By Bob Scanlan
MN Dept. of Agriculture
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is working with farmers and crop advisors located in Houston County townships where 10% or more of the private wells tested over the nitrate Health Risk Limit (HRL) of 10 mg/L. Those townships include Black Hammer, Caledonia, Mayville, Spring Grove, and Wilmington. This pilot program is an effort to address nitrate in groundwater at the township scale. If you are a feedlot operator in one of these townships, the MDA is interested in working with you to address any conservation practices you may be interested in, especially those involving feedlot upgrades.
The MDA is in the preliminary stages of an effort to secure additional state funding through the Root River Regional Watershed. Given that these Houston County townships are a high priority for adoption of nitrogen best management practices in the watershed, the MDA is hoping to earmark additional funding to address manure management needs on local farms. These funds, if secured, are planned to be coupled with federal funds through the NRCS EQIP program to assist producers who may be interested in waste storage facilities, vegetated treatment areas, or roof structures to replace open lots.
If you are interested in learning more, contact Bob Scanlan, Coordinator with the MDA at 507-458-4842.
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