Rice Soil & Water
August 2017
Conservation District
CELEBRATING 75 YEARS! Help Us Celebrate 75 Years! • Thursday, August 24 - 12:30-4:30PM
4-H Building at the Rice County Fairgrounds • See our ad on page 11 for details.
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RICE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
RICE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 75TH ANNIVERSARY
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Rice SWCD Board of Supervisors from left to right: Michael Ludwig, Jim Purfeerst, Timothy Little, Richard Rice SWCD staff from left to right: Bridget Evers, Debbie Skarupa, Travis Hirman, Steven Pahs, Justin Fuchs, and Teresa DeMars. Cook, and Richard Peterson.
The Rice SWCD today
I
f you take a ride down any country road in Rice County, you will pass many conservation practices without even knowing it. Seventy-five years ago, the Rice Soil and Water Conservation District formed, forever changing the landscape. Since that time, wetlands have been restored, grassed waterways and sediment basins have been constructed to control erosion, farmers have implemented conservation tillage, and over two million trees have been planted. These accomplishments did not happen overnight. They took years of planning and countless hours of cooperation between landowners, the District, and cooperative partners in conservation. The Rice Soil and Water Conservation District is a subdivision of state government. It is overseen by a five-member board of supervisors elected countywide to represent the soil and water conservation needs of the county. The board makes policy decisions, approves cost-share
Faribault Daily News
contracts, and promotes soil and water conservation. The mission of the Rice SWCD is to assist land users in the management and conservation of our soil and water resources by means of educational, financial, and technical assistance. The Rice SWCD works cooperatively with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which provides technical assistance and conservation planning to Rice County landowners. To complete conservation projects, we work together with many different conservation partners. Without this cooperative effort, much work would not get done. We thank the below partners for their past efforts and their dedication to conserving Rice County’s resources. Thanks also to the many lake associations, sportsmen’s clubs, contractors, and other vendors who support local conservation.
NRCS staff from left to right: Colin Williams and Leslie Diaz-Alvarez.
Continued >>
Northfield News
Rice SWCD Celebrates 75 Years of Conservation!, August 2017 is distributed to subscribers and readers of the Northfield News and Faribault Daily News at no additional charge. All advertising contained herein is the responsibility of the advertisers. All rights reserved. ©2017.
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RICE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Like many innovations in history, soil and water conservation began as a response to a problem. The history of the Rice SWCD can be traced back to the Dust Bowl Days. After an expansion of farming in the 1920’s, several years of extreme heat and drought struck the Great Plains and the western United States during the 1930’s. Years of plowing and a lack of cover led to bare fields, which were no match for western prevailing winds. Enormous particle clouds of topsoil formed by the winds and were deposited across the plains. At one point, a dust storm even reached as far east as Washington D.C. An estimated 100,000,000 million acres of farmland were affected and thousands of people left their farms due to the cumulative effects of crop failure and the Great Depression.
launched four key New Deal Programs that would change the course of agriculture and conservation forever. The programs included: Agricultural Adjustment Act - For the first time in history, the federal government took control of commodity prices. They controlled the supply of corn, wheat, cotton, rice, peanuts, tobacco, and milk by paying farmers to take their land out of production. Farm Service Agency - This agency was created to loan money at low-interest rates to those who wanted to go into farming or who needed money to keep farming. Civilian Conservation Corp - This public works program put unemployed men to work building campgrounds, bridges, trails, erosion control structures, and various other projects. Soil Conservation Service - This agency worked to identify conservation practices that would work to prevent soil erosion on highly erodible soils. They also provided conservation education to landowners on how to implement conservation practices.
Federal Government Reacts
Conservation Begins
Continued from page 3
Dust Bowl Days
It didn’t take long for the federal governIn 1935, the Soil Conservation Service ment to get involved. During his first 100 days began setting up conservation demonstrain office in 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
One of the first cooperators in the Prairie Creek Conservation Association, farmer R. C. Mulliner plows on the contour and picks up the plow for the grassed waterway. September 30, 1937.
A dust storm buries a car and machinery in Dallas, South Dakota in May of 1936. Photo used under public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Dust storm blowing through Stratford, Texas in April of 1935. Photo used under public domain via Wikimedia Commons. Credit: NOAA George E. Marsh Album.
