FILLMORE COUNTY
JOURNAL “Where Fillmore County News Comes First”
FEBRUARY 10, 2020
FILLMORE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT Conservation Chronicles
SWCD STORIES
Conserving your land for future generations PAGE 2 Time for tree planting – District Tree Program PAGE 3 Staying compliant with MN Buffer Law PAGE 4 Local conservationists honored PAGE 5 What’s in your drinking water? PAGE 6
SWCD here to assist you in many ways PAGE 7 MN Ag Water Quality Certification Program PAGE 8 Plan for next spring’s windbreak planting now PAGE 9 New Water Management coordinator hired PAGE 10 Drinking Water Protection in SE MN Grant PAGE 11
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FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL
Monday, February 10, 2020
Communication is key to nutrient management
By Sara West Nutrient Management Specialist Farming is an incredibly busy and complex business where you rely on others for their professional advice with the assumption that they have the same goals in Sara West mind as you. Communication is key in the success of any business including your farming operation. Nutrient Management is probably one of the more complex divisions of your operation and can have a large impact on your operations profitability. At the top of the list is communication between an agronomist and farmer. This is one of the most important discussions that will take place in your farming operations during the year. Adequate fertilizer application can very easily make or break your farm’s profit margins for the year. Not enough and you lose yield, too much and you run the high risk of having runoff and negative environmental impacts. Making sure your agronomist knows where you have applied manure can be a critical factor for your operation’s profitability. Your manure application needs to be factored into your fertilizer prescriptions to ensure the proper credits are given and commercial fertilizers are applied within the guidelines provided. Also important is the discussion between the farmer and custom manure applicator or employees. The goal here being to ensure the correct amount of nutrients are being applied to support crop needs but also staying mindful of the environmental impacts that could occur if there’s an over-abundance of nutrients. It’s important to get manure hauled to the correct field location at correct rates, understanding that this can become challenging in recent years with extremely wet spring and fall seasons, late harvesting, and larger than normal accumulations of snow during the winter months. It’s also the farmer’s job to make
sure their employees/applicators know the environmental restrictions associated with applying manure. These include winter slope restrictions or proximity to any body of water (or sinkhole!) that are relevant to the operation. Another line of communication is between the farmer and person completing the operations nutrient management plan, possibly the County Feedlot Officer, or even a Pollution Control Agency (PCA) Officer. All three of these people should be able to answer questions the owner may have about the Nutrient Management Plan requirements and information necessary to keep it up to date. If the farming operation is selected for a spot inspection, a nutrient management plan must be current to be considered in compliance on the inspection. This requires an annual update to be completed by September 1 each year. A final possibility might be to communicate about “new” research with local results. There are Nitrogen Rate and Timing trials that have taken place for the last four years all over the state including right here in southeast Minnesota. These trials were designed to provide information about the most profitable Nitrogen Rate as related to yield. The trials are used to make the N rate recommendations that are used in the MN PCA Manure Management Planner as well as entered into the Iowa State Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator that can be found at cnrc. agron.iastate.edu to assist growers in find the most accurate information related to Nitrogen Rate for the area. More information and regional research results can also be found at mda.state.mn.us/pesticidefertilizer/nmi-results. All these levels of communication tie together to make your operation successful. Without one, the others will be much less effective which could hinder any profits that could be gained. In the end it all comes down to everyone being on the same page when it comes to nutrient inputs into your farming operation. Good communication across the board will lead to the greatest results.
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Conserving your land for future generations By Aaren Mathison Conservation Technician Are you interested in protecting the natural resources on your land? Is your land home to an abundance of wildlife and plant diversity? Maybe you want to protect your land from development in the future? Aaren Mathison
If you answered yes to any of these questions, a conservation easement may be right for you. Conservation easements are voluntary agreements through which current landowners can limit the use and development of their land, as well as preserve its natural or cultural features for the future. In many instances, landowners receive an initial financial incentive and/or tax benefits for the conservation easement. The land remains in private
ownership, and public access is not required for a conservation easement. When the land is transferred to a new owner, the easement stays with the land, ensuring it is preserved for years to come. If you have any questions, or are interested in conservation easements, you can contact the Fillmore County SWCD at (507) 765-3878, ext 3, or email me at aaren.mathison@fillmoreswcd. org.
