attendees, recommends strategies to boost water quality education efforts, empower local action and collaboration, and increase investments in local clean water infrastructure, among other ideas. Improving education and reducing runoff ranked among the top themes and comments.

Between July and October 2017, Governor Dayton and state agency leaders traveled throughout the state to hear from Minnesotans about their ideas to protect and improve water quality in Minnesota communities. At these Water Quality Town Hall Meetings, the governor and members of his administration talked with Minnesotans about the “25 by 25” Water Quality Goal and other ideas to ensure all Minnesotans have access to clean, reliable, affordable water, no matter where they live. To read the full Water Quality Town Hall Meetings Report, CLICK HERE. Photo: St. Cloud meeting Sept. 6.

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The Board of Water and Soil Resources has completed a feasibility study and plan for a Working Lands Watershed Restoration Program. It would provide incentives for landowners to plant perennial and cover crops that will improve water quality. The report includes an overview of promising crops and livestock enterprises, including perennial grasses and winter annual cover crops that keep roots in the soil and vegetation on the land throughout the year, improving soil health and wildlife habitat, storing carbon, and capturing excess nitrogen. Many of these crops can be grown for food or beverage production, grazed, used for livestock feed and bedding, or processed for applications such as bio-jet fuel, bio-based packaging, and renewable chemicals.

The study was directed by the 2016 Minnesota Legislature (Laws 2016, c. 189, s. 4) with the goal of improving water quality by increasing living cover on the landscape at a watershed scale. BWSR coordinated this effort with stakeholders and other state agencies, including agricultural and resource conservation interests, commodity groups, watershed districts, soil and water conservation districts, the biofuels industry, landowners, researchers at the U of M, and the  departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Health, and Pollution Control Agency. Photo: Samples of products from camelina, an alternative crop cultivated for oil, as demonstrated at the U of M-Morris.

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Independent crop consultants association convention

Speaking at the winter education meeting of the Minnesota Independent Crop Consultants Association Feb. 15 in Hutchinson, Dr. Yuxin Miao described new research on the potential of precision nitrogen management. Combining soil, landscape, and yield data can create site-specific seed hybrid and nitrogen management. Dr. Miao, a research specialist at the U of M Precision Agriculture Center, described his vision for nitrogen research: Watershed target areas, zone-based precision nitrogen management, nitrogen stresses vs. other stresses, nitrogen management algorithms and strategies for Minnesota, and combine remote sensing and crop growth management. He said Minnesota should establish a conference on precision agriculture. Such a conference is being held Feb. 27 in Aberdeen, SD. Photo: Dr. Miao and MPCA staff Forrest Peterson talk in the exhibit area.

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Conservation farming practices such as reduced tillage and cover crops are taking root among farmers in Renville and surrounding counties. The seed is being planted by a handful of farmers, some of who shared their experiences at a meeting Feb. 21 in Renville. More than 100 farmers and conservation professionals heard presentations and a panel discussion among six farmers using the practices, which offer both economic and environmental benefits.

Renville County farmer Dave Wordes began using no-till in 2001 and cover crops three years ago. "The longer we're into no-till we see that we don't need deep tillage anymore," he says. "The hardest thing is making the change." The father-and-son-in-law team of Brad Nere and Kyle VanOverbeke, who farm about 1,350 acres near Danube, have been using cover crops for five years and strip-till for three years. After seeing severe winter wind erosion one year, it "really opened our eyes that we needed to do something different," Kyle says. Dean Schroeder, who started using cover crops five years ago on his farm near Renville, said "I wish I had started cover crops earlier." He encourages farmers to attend a national no-till conference.

The program included presentations about strip-till and reduced tillage by Jodi DeJong-Hughes of U of M Extension and Dorian Gatchell of Minnesota Ag Services. Jennifer Hahn of Pheasants Forever talked about profitable precision conservation. Meeting sponsors included Renville County, Hawk Creek Watershed Project, Renville SWCD, and Cover Crop Champions. Photo above: Cover crop in Renville County soybean field.

It may be hard to imagine spring coming anytime soon with the recent arctic temperatures, but in a few short months it’ll be time to apply nutrients for the upcoming crops, says Melissa Wilson, U of M Extension manure management specialist. If you plan to apply manure, now is the time to start mapping out your plans for the year to save headaches down the road. Here are some tips to get you started on your plans and for applying manure this spring. Tips for spring manure application.

Tips to prepare for the season: 

• Inspect Equipment. Make sure everything is functioning properly; avoid leaks or spills, make repairs.
• Get your manure sampled and analyzed, or find your most recent manure analysis.
• Plan applications for each field. Calculate application rates using the nutrient needs of your upcoming crop (based on the University of Minnesota recommendations) and your manure nutrient analysis. Subtract out any nutrient credits from manure applied in the past 3 years or from legumes grown in the past year.
• Determine any setbacks needed in fields. This includes streams, ditches, lakes, tile inlets and sinkholes. Also mark locations of sensitive features.
• Put together an Emergency Action Plan.  List emergency contacts in case of a leak or spill and think of ways that you could possibly contain a spill so that you can have the appropriate tools on hand.

Tips for manure application:

• Monitor the weather. Avoid applying immediately before a predicted rainfall.
• Avoid wet or frozen fields. Manure can very easily run off of a frozen field, especially in spring rains. On fields that are wet, adding manure (which has liquid in it) will only increase the likelihood of runoff or the start of tile flow. You are also more likely to cause soil compaction in wet conditions. 
• Apply manure according to calculated rates. Do not overapply! Nutrients are less likely to be lost to our waterways when applied at appropriate rates.
• Monitor equipment for leaks. Have equipment handy for stopping leaks and for cleanup. Know the numbers you need to call if there is a spill.
• Keep records. Always note the field location, manure source and amount applied. Keep records on file for at least 3 years.

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The North Fork Crow River One Watershed, One Plan is available for public review and comment through March 31. Comments on the plan should be sent to both: Diane Sander, Watershed Coordinator, Crow River Organization of Water, 311 Brighton Avenue, Suite C, Buffalo, MN 55313, diane.sander@mn.nacdnet.net; and Steve Christopher, Board Conservationist, MN Board of Water and Soil Resources, 520 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, MN 55155, steve.christopher@state.mn.us.

The One Watershed, One Plan vision is to align local water planning on major watershed boundaries with state strategies towards prioritized, targeted, and measurable implementation plans. It builds on existing local water management plans and priorities, existing and new studies and data, Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) and other related plans from state agencies.

Examples of these statewide plans include: Dept. of Agriculture Nitrogen Management Plan, Pollution Control Agency Nutrient Reduction Strategy, Dept. of Natural Resources Prairie Conservation Plan, Dept. of Health Wellhead Protection plans, and the Metropolitan Council 2040 Water Resources Management Policy Plan.

The North Fork Crow River Water Planning Partnership includes of six counties, six Soil and Water Conservation Districts, two watershed districts, and a joint powers board. The North Fork Crow River watershed drains 1,483 square miles of predominantly agricultural land in parts of Pope (3.7%), Stearns (16%), Kandiyohi (16%), Meeker (28.4%), Wright (31.7%), Hennepin (3%), Carver (0.1%), and McLeod (1%) counties. The North Fork Crow River Watershed District, Middle Fork Crow Watershed District and the Crow River Organization of Water (CROW) are also located within plan boundaries.

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