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 it a winding 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 engineering 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.