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
RICE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 75TH ANNIVERSARY
The Conservation Pioneers of Rice County. From left to right: Leroy Erb, one of the first District Supervisors, Herb Baalson, one of the first District Cooperators, Jay Kerr, first farm planner for the Soil Conservation Service in Rice County, and John Ebensteiner, first conservation technician for the Soil Conservation Service and Rice SWCD.
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The first Board of Supervisors for the Rice SWCD. From left to right: Albert K. Quie, Sr., Joe Mahacek, LeRoy Erb, Herb Miller, and Lawrence Schrader.
Marti. A group of farmers was taken to the demonstration area to get actual views of the practices to be established in the Prairie tion projects in different areas throughout News. He wrote: Creek Project. the United States. In cooperation with the Approximately 20 WPA men were asA meeting was called in September 1935 University of Minnesota, four sites were signed to the Soil Conservation Service as by Don Marti, then Rice County Agricultural selected in southeastern Minnesota. They technicians on the day following the opening Agent, to explain the need for soil conservaincluded the Bear-Deer Creek Watershed in of the project. In order to provide profitable Fillmore County, the Beaver Creek Watershed tion in Prairie Creek area and Rice County. work, a stone quarry on the Joseph Hellerud A second meeting was held on Septemin Houston County, the Gilmore Creek Waterfarm, Section 4, of Wheeling township, was shed in Winona County, and the Prairie Creek ber 18 to organize the Prairie Creek Soil leased. Later requests for improvement of Conservation Association. Farm owners and Watershed in Rice County. three woodlots were received. In the late fall The historic boundary of the Prairie Creek operators who signed cooperative agreeof 1935, the first farm agreement was signed ments were to become members automatiWatershed Demonstration Area contained with R.F. Schwert. cally. At this meeting, Walter Fox and Ralph approximately 22,000 acres and was located Over 60 farmers signed up as cooperators Mulliner were elected president and vice in the townships of Bridgewater, Northfield, with the Prairie Creek Soil Conservation Aspresident, respectively. Cannon City and Wheeling. The native sociation. Some of the cooperators included When the organization of the Prairie Creek vegetation of the area consisted of a mix of the Mulliner Brothers, Herb Baalson, O.A prairie, hardwood forests, and oak savannahs. Soil Conservation Association was completed Sundet, and Walter Fox. in January 1936, Reuben Schwert and R.H. It is here where Rice County’s first agricultural As conservation work continued in the Andrews were named directors and George colony formed in 1854. Prairie Creek Soil Conservation Association, Wight, project manager, as secretary. Al Johnson, District Conservationist (1956 Shortly after the project opened, the staff President Roosevelt wrote to every gover-1979) wrote about the early history of the nor in the United States and urged them to arranged a tour of the Spring Valley project demonstration area (the early beginnings of pass legislation to create local soil and water the Rice SWCD) in 1973 for the Faribault Daily in Fillmore County with County Agent, Don
conservation districts. In Minnesota, the State Legislature quickly responded by passing the District Enabling Act of 1937 which allowed for conservation districts to be formed. In 1938, the Gilmore Valley Soil Conservation District in Winona County became the first SWCD in Minnesota. Over the years, news of the demonstration project and conservation work in Prairie Creek Watershed spread throughout Rice County. Farmers outside the Prairie Creek Soil Conservation Association began to inquire about conservation practices for their farms. In 1941, a petition was created to form a conservation district for Rice County. The townships of Northfield, Bridgewater, Webster, Wheatland, Erin, Forest, Wells, Cannon City and Wheeling were included in the first petition. A referendum vote passed in the spring of 1942 and the State of Minnesota approved the District’s Charter on August 25, 1942. Four years later, the townships of Richland, Walcott, Warsaw and Morristown joined, making the entire county part of the District.
Congratulations on 75 years of Conservation Efforts! Randy Tatge Price Risk Management Advisor, Grains, Livestock & Others 303 NE First Ave., STE 107, Faribault, MN 55021 randy@tatge-ag.com Office: 507.332-2590 Cell 507.838.5248 Fax: 507.384.3210
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Rice Soil & Water Conservation District 75th Anniversary
Past Winners of the Rice SWCD Outstanding Conservationist Award In celebration of our 75th Anniversary, the Rice Soil and Water Conservation District salutes the many landowners and organizations who have implemented conservation practices and worked to improve Minnesota’s natural resources.
