The Minnesota Office for Soil Health (MOSH) announces the selection of the first State Soil Health Specialist, Anna Cates. This position provides expertise on soil health issues for agricultural and conservation professionals across the state.

The Office for Soil Health is a collaborative program created last year by the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) in partnership with the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center (WRC). The Office for Soil Health strives to build local expertise to promote soil health and water conservation by developing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of local conservationists to promote sustainable soil and land management.

Anna Cates holds a Master of Science in Soil Science and is finishing her doctorate in Agronomy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she has been studying soil carbon cycling in corn-cover crop biofuel systems. She will begin her new role in a full-time capacity in January 2019, but will work part-time until then to connect with partners and stakeholders and plan outreach and research activities. Her position will be housed within the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate at the University of Minnesota.

“I’m eager to work closely with farmers, keeping in mind the uncertainties of crop and livestock production,” Cates said. “My goal is to tailor my research toward addressing the practicalities of running a business.”

The Soil Health Specialist will expand the tools and skills of Minnesota’s local conservation delivery community through the development of research and outreach strategies, as well as promote greater understanding of the economic impacts of soil and water management practices. For more information, contact the Office for Soil Health at (612) 624-6765.

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Research into healthier soil that could support new agricultural practices in the region is moving forward with the start of a three-year study in Mower County led by the local conservation district. Mower Soil and Water Conservation District joined officials from Riverland Community College and Hormel Foundation to launch the soil-health research project – a major aspect of their growing partnership to advance agricultural education and provide resources to farmers.

Lacking an adequate research room at its Austin office, Mower SWCD reached out to Riverland for possible use of the new lab space. Now that lab – which will be fully equipped by late summer – has been getting used by Mower SWCD for storing and analyzing soil samples taken from dozens of plots representing different types of farmland in Mower County. Interest in cover crops and other soil-health practices have been increasing in Mower County and southern Minnesota but many local farmers want more data and scientific evidence before making changes in their fields.

In 2017, Mower SWCD was approved for a $98,000 grant from The Hormel Foundation to conduct soil-health research to look at the benefits of incorporating cover crops and other soil-health practices into farm operations. About $200,000 overall, the project will match the Foundation’s grant with state “capacity” funds given annually by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and in-kind services from partner agencies. Mower SWCD photo: Students work in soils lab at Riverland College.

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Willmar residents around a chain of lakes at the top of the Hawk Creek Watershed are reactivating a lake association focusing on water quality. About 50 gathered June 19 for the reboot, followed by a public meeting featuring various agency presentations.

Swan Lake and Willmar Lake main bay have been placed on the state’s list of impaired waters because they exceed water quality standards related primarily to excessive algae growth. Foot Lake still meets water quality standards, but that could be threatened by receiving flow from Willmar Lake. 

In addition to the impact of pollutants in stormwater runoff, concern is growing about the impact of invasive species. Large mats of curly leaf pond weed appear to be increasing in all three lakes. Rough fish such as carp stir up bottom sediment releasing phosphorus contributing to algae growth. 

The public meeting featured short presentations and information displays from local and state agencies including: City of Willmar, Willmar Lakes Association, Kandiyohi Soil and Water Conservation District, Hawk Creek Watershed Project, Dept. of Natural Resources, and Pollution Control Agency. 

Residents living near and around Willmar and Foot lakes can participate in the “Adopt-a-Storm Drain” program. They can sign up online line at www.adopt-a-drain.org  to adopt a storm drain and help to keep it free from debris, and keep an eye out for illicit dumping. Photo: Hawk Creek Watershed Project Coordinator Heidi Rauenhorst speaking to the Willmar Lakes Association.

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The Cedar River Watershed District started a new season of Cedar Scenes photo contest and will run it for nearly one month longer than in 2017 when it attracted more than 300 images from 59 people over 16 weeks.

Cedar Scenes will run weekly – photos submitted Monday to Sunday to count for a week – through Sept. 30 with a goal of getting people outdoors and taking photos showing the Cedar River State Water Trail or a tributary in the watershed district.