Impacting conservation in the roll of SWCD supervisor
Shown from left to right are SWCD Supervisors Bob Pickett, Brian Hazel, Kathy Tesmer, Tim Gossman, and Travis Willford. Photo submitted The Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board of Supervisors are elected officials who serve a fouryear term and are elected in the general election. The office of supervisor is a nonpartisan office and each supervisor represents their entire district. Supervisors meet monthly, discussing the business of the SWCD, setting conservation priorities, distributing state grant allocations to landowners, and coordinating conservation efforts with other local units of government and state and federal agencies. Supervisors receive a per diem for board meetings and are reimbursed for mileage and expenses related to the supervisor position. Currently, the Board of Super-
visors is chaired by Kathy Tesmer, who represents District 3. Robert Picket is vice chair and represents District 4. Travis Willford is the secretary and is the representative for District 5. District 1 is represented by Brian Hazel, who holds the treasurer position. The District 2 representative is Tim Gossman. District 1 is made up of Arendahl, Rushford Village, Norway and Holt townships plus the City of Lanesboro. The townships of Sumner, Spring Valley (excluding the City of Spring Valley), and Chatfield are included in District 2. District 3 is made up of Fillmore, Bloomfield, Forestville, Beaver and York Townships plus the City of Spring Valley. District 4 includes the townships of Pilot Mound,
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Fountain, Carrolton (excluding Lanesboro), Carimona, Preston and Bristol. Amherst, Preble, Harmony, Canton and Newburg townships make up District 5. If you are interested, or know someone who would serve well in this role, three district supervisor positions will be up for election this year: Districts 3, 4, and 5. Interested individuals need to file a Minnesota Affidavit of Candidacy with Fillmore County Auditor’s office in Preston May 19 through June 2 at 5 p.m. We currently have a great group of supervisors and appreciate their continued dedicated service. However, new energy and ideas are also welcome, especially as supervisors eventually opt out to concentrate on other interests.
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Monday, February 10, 2020
Time for tree planting – District Tree Program
Tree orders are being taken until February 21, with delivery expected in late April. See the order form in this publication or at www.fillmoreswcd.org. Photo submitted By Sue Wiegrefe Administrative Assistant Most people can relate to the relief of stepping into the shade of a tree on a hot summer day. There are many less-obvious benefits of Sue Wiegrefe trees in our landscapes – for instance, their role in reducing noise, air pollution, and wind erosion. Their role in removing carbon dioxide
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from the air and holding it in solid form helps slow climate change. Their beauty and attractiveness for wildlife can calm and entertain us. As the Chinese proverb wisely states... “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago and the second best time is now.” February is the time to plan for your spring planting of trees and shrubs. The SWCD Tree Program offers quality stock at reasonable prices. A variety of bare root shrubs, deciduous trees, conifers and potted conifers along with fertilizer packets
and tree mats with staples are available to purchase. Quantities are limited, so order your trees early for the best selection. If you would like to order a tree or shrub not listed on our order form, please contact the SWCD Office at (507) 765-3878, ext. 3, and we can check availability from our supplier. To make planting easier and more efficient we have tree bars and tree planters available for rent. Give the District a call to reserve the tree planter. The deadline for orders is Friday, February 21 along with full payment. You will be notified by postcard and/or email of tree pick-up days, times and location, which usually occurs in late April. A couple of new items have been added for your planting pleasure. Tree tubes have long been prized for the acceleration of growth and protection from animals that they provide. There have been down sides, however. Some trees have experienced cold injury due to the trees not sensing the change of seasons due to the elevated temperatures inside, and not hardening off. Birds – especially bluebirds – have died when they drop to capture insects but cannot climb or fly out of the tubes. An innovative design by an Eagan, Minn., firm,
FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL
Plantra, has solved those two problems and also encourages stronger stem development by using a fiberglass stabilizing rod that bends in the wind. We will be selling these in packs of 10. A sample will be on hand at the office if you are curious. We have also added a beefriendly lawn mix which is a blend of three grasses and three short, nectar-producing flower
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species. The grasses are chewings, creeping red, and hard fescues and the flowers are white Dutch clover, self heal, and creeping thyme. They can be maintained as a lawn mown at three inches. Order forms along with descriptions are available in this insert, on our website at www.fillmoreswcd.org, or at the SWCD office in Preston at 900 Washington Street NW.