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyde Little are presented the Outstanding Conservationist Award in 1959.
Supervisors from the Rice SWCD present the Outstanding Conservationist Award to Mr. and Mrs. Myron Zimanske in 1967.
Year Name 1959 Lloyde Little 1963 Elmer Vikla 1964 Walter Simon 1965 Victor Radke 1966 James Kocina 1967 Myron Zimanske 1968 Carleton Miller 1969 Edwin Kalina 1973 Paul Lindenfelsor 1974 John Skluzacek 1979 Don Reuvers 1980 Leonard Hubers 1982 Larry Sirek 1983 Robert DeGrood 1984 Dale Scharff 1985 Lloyd Ross 1986 Paul Maas 1987 Don Nelson 1988 David Judd 1989 Al Story Terry Wagner 1990 Pete & Dan Hein 1991 1992 Mark & Sue Bauer 1993 John Derham 1994 Rene Koester Richard Sevcik 1995 Waldo Lang 1996 1997 Max & Larry Salaba 1998 Jeff & Dave Spitzack 1999 Peterson Brothers Roman Kalina 2000 2001 Keith & Diane Schrader 2002 Cannon River Watershed Partnership 2003 Chris & Willie Donkers 2004 Bob Schmidt 2005 Dan & Nancy Morris
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Wednesday, August 16, 2017 Ron Sommers Chuck Shimota John Hellerud Tri-Lakes Sportsmen’s Club Fred Becker Bob Kuball Tim Little Dave & Joanne Lippert Clyde & Bryan Eggum Richard & Robert Sommers Steve & Elaine Trnka Susanne Sevcik
Our list of award winners has a few gaps. If you or someone you know won the Outstanding Conservationist Award in the following years, please let us know. We would love to add the names to our history archives. 1960, 1961, 1962, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981.
Past Winners of the Rice SWCD Wildlife Enhancement Award The Wildlife Enhancement Award is presented to individuals or organizations who do an exemplary job in implementing conservation practices that benefit Rice County wildlife. Year Name 2005 Leonard &Rhoda Duffney 2006 Doc Komarek 2007 Ben Rezac 2008 Richard & Glenda Huston 2009 Bernie & Sally Rosckes 2010 Matt & John Carlander 2011 William (Don) and Nancy Marth Rice Creek Group 2012 2013 Valley Grove Preservation Society 2014 Judith Bechtum 2015 St. Olaf College 2016 Dave & Jeff Spitzack Merle & Mavis Fossum 2017
The 1988 Outstanding Conservationist Dave Judd and his family.
Thank You Rice County Soil & Water on 75 years of conservation efforts!
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Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Rice Soil & Water Conservation District 75th Anniversary
Steve and Elaine Trnka (2016 Outstanding Conservationist Award Winners) farm with residue management and cover crops to prevent soil erosion.
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A wetland and native prairie restored by Bernie and Sally Rosckes (2009 Wildlife Enhancement Award Winners) in Wheatland Township.
Past Winners of the Rice SWCD Forest Stewardship Award The Forest Stewardship Award recognizes Rice County landowners or organizations who sustainably manage existing woodlands, restore native forest habitats, or practice best management practices in agroforestry.
The Valley Grove Preservation Society (2013 Wildlife Enhancement and Forest Stewardship Awards Winner) manages their property for oak savannah and native prairie in Wheeling Township.
Dave and Jeff Spitzack (2016 Wildlife Enhancement Award Winners) stand in front of restored wetlands on their property in Walcott Township.
