St. Paul, Minn.
Clean water depends on healthy soil – soil that supports plant growth and can absorb, hold and filter water. Healthy soil, in turn, depends on how people manage the land. The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) and the University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center (WRC) have committed to expanding the science of soil health and sharing practical information with farmers, conservationists and others who manage our state’s soils.
Today BWSR and WRC announced a new collaborative program, the Minnesota Office for Soil Health. The program will help build local expertise to promote soil health and soil and water conservation. The focus will be on research and outreach to expand the tools and skills of Minnesota’s local conservation delivery community, as well as understanding the economic impacts of land applied soil and water management practices.
The goal is to protect and improve soil resources and water quality by developing the knowledge, skills and abilities of local conservationists, farmers and their advisers.
“Both water quality and agricultural production can be enhanced by innovative soil management practices that result in economic and environmental benefits. This new partnership with the University of Minnesota will deliver applied research and technology to on-farm practices to assure that one of Minnesota’s critical natural assets, its soil, is well-managed for generations to come,” said John Jaschke, Executive Director, BWSR.
"We continue to understand more about soil health as a foundation for thriving farms and quality water resources. This initiative will serve as a conduit that connects the latest soil health research to develop solutions and tools for Minnesota producers, their advisers, and conservation professionals," said Jeff Peterson, University of Minnesota Water Resources Center Director.
Key components of the Minnesota Office for Soil Health include:
Program activities will be guided and advised by a leadership group consisting of university and state staff along with key stakeholders including the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
94% of Minnesota public waters now have buffers
Public implementation deadline for public waters is November 1.
State Commissioners urge farmers to work with local SWCDs to find solution that works best for their land
St. Paul, Minn.
Minnesota farmers and landowners are making significant progress in implementing the state’s new buffer requirement that goes into effect November 1. Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Executive Director John Jaschke, along with Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson and Department of Natural Resources Assistant Commissioner Sarah Strommen highlighted the tremendous progress that has been made regarding buffer implementation and provided reminders and resources for landowners to meet the buffer requirements.
Minnesota landowners and Soil and Water Conservation Districts have been hard at work statewide to achieve buffer compliance. With just under one month to go until the November 1 implementation deadline, statewide buffer compliance on public waters is currently over 94%.
“Thanks to the efforts of Minnesota landowners, we are well on our way to meeting the November 1 deadline to have buffers on Minnesota public waters. Minnesota’s buffer law is designed to be flexible while delivering improved water quality benefits for future generations,” BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said. “We have many great examples of landowners and SWCDs working together to find a solution that works for them and their land.”
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Commissioner Dave Frederickson thanked farmers and landowners for the work that has been completed to date. “Having a compliance rate of 94% one month before the implementation deadline demonstrates that farmers are making significant progress in meeting the buffer requirements. “We want to encourage farmers and landowners to work with their SWCD if they are not able to meet the November 1st deadline to find a solution that works for them and their land,” said Commissioner Frederickson.
BWSR and the Department of Agriculture have created a number of resources for landowners to help with buffer implementation. Landowners have the option of complying with the law by using alternative practices that have equivalent water quality benefits to buffers. BWSR has put out guidance documents to support landowners identifying alternative practices for their lands. Additionally, landowners who request financial and technical assistance can request additional time to comply with their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).
If unable to meet the November 1 deadline, a landowner who commits to a compliance plan with their local SWCD by November 1, 2017, will receive a waiver until July 1, 2018 to implement their buffer or alternative practice.
Governor Mark Dayton signed bipartisan legislation in 2015 to establish Minnesota’s water quality buffer initiative. The effort is designed to reduce phosphorous, nitrogen, and sediment from entering Minnesota’s lakes and streams to improve water quality statewide. After receiving additional feedback from farmers and landowners across Minnesota, Governor Dayton signed another bipartisan bill into law in 2016 to provide more flexibility for landowners. With more than 40 percent of the state’s waters polluted or impaired, the need for this initiative is clear. November 1, 2017 is the deadline for public waters to have buffers in place.
For more information
More information on the buffer program, including more detailed information on alternative practices and the variety of technical and financial assistance available to help landowners with implementation, can be found at mn.gov/buffer-law.
Contact: Josh Van Den Berg
651-215-9008
St. Paul, Minn.—At the August 24, 2017 board meeting the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) approved two additional resources for landowners pursuing alternative practices to buffers. Each resource is designed to expand the options for water quality solutions in common situations where practices other than buffers may make sense.
The additional resources for landowners are:
1. A decision support tool, developed by the Minnesota Corn Growers and the University of MN, helps to determine if a combination of upland practices provide comparable benefits to the prescribed buffer.
2. The Ag Buffer Builder, developed by Agren Inc and Land O’Lakes, Inc., provides for the design of a variable width water quality buffer reducing minimum widths by putting more buffer where water leaves the fields.
BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said, “Minnesota’s buffer law’s flexibility allows additional options for landowners to meet the purpose of the law on landscapes where buffers aren’t the best fit.”
“These additional resources and tools help Minnesota’s corn farmers protect surface waters as intended with the buffer law while limiting the loss of productive land,” Minnesota Corn Growers Association President Harold Wolle said. “We are happy farmers now have additional choices to contribute to our state’s water quality goals.”
The decision support tool is available to landowners at no cost, and will be located on the BWSR website on September 7, 2017. Landowners are encouraged to contact their local SWCD.
“Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN is excited to partner with the state to provide flexibility for farmers, while helping to enhance water quality at the same time,” stated Matt Carstens, executive vice president for Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN. “The Ag Buffer Builder tool helps enable farmers to utilize technology to the advantage of both their business and their local natural resources. By creating variable width buffers through the Buffer Builder tool, a farmer can preserve land in production and focus buffers in the areas that need them most.”
The Ag Buffer Builder will be accessible through the local agricultural cooperative. Inquiries on the Ag Buffer Builder can be directed to Land O’Lakes or one of its partners.
These additional resources are added to the current six alternative practices available for landowners and SWCDs, which include:
1. Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program
2. USDA Practice Standard Filter Strip
3. Grassed Waterway on Public Waters
4. Negative Slope on Public Ditches and Glacial Lake Plain Areas Public Ditches
5. Negative Slope on Public Waters
6. Buffer plus Conservation Tillage
Under the law landowners can use alternative practices that provide comparable water quality benefits to buffers. SWCDs have the authority to validate these practices and are working to partner with and support landowners in finding the best solutions for their land. BWSR’s role is to provide program guidance and support and ensure local governments are consistent and working with landowners.
Alternative practices are not limited to options found in the BWSR guidance. Other combinations of practices, based in the Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guide, can be developed in partnership with SWCDs.
Soil and Water Conservation Districts have been hard at work with landowners statewide and progress toward compliance is being made. 64 of Minnesota’s 87 counties are 60 – 100 percent in compliance with the buffer law. Statewide, preliminary compliance with the buffer law is 90%.
For more information
More information on the buffer program, including more detailed information on alternative practices and the variety of technical and financial assistance available to help landowners with implementation, can be found at mn.gov/buffer-law.