Sharpen your environmental knowledge with Envirothon By Aaren Mathison Conservation Technician Every year, the MN Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts organizes a comprehensive, outdoor l e a r n i n g Aaren Mathison event that is one of the state’s largest environmental education competitions for junior high and high school students. This Envirothon, as it’s called, focuses on aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and current environmental topics. The winner of the state advances on to national competition. In order to qualify for the state competition, teams
must advance from a regional competition. The Area 7 Envirothon Committee, in cooperation with the SE Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, will be holding the Area’s 27th Annual Envirothon, at the Byron Sportsmen and Conservation Club in early May, exact date to be determined. If you have any questions, or are interested in participating, you can contact the Fillmore County SWCD at (507) 765-3878, ext. 3, or email me at aaren.mathison@fillmoreswcd.org. Please contact us by March 31 if you or someone from your school is interested in participating. We will follow up with interested schools and teachers to send out a registration and information packet.
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FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL
Monday, February 10, 2020
Newest employees attend statewide training
The FCJ reaches over 13,000 households each week.
Staying compliant with MN Buffer Law
Laura Christensen, near right, shares ideas with other SWCD employees at one of the many sessions at BWSR Academy. Photo submitted
A buffer is vegetated land adjacent to protected waters and is critically important to keeping our water clean, preventing erosion and provide habitat for wildlife. Photo submitted
By Sue Wiegrefe Administrative Assistant For three days in November, the three newest Fillmore S W C D employees took part in training along with their Sue Wiegrefe counterparts from around the state at training organized by the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). Laura Christensen, district manager; Nikki Shaw, Water Management coordinator; and Sue Wiegrefe, admin-
By Anne Koliha, Technician A buffer is vegetated land adjacent to protected waters and is critically important to keeping our water clean, preventing erosion and provide habitat for wildlife. The Anne Koliha MN Buffer Law that was signed into law back in June 2015 and amended in 2016 and 2017 requires perennial vegetative buffers of up to 50 feet along designated pr otected waters. You can view the DNR Public Waters map at arcgis.dnr.
istrative assistant attended a variety of sessions ranging from what resistance they might find from potential adopters of new practices, to how to track various funding sources more effectively in financial software, to how to identify native Minnesota grasses. The time between sessions was also valuable as an opportunity to learn the names, faces, and expertises of their counterparts around the state over meals and evening leisure activities. It was unanimously decided that the event was very worthwhile and perhaps even worth repeating as each of us delves more deeply into our new roles.
state.mn.us/gis/buffersviewer/. Now that the MN Buffer Law is in full force for compliance, the Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has been mandated to check 1/3 of all protected water buffers each year along with an additional 5% of random spot checks. You can view the Monitoring Plan on the Fillmore SWCD website, www. fillmoreswcd.org. So, as to stay in compliance with the MN Buffer Law, continue to maintain buffers as installed and continue to maintain proper width of vegetation. Per the Buffer Law, buffers must remain at their original measurement. Which means that if you have
lost buffer because of flooding or high water or have encroached from the cropland into the buffer you will need to re-establish the buffer area and seed down the proper width as required. If you are looking at purchasing some new land or have acquired new land to operate, keep in mind compliance with the MN Buffer Law. This also goes for current landowners who may change operators of their land. Landowners are responsible for compliance of their land with the MN Buffer Law and need to keep the new operators aware that a buffer needs to be maintained along protected waters on the parcel of land. Thank you, Fillmore County landowners, for doing your part to maintain compliance with the MN Buffer Law and protecting water quality now and for future generations. Any questions in regards to the MN Buffer Law and compliance of parcels please contact Anne Koliha at (507) 765-3878, ext. 123 or anne.koliha@fillmoreswcd.org.