2010 2012 2013 2015 2016 2017
Curtis, Don, & Diane Piper Jim Jirik Valley Grove Preservation Society Carleton College Ron Maas Gary & Linda Wagenbach
Supervisors of the Rice Soil and Water Conservation District 1942 to present Supervisors Years in Office Joseph S. Machacek 1942 - 1950 Albert Quie, Sr. 1942 - 1950 LeRoy Erb 1942 - 1954 Lawrence Schrader 1942 - 1956 Herbert G. Miller 1942 - 1954 Lincoln Paulson 1950 - 1994 Albert Quie, Jr. 1950 - 1954 Lee Fullerton 1954 - 1958 Dick Miller 1954 - 1964 Martin Hachfeld 1954 - 1961 James Douda 1958 - 1960 George Fausch 1958 - 1959 Wally Hildebrandt 1959 - 2010 Lloyde Little 1960 - 1973 Harland Kelm 1961 - 1975 Gary Hurlbutt 1964 - 1968 Harold Paulson 1968 - 1985 Tom Laughlin 1973 - 1979 Steve Bauer 1975 - 1981 Bill Sharkey 1980 - 1985
Supervisors Years in Office Dean Cates 1981 - 1987 Roger Keller 1985 - 1986 Rene Koester 1985 - 1998 Dan LaCanne 1987 - 1993 Dave Judd 1993 - 1998 Clarence Anderson 1987 - 2002 Robert Duban 1995 - 2016 Jerry Courson 1999 – 2004 2013 - 2014 Gary Wagenbach 1999 - 2016 Keith Schrader 2002 Robert Borchert 2003 - 2010 Richard Huston 2005 - 2012 Dale Nierby 2011 - 2014 Jim Purfeerst 2011 - present Dick Peterson 2015 - present Richard Cook 2015 - present Tim Little 2017 - present Mike Ludwig 2017 - present
Rice SWCD supervisors represent five districts in Rice County and have four main responsibilities during their four-year terms. They set overall policy and long-term objectives for their district, develop their district’s annual and comprehensive plans, approve landowner cost-share contracts, and work with SWCD staff to see that policies and plans are implemented. Board meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at 9:00 am.
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RICE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
From left to right: Lincoln Paulson, Chairmen of the Minnesota State Soil and Water Commission, Wally Hildebrandt, President of the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD), Governor Wendell Anderson, Mrs. Waldemar Grewe, President of the Ladies Auxiliary MASWCD, and Marshal Qualls, Executive Secretary of the Minnesota State Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Rice SWCD Supervisors Lincoln Paulson and Wally Hildebrandt meet with Governor Wendell Anderson to discuss conservation issues in the early 1970’s.
The Rice SWCD Board of Supervisors in 1973. From left to right: Harland Kelm, Tom Laughlin, Wally Hildebrandt, Harold Paulson, and Lincoln Paulson.
The Rice SWCD Board of Supervisors in 2000. From left to right: Robert Duban, Gary Wagenbach, Wally Hildebrandt, Jerry Courson, and Clarence Anderson. Supervisors meet with elected officials at the SWCD Day at the Capitol in St. Paul. From left to right: Jim Purfeerst, Supervisor, Robert Duban, Supervisor, David Bly, Representative District 20B, Steve Pahs, District Manager, and Gary Wagenbach, Supervisor.
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Wednesday, August 16, 2017
RICE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 75TH ANNIVERSARY
A Changing Landscape If one could step back in time hundreds of years ago, the landscape of Rice County would appear much different than what we see today. Carved by the movement and melting of glaciers, deciduous hardwood forests with wetlands and lakes flourished in the northern and western parts of the county, while tall grass prairie dominated the eastern and southern sections. The resulting landscape was rich in diversity of plants and wildlife. While cropland prevails across the countryside today, efforts to establish native habitats can be found throughout Rice County. The Rice SWCD has worked collectively with rural landowners, organizations, businesses, and governments to provide technical assistance in the restoration of prairies, wetlands, and woodlands.
