By Jean Meiners Technician, Root River SWCD Stormwater has an enormous impact on water quality, whether it’s runoff from farm fields or from urban hardscapes. Rain and snow melt can carry many types of pollutants into storm drains and surface waters. The MPCA regulates stormwater from municipalities, construction sites, and businesses that store material outside, to limit … [Read more...]

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By Jacob Gustin,  NRCS Minnesota Public  Affairs Specialist In Houston County, Minn., Connor McCormick continues a tradition of agricultural innovation started by his grandfather. Working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), McCormick utilizes financial and technical assistance from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to experiment … [Read more...]

Growing up in the La Crosse area, Zack developed a love for the outdoors. All outdoor activities, ranging from kayaking to hunting to helping on a farm of a family friend. This love drove him in the pursuit of a degree in ecology from Winona State University. After school Zack moved northwest of the Twin Cities where he spent five years working in the ecological restoration … [Read more...]

By Jean Meiners,  Technician, Root River SWCD To protect those most vulnerable to nitrate in drinking water, the State of Minnesota is offering limited private well testing for eligible private well households in Houston County, on a first come, first served basis. This funding prioritizes private well households with a baby under 1-year-old or a pregnant person living in … [Read more...]

The Driftless Area’s forests will be affected by climate change and other stressors during this century. An assessment put together by a team of researchers describes the vulnerability of forests in the Driftless Area. It includes information on observed and future climate trends and summarizes key vulnerabilities. The Landscape Change Research Group recently updated the … [Read more...]

By Christina Papenfuss,  Soil Conservationist, Natural Resources  Conservation Service (NRCS) Do you have a problem with a gully or washout in your field? A grassed waterway or grade stabilization structure can help. These practices can stop a gully and provide a place for water to move from your field as to not cause erosion. Grassed waterways are usually paired … [Read more...]

By TJ Boettcher Former Pheasants Forever  Field Biologist Many landowners are familiar with the scourge that is buckthorn. Once open forests have turned into nearly impenetrable green walls that line the hillsides from top to bottom. For those that aren’t familiar with it or are unsure of what it looks like, now is the perfect time of year to see the full extent of … [Read more...]

By Jean Meiners Technician, Root River SWCD Public waters are all water basins and watercourses that meet the criteria set forth in Minnesota Statute, Section 103G.005, subd. 15, and include lakes, wetlands and watercourses of certain sizes and characteristics. A 2024 statute revision clarified that public waters are not determined by their inclusion in or exclusion from … [Read more...]

By Christina Papenfuss Soil Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Pasturing livestock can be profitable. The costs of feed and fertilizer have gone up, leaving little money left over. The highest cost in most, if not all, livestock production systems is feed. Many producers use grazing to reduce costs for their operations. Properly managed … [Read more...]

By Zachary Glaunert Farm Bill Biologist, Pheasants Forever, Inc. and Quail Forever For centuries prescribed fire has been an effective means of sustaining healthy grassland and woodland ecosystems. This method of management was highly utilized by Indigenous peoples throughout North America for generations. It was adopted also by early European settlers to manage both … [Read more...]

Visitors will find something vintage, modern, and unique to decorate their home for the holidays at Market 52.  Co-owner Trisha Holthaus proudly smiled as she confirmed that shoppers will find something for everyone on their shopping list at Market 52.  Visitors will be pleasantly surprised to find Swan Creek candles, onesies for the littlest ones in the family, holiday … [Read more...]

Big box retailers are ubiquitous. The appeal of such stores’ extensive inventory is undeniable, and consumers like the comfort of knowing they can stop into a big box store anywhere on the map and feel a sense of familiarity with their surroundings.  Despite that feeling of familiarity, consumers who shop exclusively at big box retailers are missing out on what small … [Read more...]

Tiger Trail Lefse Chip Company opened its doors just five months ago on June 14, 2024, right before the Gammel Dag celebration. The store and its showcased offerings of both sweet and savory lefse chips were a huge hit with the hometown crowd returning for the festivities.  Owners Terry and Lori Pelzl, their son Jordan and his wife Anna, and their daughter Jade and her … [Read more...]

By Zech Sindt Nestled in the heart of southeastern Minnesota, Three Arrows Hunting Preserve is more than just a hunting destination; it’s a family legacy. Owned and operated by Ben and Diane Jacobsen, the preserve embodies a deep-rooted passion for upland bird hunting and Brittany Spaniels. Ben’s lifelong love for Brittany Spaniels began over 40 years ago when he got … [Read more...]