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Monday, February 10, 2020
Local conservationists honored at State Soil and Water Conservation District Convention
FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL
of corn for silage and grain and grass/alfalfa. The Johnsons dragline direct inject all manure from the dairy and hog facilities and drill in cover crops each year on the corn silage ground. Since 2009 Johnson Rolling Acres has been an edge of field cooperator for the Root River Field to Stream Partnership (RRFSP) water quality project and served on the advisory team. They have hosted numerous RRFSP educational field days over the past 10 years at their edge-of-field runoff monitoring station and dairy facility. One example of a recent field day was hosting a low disturbance manure injection demonstration on their farm in the fall of 2018.
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As a result of the field walkover process in the Bridge Creek Watershed, 17,850 feet of new and rehabilitated grassed waterways were installed on land they operate within just two years along with installation of contour buffer strip. They continue to maintain a six-acre CRP roadside windbreak along State Highway 43. In keeping busy with the daily farm items, members of the Johnson Rolling Acres are also involved with local groups such as Ttownship, Planning Commission, Dairy Association and Ag Partners Coop to mention a few. The Fillmore SWCD congratulates Johnson Rolling Acres on their conservation efforts.
Johnson Rolling Acres family photo: Ellen, Gerald, Cindy, Mark, Kari, Brad, Pam, Richard, Emily, Trinity, Meredith, Lee, Serena, Zach. Photo submitted By Anne Koliha, Technician The 2019 Outstanding Conservationists selected by the Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) was John- Anne Koliha son Rolling Acres of Peterson. They were
honored at a luncheon at the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation District’s (MASWCD) annual convention held on December 10 in Bloomington, where Outstanding Conservationists from across Minnesota were recognized. Each year, the state’s SWCDs recognize individuals and organizations for outstanding accomplishments in implementing conservation practices and
improving Minnesota’s natural resources. The award program is conducted with support from The Farmer magazine. Johnson Rolling Acres is a third generation family farming operation which includes a large dairy operation milking around 1,200 cows, with additional heifers and calves raised at other facilities and raise 4,000 head of swine finishers. The operation farms about 3,000 acres that are a rotation
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FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL
Monday, February 10, 2020
An Official Legal Newspaper for Fillmore County
What’s in your drinking water? Ag BMP Loan Program www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/ water/factsheet/com/coliform.html
Fillmore SWCD offers water testing to anyone interested in learning their bacteria count. Photo submitted
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SWCD here to assist you in many ways By Laura Christensen District Manager What makes your land special to you? Is it its ability to produce a crop or support livestock? Is it the wildlife that call it home? Is Laura it a windChristensen ing creek that provides an atmosphere to decompress? Maybe it’s a combination of these reasons or something entirely different. Now ask yourself, what could make your land better? Is there a gully washing your valuable seed and soil downstream? Have you seen a decline in wildlife? Are your creek banks eroding and sluffing? We often want to make improvements to our land, but factors like time, money, expertise or simply not knowing where to begin keeps us from addressing issues. These constraints are why Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) exists. We are here to deliver any combination of guidance, engineering, and/or financial support when it comes to conservation. Our technical advice and engi-
FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL
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Reaching all corners of the county
neering services are provided at no cost to you. We are often able to secure funding anywhere from 50-90% of the cost of projects. Common services we provide are project guidance and funding for agricultural best management practices such as grassed waterways, terraces, and windbreaks. We also provide water sampling testing for nitrates free of cost and bacteria testing for a fee. Meet with our Nutrient Management Specialist to obtain a Manure Management Plan and/or our Soil Health Technician to develop a grazing management or cover crop plan. Our Conservation Technician provides insight to Wetland Conservation Act rules and guidance as well as easement programs. Talk with our Engineering Technician in regards to feedlots, farmstead windbreaks, buffers, well sealing and the Minnesota Agriculture Water Quality Certification Program. Our conservation services don’t stop here, however, so I encourage you to reach out with any soil and/or water questions. Together we can accomplish your land improvement goals.
