University of Minnesota Extension hosted a livestock workshop Aug. 19 at the Schefers Brothers Dairy, north of Paynesville. It was part of Extension's series of summer field days for successful dairies. Discussions focused on nutrient management including various options and methods to manage total farm nutrient balance, manure management and nutrient runoff. Presentations were given by Jose Hernandez, University of Minnesota Extension livestock nutrient management specialist; Mark Lefebvre, Soil and Water Conservation District coordinator of the MN Ag Water Certification program, Stearns County Sauk River Watershed; and Randy Pepin, U-M Extension educator, livestock systems.

Schefers Brothers Dairy, operated by Ken and Ralph, is located in the Sauk River watershed and is involved in the voluntary Minnesota Ag Water Certification Program. They milk 75 cows in a tie-stall barn. The herd has a rolling herd average of 27,000 pounds milk and more than 1,000 pounds fat. The water quality certification "is a good program," Ken says. "It's a lot in line with what we learned from the Conservation Security Program." The certification process is helping them do a better job of managing phosphorus and spreading manure, and seeing the value of grassed waterways and field borders, Ken says. Photo: Ken Schefers talks about water quality projects on the farm, including a new design of open tile intake management. Created by Agri-Drain, the yellow strips inserted in open intakes slow down the water.

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Hohenstein leaving Brown County staff for MPCA Mankato office

The MPCA has hired Brown County feedlot officer Desiree Hohenstein for the vacant feedlot staff position in the MPCA Mankato office. Desiree started with the county about six years ago assigned to wetlands, water plan, and recycling. A year later she added feedlot technician, and began working on education, technical assistance, and site visits. A native of the San Francisco bay area, she graduated from Bemidji State majoring in aquatic biology.

Schmidt named MPCA feedlot east unit supervisor

Steve Schmidt started July 30 as the new supervisor for the east unit of the MPCA feedlot program. For the past year, Steve has been working full-time on the team working on the agency's change to a new data management system, and he will continue to devote a significant portion of his time to this for the next several months. Previously, Steve was the county feedlot officer in Goodhue County before joining the MPCA feedlot program staff working in the Rochester office.

MPCA feedlot program seeking to fill two vacancies

The MPCA feedlot program has made some staff re-assignments, and seeks to fill two vacancies. Sara Isebrand of the Mankato office and Allie Remer in the St. Paul office will be working temporarily full-time and half-time, respectively, on the agency's data transformation project. Vacancies to be filled are compliance coordinator, and compliance and enforcement position in the Rochester office. Until vacancies are filled and county assignments for MPCA southeast region feedlot staff are confirmed, county feedlot officers should contact their regional office.

Schultz to wrap up level III inventory in West Fork Des Moines

Amanda Schultz has replaced Kiel Tschumperlin in the Heron Lake Watershed District office as the West Fork Des Moines watershed coordinator. She will be doing level III feedlot inventories, finishing the inventories within the West Fork Des Moines Watershed that Kiel had started. Amanda is from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and graduated last May from UW-Stevens Point with a BS in Water Resources. During the summer of 2013 she interned for the Heron Lake Watershed District. Previously, she worked for the Center of Environmental Management of Military Lands at the Fort McCoy Military Base in Wisconsin.

Registration open for BWSR academy

Registration is now open for the Board of Water and Soil Resources Academy. A training event for conservation-based local government staff, the 2014 academy will be Oct. 28-30 at Breezy Point Conference Center, near Brainerd. To view the sessions schedule and descriptions, registration information, and lodging instructions, visit the BWSR website at www.bwsr.state.mn.us/academy

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University of Minnesota Extension is hosting a Total Tillage Solutions Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 4, south of Appleton. Farmers will have the opportunity to see four customized soil pits that will demonstrate different management techniques. The pits, using backfill of alternating dark and light soil layers, help visualize the impact these implements are having below the soil surface. The pits will showcase 11 different tillage implements, revealing a cross section of the soil and the disturbance each implement creates. Implements will be categorized as shallow (0-4"), medium depth (6-10"), and deep tillage (12-20"). (Photo: Jodi DeJong-Hughes describes soil tillage in a trench at the Aug. 13 Schrunk farm field day north of Canby.)

Two other stations will showcase bio-tillage and the newest applications of drone technology. Directions to the field day from Appleton: take Hwy 119 south eight miles, turn west on CR 28 (300th St.) for three miles and look for signs. The site is hosted by farmer and seed salesman Jeff Olson. There is no charge to attend but viewing space around the field demonstration pits may be limited.

Registration for the day starts at 9 a.m. and discussion and demonstrations will continue until 3:30. Pre-registration is recommended so the field layout can be adjusted to accommodate the number of participants as best possible. To pre-register, call 320-235-0726 x 2001 or email foxxx055@umn.edu. The event will be held rain or shine. If you would like more information please contact Jodi DeJong-Hughes at 320-235-0726 x2006 or email at dejon003@umn.edu.

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The Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association announced that Ashley Kohls started Sept. 1 as executive director. She holds a BS in Animal Science from South Dakota State University and brings many years of experience in various sectors of the beef industry including nutrition, reproduction and animal health. Her most recent experience in the food industry also allows her to bring a strong background in food safety and food quality, specializing in HACCP, regulatory compliance and environmental monitoring. Originally from Iowa, she now lives in rural Hutchinson with her husband Craig and two children, Avery (5) and Bennett (2). Ashley and Craig own and operate Kohls Land and Cattle, which consists of a short-term cow program, multiple-yard feedlot and a diversified cropping operation. In her free time Ashley enjoys gardening, fishing and cooking. - MSCA newsletter, 8/7/14.

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Water management and soil health are key to future gains in crop productivity in a changing global climate. Managing those effectively also benefit water quality. That's the bottom line from the fifth Soil and Water Management Field Day hosted July 23 by the U of M Southwest Research and Outreach Center. The event showcased research projects on the Brian Hicks farm south of Milroy in Redwood County. "We can't rely on genetics to increase yields," said Jeff Strock of SWROC. "We need more water in the soil profile." Controlled or managed drainage can bring as much as a 45 percent reduction in water and nitrogen losses, he said.

In the effort to combat climate change, agriculture can help by reducing the loss of nitrous oxide, a far more potent greenhouse gas. We need to manage soil and water together, to integrate the carbon, water and nitrogen cycles, said Jerry Hatfield of the USDA-ARS lab in Ames, IA. Presentation topics included: Carbon, nitrogen, water and climate change; drainage water management to meet production and water goals; greenhouse gases and agriculture; and results of a survey of farmers about climate change. 2014 field day proceedings are online at the SWROC Soil and Water Management and Conservation webpage. (Photo: Jeff Strock explains the subsurface irrigation project on the Hicks farm.)

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