By Riley Buley
Fillmore Soil and Water thanks the Fillmore County Journal for providing us space to showcase the work the District has been doing in 2025. As with any year, 2025 was not without its challenges. Pauses in federal funding, a government shutdown, and the growing pains of a new program left – quite literally – hundreds of our producers wondering whether they would be reimbursed for the voluntary conservation practices they implemented. Despite these hurdles, I am proud to say that producers stayed committed to our programs, and we are now seeing their actions bear fruit across the landscape.
I take great pride in reporting that Fillmore County residents maintained near-historic levels of voluntary conservation best management practice (BMP) implementation last year. Highlights include:
- 680 feet of grassed waterways
- 8 grade stabilization structures
- 7,594 acres of cover crops
- 6,165 acres of no- or reduced-till
- 156 acres of rotational grazing
- 28,610 acres of nutrient management plans
- 40,750 acres of manure management plans
- 10 private wells sealed
- 11,784 trees sold
- 133 bacteria samples tested
- 112 private well nitrate samples tested
- 28 Ag BMP loans totaling $1,055,227 in conservation projects
Soil and Water Conservation Districts exist to assist residents by providing guidance, engineering, and/or financial support for conservation work. In this insert, you will read about project highlights from my staff, as well as opportunities to sign up for programs that may be of interest. Our technical and engineering services are available at low or no cost to landowners, and select practices may be eligible for cost-share assistance ranging from 50% to 90%.
Below is a short list of our most popular programs:
- Structural engineering BMPs
- Ecological and soil health BMPs
- Manure and nutrient management BMPs
- Minnesota Buffer Law compliance assistance
- Well sealing
- Ag BMP low-interest loan program
- Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP)
- Water testing for nitrates (free) and bacteria testing (fee-based)
- Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
Please visit us at 912 Houston Street NW in Preston. We look forward to assisting you. As always, if we cannot help you directly, we will work with you to find someone who can.
Sincerely,
Riley Buley
District Administrator (Manager)
Fillmore Soil and Water
Conservation District
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