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RICE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Restoring Native Prairies Over the years, biologists have studied the benefits of prairies to water quality and wildlife. While we notice the wildflowers and tall grasses that epitomize the prairie environment, the truly incredible parts of these plants can be found underground. Prairie plants have incredible fibrous root systems that can grow four to eight feet deep below ground. The root systems also absorb enormous amounts of water and nutrients from runoff, making native prairie species an ideal cover to prevent soil erosion and improve water quality. With the passing of the 1990’s Farm Bill, planting native prairie plant species became widely recommended to be used when completing conservation practices for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Native grasses were planted in filter strips because of their ability to absorb nutrients. A variety of native wildflowers and grasses were planted to upland areas around wetland restorations because of their value for wildlife habitat, especially pollinators. Many landowners signed up to plant prairie natives on land that was highly erodible. Much has been learned from the restoration process over the years. Ideally, native prairie seeding is done
A drill plants native prairie seeds at River Bend Nature Center in Faribault (1980).
in the spring when soil temperature reaches a level that will allow for native seeds to germinate, usually between May 15 and June 30th. Typically, the field is treated with an application of herbicide which kills cool season grasses and weeds. The native seeds are then no-till drilled into the ground or crop stubble.
The established prairie at River Bend Nature Center in Faribault (2016). Big Blue Stem (main), Lead Plant (middle left), Rattlesnake Master (top left), and Black Eyed Susans (bottom left) can be found growing throughout the prairie.
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
RICE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 75TH ANNIVERSARY
A young Black Eyed Susan planted in a pollinator garden in A rain garden planted at the Rice County Fairgrounds in Faribault (2017). The plant will grow to around two feet tall Faribault in 2008. Rain gardens are being installed in many communities across Rice County. Rain gardens help to imand its roots will form dense clusters of fibrous roots. prove water quality, provide habitat for pollinators, and reduce pressure to storm sewer systems by capturing runoff.
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A rain garden planted this past spring in the city of Northfield. Wet prairie native plants such as Blue Flag Iris, Prairie Blazing Star, and Swamp Milkweed will grow in the bowlshaped basin that will catch and treat storm water runoff.
Urban Prairies Prairie native plant species are popping up in urban areas in an effort to help pollinators. The Rice SWCD holds a native plant sale every year where native plants are sold to Rice County residents who want to plant natives. This past year around fifty people bought flats of native flowers that were planted to provide habitat for bees and butterflies.
We cordially invite you to the:
Come join us in celebrating 75 years of conservation in Rice County! We will meet at the 4-H Building at the Rice County Fairgrounds. From there we will tour conservation practices in southern Rice County. The tour will highlight:
Prairie Restorations, Inc.
Designing, Installing and Maintaining Native Plant Communities since 1977 Native Wildflowers & Grasses in Seed & Plants Restoring Prairies, Savannahs, Woodlands & Shorelines 30467 2nd Ave Randolph, MN 507-663-1091
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Buffer strips and the new state buffer law Wetland restorations through the ReInvest in Minnesota (RIM) and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Farmland erosion control and soil health After the tour, we will return to the fairgrounds around 3:30 PM for refreshments and cake in the 4-H Building. Please RSVP by calling the District office at (507) 332-5408 or by sending an email to teresa.demars@riceswcd.org.
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RICE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Wind Erosion
For seventy-five years, the Rice Soil and Water Conservation District has been assisting area producers and landowners in controlling soil erosion across Rice County. When spring rains appear, the need for soil erosion practices often becomes apparent. Sheet and rill erosion can carry valuable top soil away during low or moderate rains. Gully erosion can cut large channels into the earth as water concentrates during heavy rainfalls. Along with the soil particles, valuable nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen are carried away. Preventing soil erosion leads to healthier soils, better crop yields, and improved water quality for our lakes, rivers, and streams.
Rill Erosion
Common Erosion in Rice County
Sheet Erosion
Gully Erosion
Soil Erosion and Saving Soil
Wind Erosion: erosion that occurs when the wind picks up loose soil particles and carries it away, or when debris carried by the wind hits the soil and causes it to break away. Sheet Erosion: erosion that occurs when rain detaches soil and it flows away in the form of a sheet or uniform flow over the landscape instead of rills or gullies. Rill Erosion: small channels of erosion that form from the concentrated flow of water. Rill erosion leaves behind numerous channels across the soil. Gully Erosion: a deep trench that forms from a fast-flowing concentrated stream of water. This type of erosion can be several inches to several feet deep.
Saving Soil Luckily, soil scientists and technicians have developed several conservation practices that farmers have been using for years to control soil erosion. Several conservation programs
Wednesday, August 16, 2017 including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and Minnesota State Cost Share Program often provide funds to help pay for the cost of these conservation practices. Some landowners elect to install conservation practices with their own money. Strip cropping, contour farming, grade stabilization structures, grassed waterways, sediment basins, filter strips, conservation tillage, and cover crops are some of the conservation practices that can be found controlling soil erosion throughout Rice County.