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Tim Gossman (in blue) leads the 2019 Prairie Walk at his farm in rural Chatfield. Photo submitted Not only do we offer services in the office in Preston five days a week, we also host many events throughout the year around the county. Some of these educational opportunities include our annual Prairie Walk in late summer or early fall, and the Forestry Field Day (which will be July 29, 2020). We also educate the next generation by having a presence at the fourth grade Farm Safety Day in Mabel, we make classroom visits to all the fifth graders in the county and talk about conservation and benefits of trees to our environment.
We also offer to plant a tree at each school every year and all fifth graders get to bring one home to plant as well. As sixth graders, students can attend the Conservation Day which is held at Forestville State Park in September every year. For the older students, we also help put on the Area 7 Envirothon each year in Byron. We provide activities at the Fillmore County Fair each year. They are Wednesday through Friday afternoons in the commercial exhibit building. Those activities in the past have included edible “soils,” demonstrations
of the stream table and rainfall simulator. The stream table demonstrates a number of concepts including how the path a stream takes changes over time and changes in amount of flow. The rainfall simulator shows very graphically how growing plants and plant debris protect soil from water erosion. We also have coloring/activity books available at the fair and in the office. The stream table also makes school visits. Just this fall it was at the Kingsland High School fish and wildlife class. In December we visited the Fillmore Central fourth graders and the Chatfield third grade got to check it out last spring. If your school would like to know more about what educational options we offer, give Aaren Mathison a call at the office (507) 7653878, ext. 109. We can tailor the information to tie into the topic being covered in the classroom.
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FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL
Monday, February 10, 2020
The FCJ reaches over 13,000 households each week.
SWCD awards scholarships to Endorsements to be added to those certified in high school and college students the MN Ag Water Quality Certification Program By Sue Wiegrefe Each year Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District awards two $500.00 scholarships to individuals from Fillmore County studying natural resources, agriculture, or a related field at the college level. Our 2019 Graduating High School Sue Wiegrefe S e n i o r Scholarship was awarded to Madilyn Smith, a senior at Fillmore Central High School. Madilyn, daughter of Todd and Tina Ristau of Preston, began studies at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus
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this past fall, majoring in Agriculture Education and Journalism. Her goal after college is to teach agriculture at the high school level and advise an FFA chapter. The Returning College Student Scholarship was awarded to Taylor (T.J.) Ruen. Taylor is currently in his final term at South Dakota State University, where he has majored in Agriculture Systems Technology and minored in Precision Agriculture and Agronomy. Taylor is the son of Tim and Jody Ruen of Lanesboro. Part of the application process is an essay, in which applicants describe in 500 words or less “What Natural Resources Conservation Means to Me.” The full application can be accessed on line at www.fillmoreswcd.org/scholarships.html or picked up at the SWCD office located at 900 Washington Street NW in Preston. Deadlines for the scholarships are 4:00 p.m. on March 18, 2020, for high school students and July 31, 2020, for the returning college students. For more information, call the SWCD office at (507) 7653878, ext. 3. We are pleased to be able to support the next generation of conservationists!
By Anne Koliha, Technician Already a certified farmer or agricultural landowner with the MN Ag Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP)? Well then, listen up because t h e r e are new endorsements that have been added to the program which you can Anne Koliha seek. The MAWQCP is launching three new endorsements in addition to the 10-year certification a farmer or agricultural landowner receives in the program. The
new endorsements available to water quality certified producers are for soil health, integrated pest management, and wildlife. “We recognize that many conservation practices targeting water quality also have benefits for other conservation goals, such as wildlife,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “These Ag Water Quality Certification endorsements celebrate the certified producers who are going above and beyond to implement conservation on their farms.” “The Minnesota Soil Health Coalition appreciates the dedication of the MAWQCP, helping producers identify and
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implement practices to improve their operations and resource concerns and value the Soil Health endorsement as another avenue to engage and improve soil health across Minnesota,” said Brian Pfarr, Minnesota Soil Health Coalition Board Chairman. Certified producers who achieve an endorsement will receive an additional sign for their farm and recognition for their conservation excellence. Any certified farmer or agricultural landowner interested in an endorsement can contact Anne Koliha at Fillmore SWCD office: anne.koliha@ fillmoreswcd.org or (507) 7653878, ext. 123. Available to college juniors and above is a scholarship from The Sustainable Ag & Forestry Endowment Fund for $5,000. Scholarships are due March 30, 2020. The scholarship seeks to fund students who want to learn about and conduct research into sustainable practices, educate others, and advocate for change. Students in the 11 southeast Minnesota counties are eligible to apply and all the information can be found at protectourresources.org.
