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Minnesota Ag Water Certification Sauk River Project
The Nature Conservancy, Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, and Stearns County SWCD have partnered to measure the environmental impact of innovative programs that encourage whole farm planning for water quality in the Sauk watershed in west central Minnesota. The Sauk watershed (including Backes Lake) project aims to assist growers with planning and capital required to achieve an overall water quality outcome while simultaneously addressing soil health and climate change.
This project will also investigate and create case studies for farming practices (conservation tillage, crop rotations, improved nutrient management, etc.) including that benefit both cost of production for farmers and natural resource conservation (particularly water quality), demonstrate the benefits of these practices to Central Minnesota dairy and row crop farmers through peer-to-peer learning, and engage and support motivated farmers in making practice changes through a unique public-private-nonprofit collaboration.
Complete
Innovation
Engagement Targets
Notes: (1) I Minor fluctuations in the number of retained growers is expected from year to year. These fluctuations may be due to year-over-year crop rotation effects or other factors beyond the control of the project. Enrolled acres represent the total number of acres on an individual farm in a specific year. The ability to report enrolled acres is based on the Fieldprint Project Standard requirement that individual growers enrolled in projects enter at least 10% of the acres managed for a specific crop. (2) Entered acres represent the actual number of enrolled acres for which data is entered in the Fieldprint Platform for analysis.
Objectives
Whole farm conservation planning through implementation of the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, engage 100 farmers in whole farm conservation planning that addresses water quality risks, soil health and climate change.
Engage 100 farmers in whole farm conservation planning that addresses water quality risks, soil health and climate change.
All the producers involved in this project became certified in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program. Through the certification process, each producer received individualized support and participated in a risk assessment of every crop on every field in their operation. Based on the results of the assessment, the certification specialist and producer worked together to select practices that were the best fit for the operation. Certification was granted when all risks to water quality were mitigated.
Provide technical and financial assistance for conservation practice implementation that addresses water quality concerns, improves soil health, or improves farm resiliency to climate change to 100% of participants interested in these services.
Through the conservation planning process, risks to water quality, soil health and/or farm resiliency will be identified. Our advisors will offer technical and financial assistance opportunities to help growers mitigate those risks. A variety of practices will be designed and implemented to address applicable resource concerns. This objective will be tracked by the technical advisors and project administrators.
Participants
Project Lead Organization(s)
Minnesota Agriculture Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP)
(Full)
The Nature Conservancy
(Full)
Environmental Initiative
(Full)
Houston Engineering
(Full)
National Association of Conservation Districts
(Full)
Project Details
Status
Complete
Pathway
Innovation
Natural Resource Concern
Watersheds the project is located in:
Contact
Partnership
The Sauk River Watershed Project is seeking QDMP partnerships with organizations working with producers within the Sauk River watershed. A partnership would facilitate data collection and entry into the Fieldprint Platform and expand engagement within the region.