Strip Cropping and Contour Farming
Strip Cropping.
Strip Cropping: growing planned rotations of row crops, forage crops or small grains in strips of equal width across a field. Contour Farming: tilling and planting crops along a constant line of elevation on sloped ground. The individual rows of crops then act as mini terraces to store the flow of water during rain events. Contour farming is often paired with strip cropping, as seen in this photo of the Walter Simon farm in 1968.
Congratulations on 75 years Rice County Soil and Water Conservation District! Forestry Management
• Timber Stand Improvement • Invasive Species Control • Timber Sales and Appraisals • Site prep and tree planting • Direct Seeding • Stewardship Plan Writing • Technical Service Provider • Manage Forest Law Plan Writer • Forest Inventory
Prairie Management
• Site Preparation • Native grass and forb seed Planting prairie, buffers, water ways, cool season grasses • Prescribe burning • Mowing • Bluffland and remnant prairie restoration • Prairie maintenance
Forest and prairie management for over 25 years. www.zumbrovalleyforestry.com
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Rice Soil & Water Conservation District 75th Anniversary Township carries away a September rain and prevents erosion (2015).
Strips planted on contours.
Grade Stabilization Structure Grade Stabilization Structure: a special erosion control structure used to stabilize grade or areas affected by severe gully erosion. The photo above shows a concrete drop structure on the Fay W. Larkin Farm south of Faribault. (July, 1945.) Early 1945 Grade.
A grassed waterway just after construction in Cannon City Township (2016). A broadcast seeder plants a mixture of smooth brome, perennial ryegrass, timothy, and a nurse crop of oats. The waterway is then mulched with straw to prevent erosion while the grass seedlings begin to grow.
Sediment Basins Sediment Basin: a shallow bowl-shaped area constructed with an earthen dam to hold back surface runoff. Above, a newly constructed sediment basin in Webster Township (2005).
Filter Strip
1990 Grade from Richland Township.
Filter strip: a strip or area of perennial vegetation that removes contaminants from overland flow. Above, a filter strip is planted in Cannon City Township through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) (2003).
2016 rock chute for erosion in Cannon City Township.
Grassed Waterways Grassed Waterway: a shaped or graded channel that is planted to perennial vegetation. Above, a well-established grass waterway in Cannon City Township (2007).
During rain events, the graded channel distributes the runoff resulting in a lower velocity of flow and carries water to a stable outlet. This grassed waterway in Richland
Conservation Tillage
Conservation Tillage: a type of tillage that leaves at least 30% residue on the soil prior to planting. The residue impedes the flow of surface water over the soil. Above, an early notill drill plants soybeans into corn residue for research plots in Rice County (1982). A farmer chisel plows a corn field in Shieldsville Township (1990). Around 30-50% residue is left by the chisel plow.
In strip tillage, a narrow row is tilled where the seeds of the planned crop are going to be planted. The rest of the area remains untilled. Strip tillage results in around 50% residue coverage, as seen above in Wheeling Township (2016).
PAGE 13 soybeans into a cover crop and corn residue in Cannon City Township (2017).
A radish grows several inches into the soil on a field in Bridgewater Township (2013). Besides reducing soil erosion, cover crops help to store valuable nutrients, reduce compaction, and improve water infiltration.
Cover Crop Cover Crop: planting grasses, legumes, and forbs for seasonal vegetative cover. Farmers also use conservation tillage to plant crops into the cover. Above, a farmer no-tills
Soybean plants emerge after being no-tilled into ryegrass in Northfield Township (2015). The ryegrass was killed with herbicide several days before the planting. The root system of the ryegrass keeps soil from eroding.
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RICE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Trees for Conservation Landowners from across Rice County come to the Conservation Building at the Rice County Fairgrounds every April to pick up trees which will be planted for conservation. Approximately 15,000 trees and shrubs are sold each year by the Rice SWCD. Landowners can choose from a variety of species and the trees and shrubs are available in bare roots or in pots. When the trees arrive, staff from the Rice SWCD immediately begin to prepare the trees for pick up. After the trees are dipped in a gel solution to help keep their roots from drying out, they are placed in large bags that are tied shut. The Conservation Building, with its cool and dark interior, makes the perfect location to store the trees until they can be picked up on Tree Day.