Runnings in Austin once again is sponsoring the kayak grand-prize giveaway that will be drawn in October. To qualify, each photo entered during the season for Cedar Scenes will count as one entry for the kayak drawing. Weekly prizes will be about $10 in value, such as Chamber Bucks to use at local businesses, with the week’s winning photo picked by CRWD staff.

Photos can be submitted via CRWD’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/cedarriverwd – by posting on the page, tagging CRWD or sending it in a message. Images also can be emailed to tim.ruzek@mowerswcd.org or brought to the CRWD office at 1408 21st Ave. N.W. in Austin behind Runnings.

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The DNR's the Watershed Health Assessment Framework (WHAF) is now able to deliver MPCA Water Quality Impairment and Assessment data that is current through 2018. Through a coordinated effort with MPCA data managers, several notable water quality data improvements and enhancements have been made. 

Impaired:

• Impaired Streams, 2018. Labels all impairment types present for each stream reach. Label includes the AUID suffix for each stream reach.
• Impaired Lakes, 2018. Labels all impairment types present for each water body. Legend tab shows symbology for each impairment type. Individual layers are symbolized by impairment types (with some grouping

Assessed:

• Layers are symbolized by assessment class and status; for example: Assessed Streams, Aquatic Life Assessment, 2018
• Symbology shows which assessed streams were found to be Fully Supporting, Insufficient Information, Not Supporting for each Use Class
• ‘Add Features’ legend tab will display these symbol definitions.
• Attached document lists all the assessment data layers now available through the WHAF. 

Send us questions feedback to: whalf.dnr@state.mn.us.

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You are invited to attend a Drainage Water Management Demonstration Tour at the University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center just west of Lamberton, Thursday Aug. 16. The field day is being sponsored by the Southwest Research and Outreach Center and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences with support from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment and the National Science Foundation. Goals are to share how single and multiple drainage water management practices can help meet the Minnesota Nutrient Reduction Strategy Goals for nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff and drainage while maintaining farm productivity and profitability.

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The 10th Minnesota River Congress drew 87 basin-wide organizational representatives and individuals to the Mankato Event Center May 17. The event kicked off with the Networking Fair of displays and information from the Crystal Waters Project, Minnesota Farmers Union, MPCA, DNR, LeSueur River Watershed Network, Mankato Paddling and Outings Club, Paddle for Progress, Joseph Brown Center, Scott County, NRCS, Pioneer Public Television and River Ramble bike tour.

Congress facilitator Scott Sparlin recognized the various sponsors of the Congress and team member Julie Beatty for her work on the new web site. Congressman David Minge requested help with identifying drainage improvement projects across the basin. The Minnesota Division of the Izaak Walton League, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and the Friends of the Minnesota Valley are working to create a way for all proposed projects to be reported to a central collection point to be made readily available for review, comment and if needed action. He noted that if anyone was aware of such project they should contact any of the organizations mentioned or they can contact the Minnesota River Congress and it will be forwarded.

Chris Lenhart with the University of Minnesota presented findings of a new report for the Izaak Walton League looking at data previously collected on flow rates of the river in a new way. It concluded that with the same approximate rates of rainfall the river was receiving more water off the landscape and at an accelerated rate. The only variables were increased intensity of rain events and the increase of tile installation.

Jay Gustafson described his “Paddle for Progress” project to canoe and document each of the state water trails as designated by the DNR. He plans on canoeing and documenting most or all the others in 2018 and writing a report with recommendations when he is finished. He encouraged people to report such things as lack of signage or when an access is not accessible or in disrepair. He will be working to increase accessibility to our river system in the future and to see more opportunities for multiple day, family-oriented user safe trips.

Ron Bolduan, wildlife photographer and explorer, and Scott Kudelka of the DNR showed numerous pictures and presented the wild side of the river and people interacting with it. 