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Monday, February 10, 2020
Plan for next spring’s windbreak planting now
gy costs and add value to your property. Windbreaks should be located on the north and west sides of the area to be protected. They should not enclose all four sides or a “dead air pocket” will be created. Snow control is a great windbreak benefit by keeping snow away from critical areas in a farmstead. They provide benefits to wildlife as well. Windbreaks supply habitat for feeding, shelter, nesting and breeding. Fillmore SWCD has cost-share funds available at 50% of the cost of potted trees with a maximum of $1,000 to assist landowners in the establishment of a farmstead windbreak. To begin the process of planning a windbreak plan and sign up for cost-share, contact Anne Koliha at (507) 7653878, ext. 123 or anne.koliha@ fillmoreswcd.org.
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By Anne Koliha, Technician When it comes to soil health and water q u a l i t y, farmers have always been some of the most conscientious and concerned people. This is due to their Anne Koliha deep, hands-on connections with soil, water, and nature. Over the years, great strides have been made in recognizing and improving soil health and water quality, due partially to the partnerships developed between the farmers, Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) and other government agencies. But like most things, there is always room for improvement and farmers continue to be an important part of the research and work towards these goals. Leading the way to improvements in land practices and water quality is the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP), a program through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). The MAWQCP is a voluntary opportunity for farmers and agricultural landowners
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Working with farmers to improve water quality through the MN Ag Water Quality Certification Program
A well-planned windbreak will moderate hot and cold temperatures, reduce dust and snow, save money in home energy costs and add value to your property. Photo submitted By Anne Koliha, Technician It’s winter in Minnesota and the blustery winds are blowing. Although some winters aren’t as cold and snowy as others, on the colder, windier days Anne Koliha you may have wished for added protection against the elements. On those days it’s difficult to imagine that spring’s not far away. It’s not too early to begin planning a new windbreak or an addition to an existing one. Windbreaks are common sites around Minnesota farms and acreages. A well-planned windbreak will moderate hot and cold temperatures, reduce dust and snow, save money in home ener-
FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL
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to take the lead in implementing conservation practices that protect our water. Those who implement and maintain approved farm management practices will be certified and in turn obtain regulatory certainty for a period of 10 years. Since the program began in 2014, the MAWQCP has certified over 800 farms totaling nearly 550,000 acres and farmers have installed over 1,700 new conservation practices across Minnesota as part of the program. The Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program is designed to accelerate progress toward water quality goals in our state’s lakes, river, and streams, while making conservation regulations more predictable and less cost-prohibitive for the state’s
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farmers. The MAWQCP program not only shows recognition for all the hard work farmers do to protect the environment, but also gives the farmers certainty that they will be in compliance with any new water quality regulations. It also provides cost-share funding for conservation practices to help farmers achieve water quality certification. Also, through the program the public receives assurance that certified producers are using conservation practices to protect Minnesota’s waters. Contact Fillmore SWCD’s Anne Koliha at anne.koliha@ fillmoreswcd.org or (507) 7653878, ext. 123 for more information on the MN Ag Water Quality Certification Program application process with the MDA.
Celebrate!
Celebrate a birthday, anniversary or congratulate a loved one with a happy ad in the Fillmore CountyJournal!
Email your ad and a photo to ads@fillmorecountyjournal.com and we’ll add the artwork! Fillmore County Journal P.O. Box 496, Preston, MN 55965 Ad deadline is Wednesday Noon for the next Monday’s edition.
Page 10
FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL
Monday, February 10, 2020
The FCJ reaches over 13,000 households each week.