Pam Krenz loads up potted white cedar trees. Her parents, Kim and Troy, are planting a new windbreak on their property. Some of the trees will also be planted around a wetland restoration, which they installed last year with assistance from the conservation office.
Rice County landowner Ron Carlsen plants trees on his properties every year. Over the last twenty years, he estimates that he has planted around 15,000 trees for conservation!
Congrats!
Landowners will also plant trees and shrubs to form a windbreak. In a windbreak, five to seven rows of trees and shrubs are planted. The outer rows of the windbreak consist of shrubs, which help to catch drifting snow. The inside rows consist of evergreen and deciduous trees. Together with the outside row of shrubs, the trees redirect wind over buildings. Landowners in Rice County often plant trees and shrubs to create habitat for birds and wildlife. Evergreen species provide winter cover for birds like pheasants, chickadees, and cardinals. Deciduous trees like oak and walnut provide nuts for many wildlife species. Shrub species like cranberrybush and Juneberry provide berries for many different types of birds.
An early Rice County tree planting next to a farm in 1945. Farmers planted trees to slow wind erosion and shelter homesteads.
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
RICE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Wetland Restorations While the fertile land of Minnesota provided the perfect soils for agriculture, they also retained enormous amounts of water stored in wetlands. The drainage of Minnesota’s wetlands began almost immediately as homesteading spread across the countryside. The same year Minnesota became a state, the first drainage law was passed by the legislature. The Minnesota Drainage Act of 1858 governed the process of governments and landowners to complete drainage projects on land for agriculture, roads, and public health (to reduce diseases spread by mosquitoes).
Over the last 130 years, about half of Minnesota’s wetlands have been drained. Some counties in southern Minnesota have lost 80-90% of their wetlands. As time went on, scientists began to study the effects of drainage and the benefits
of wetlands to water quality. Wetlands help to reduce soil erosion, provide flood control, and will often act as a natural filter for surface water runoff. They also provide habitat for fisheries, declining and rare species, and game species. Finally, wetlands provide many opportunities for recreation. Between 1950 and 1970, lawmakers began to pass more laws restricting drainage. The Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Rice SWCD also began to assist landowners with wetland enhancements and restorations. Reporter Dean Vik, an editor for the Faribault Daily News, wrote about wetland restorations in Rice County for a news article from September of 1968. He described how farmers, local sportsmen’s clubs, and the District came together to enhance wetlands across Rice County. In 1967, around sixty-four “pothole” wetland ponds were created from blasting giant holes in the ground by exploding ammonium nitrate, a common commercial fertilizer. After selecting a wet soil or marshy area in a low spot, a hydraulic auger drilled a hole into the soil. Three to eighteen charges were placed in the holes dug for the pothole, with each charge comparable to 96 sticks of dynamite. The resulting explosion left a hole with a diameter of 50 feet, which would fill with surface and ground water to create a pond. The blasting was done by Jim Richards, a Minneapo-
Congratulations!
lis geologist. Jim Cook, an insurance agent from Faribault, helped place the charges. Al Johnson, district conservationist from the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) helped to design and plan the wetland with the farmers. Local sportsmen’s clubs from Faribault and the SCS funded the projects. In 1968, an additional 60 to 100 blasted pothole wetlands were planned.
Pictured above is a wetland restored through the ReInvest in Minnesota (RIM) Program in Shieldsville Township (1994). The RIM program reimburses landowners for enrolling their land into a permanent conservation easement and also provides assistance to restore the area.
Congratulations Rice County & Soil Water Conservation
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RICE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
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Wetland Delineation, Planning, and Design
Construction Staking, Observation, and Management
practices and expert leadership in local, regional, and
Watershed Boundary Reviews
Multi-purpose drainage management
international organizations showcase our commitment.
Right-of-Way Acquisitions
ARCHITECTURE
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ENGINEERING
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ENVIRONMENTAL
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PLANNING
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