Ann Lewandowski with the University of Minnesota described ia focus on increasing soil organic matter. She announced that she has been appointed the new head of the Minnesota Office of Soil Health at the University.

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The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification program advisory committee met June 25 in Glenwood for a program update and testimonies from participating area farmers. Operated by the Dept. of Agriculture, it's a voluntary opportunity for farmers and agricultural landowners to take the lead in implementing conservation practices that protect our water. Photo L-R: Paul Freeman, Jessica Blair, State Rep. Paul Anderson.

"It's a chance to quantify the good things we are doing out there," says Paul Freeman, Pope County farmer. The sentiment was echoed by Grant Pearson, Stearns SWCD and certification specialist, "it's a opportunity to tell a positive story." Program director Brad Redlin offered a comparison with other conservation programs in terms of cost: "This is proving to be efficient in its use of dollars, the more farms certified the less it costs."

It uses a risk-assessment process where risks to water quality are identified and treated. When an identified risk is mitigated it is counted as a new practice. Farms that install and maintain approved farm management practices will be certified and in turn obtain regulatory certainty for a period of ten years. To date, 71 of Minnesota's 87 counties have at least one water-quality certified farm. Certification numbers as of June 18, 2018:            

• 585 certified producers
• 371,107 certified acres
• 1,087 new practices implemented

Impact on water quality:

• 33,924 tons of soil saved per year
• 15,055 tons of sediment reduced per year
• 18,019 lbs. of phosphorus prevented per year
• Up to 49 % estimated reduction in nitrogen loss

Ag water quality certification program joins Field to Market

The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program has joined Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture. Field to Market is a national organization working to meet the challenge of producing enough food, fiber, and fuel for a rapidly growing population while conserving natural resources. As a member in Field to Market, the MAWQCP will work together with grower organizations, academia, conservation groups, public sector partners, and leading companies at a national level to continue to improve water quality, water use efficiency, and land use efficiency while reducing soil erosion and greenhouse gas emissions.

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Successful programs and progress sometimes can be taken for granted by those who follow pioneers. In the realm of agricultural stewardship of soil and water, Les Everett of the U of M's Water Resources Center is a prime example. A half-hour at his retirement party May 23 barely gave enough time to review his work and hear accolades from co-workers. A testament to his external relations over the years, in addition to the University were friends and colleagues from a variety of state and local agencies including BWSR, MPCA, MDA, and SWCDs.

A long table displayed the numerous publications that he worked on over his 25 years the University. He managed a number of major projects primarily in the areas of nutrient and manure management, feedlot rules, LiDAR, and conservation tillage, detailed in various publications and web pages:

• Fields to Streams: Managing Water in Rural Landscapes
• Conservation Applications of LiDAR training modules
• Conservation Tillage On-farm Trials
• Precision Manure Application case studies
• Phosphorus Management on Livestock Farms case studies
• Manure Management with a Cover Crop on-farm trials

In 1973-75 he was a Peace Corps agricultural volunteer in Africa before returning to earn an MS in agronomy at Cornell, and a PhD in plant breeding at the U of M. He came to the University's Water Resources Center in 1994 following 10 years of research in Africa with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Nigeria and Cameroon. Following his retirement Les plans to remain in the area volunteering on projects and helping at the family farm south of Grinnell, IA, and continue to assist with ag research in Cameroon. Photo: Les chats with Jodi DeJong-Hughes of U of M Extension.

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Juhl named BWSR communications coordinator

Mary Juhl recently joined the Board of Water and Soil Resources as the communications coordinator. Mary comes to BWSR from the Minnesota Senate, where she worked as a legislative assistant for five years. She graduated from the University of Missouri (Mizzou) School of Journalism and previously worked as a local government reporter for the Winona Daily News and the Shakopee Valley News. Mary is passionate about environmental issues and is excited to join the BWSR team. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, volunteering, and embroidery arts. She lives in the north metro with her fiancé, Christopher. Photo: Mary with a goat at the Minnesota Zoo.