New Water Management coordinator hired in 2019
In the summer of 2019, new Fillmore SWCD Water Management Coordinator Nikki Shaw worked with Winona County SWCD through Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa, and was able to work on cover crops, waterway and feedlot constructions, as well as aquatic and terrestrial invasive species monitoring. Photo submitted
Nikki Shaw is the new Water Management Coordinator at Fillmore SWCD. She, along with her parents, recently began growing a variety of vegetables in high tunnels and are able to supply a few businesses and neighbors near their Embarrass, Minn., home. Photo submitted
Nikki Shaw has spent two summers working with the MPCA in Duluth, Minn. Photo submitted
Hi! I’m Nikki Shaw, the new Water Management coordinator to Fillmore SWCD. I’m originally from Embarrass, Minn., where we have a much shorter growing season. The last few Nikki Shaw years, my parents and I have been
Aquatic Biology, with an emphasis in Wetlands Ecology, and a minor in Geographic Information Systems. While I was in school, I had the opportunity to work with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in Duluth, Minn., for the summers of 2016 and 2017. During these two summers I worked on a variety of projects, including: finishing up the last two years of surface water monitoring in the Rainy
River Headwaters watershed, mostly around Orr and International Falls; finishing up the Lake County culvert inventory, starting St. Louis County’s culvert inventory; and assisting the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) with the monthly E. coli monitoring of 11 USFS beaches, to name a few. This past summer I had the opportunity to be the summer apprentice for Winona County SWCD through Conservation Corps of Minnesota
trying out high tunnels and a variety of vegetables, namely tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Our first high tunnel went up in the spring of 2016, and our second in the fall of 2018. We have been supplying a local grocery store, a co-op in another neighboring town, as well as many families that stop out to check out the operation and get some fresh veggies. I graduated this past May 2019 with my Bachelor of Science in
and Iowa, and was able to work on everything from cover crops, to waterway and feedlot constructions, to both aquatic and terrestrial invasive species monitoring. I have been loving southeast Minnesota, and am looking forward to serving the area for a long time to come. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (507) 765-3878, ext/ 129, or nikki.shaw@fillmoreswcd. org.
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The FCJ reaches over 13,000 households each week.
Drinking Water Protection in SE MN Grant
A cover crop program is available for four townships in Fillmore County with high well nitrates. Photo submitted The Drinking Water Protection in SE MN Grant is a new grant focused on Drinking Water Supply Management Areas and townships with high well nitrates results based on the finalized reports from MN
Department of Health 2018-19 study. To view the final reports you can log on to www.mda. state.mn.us/township-testingprogram#Results. In Fillmore county, these townships are Arendahl, Norway, Preble, and
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FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL
Monday, February 10, 2020
Bloomfield. If you are in these townships you should have already received a letter about the cover crop program available through this grant. Also available are incentive payments to help support the Nitrogen Trials that are used as a baseline for the University of Minnesota recommendations for nitrogen rates on corn following beans and corn following corn in southeast Minnesota. These two-year contracted trials offer $3.00/acre up to 50 acres a year. The trials compare what the farmer usually applies for rates to the U of MN rates. This is also available with a sidedress option which pays $10/ acre up to 100 acres. We also have more intensive trials that involve in season sampling to access the nitrogen availability throughout the year. However, none of this sampling needs to be done by the producer. The incentive payment for this trial is $800 for the farmer (approx. $104.00/acre) and $400 for the agronomist’s company that the farmer chooses to work with. These trials require three replicated strips and a zero N check strip. If you live in one of the townships listed above and are interested in taking part in any of these trials, contact Sara West at (507) 765-3878, ext. 105.
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Cost share funds available for conservation practices
Grassed waterways are one way to combat water runoff and soil erosion. Photo submitted By Doug Keene Resource Conservation Technician Change in weather patterns and the lack of conservation practices, heavy rains have caused excessive water runoff and soil erosion. We have seen increased interest for Doug Keene conservation practices such as contour farming, no-till, grassed waterways, terraces, grade stabilization structures and cover crops. Contact your local SWCD & NRCS office to discuss options that best fits your farming operation to maintain productive soils for future generations.
For more information contact me, Doug Keene, at (507) 765-3878, ext. 108. Cost share funds available
Cost share funds are authorized when funds are requested that would fix a situation where soil or water quality are being lost or degraded specific to each of the above programs. The cost share programs typically reimburse a landowner for 50% or more of the costs to install the conservation practice.
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