July 2015
Along with organizational
business, possible legislation to create a new Minnesota River Council will be
presented and discussed at the fourth Minnesota River Congress Thursday, July 23 at the Turner Hall in
New Ulm.
The Congress
will open with a networking fair at 4:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m.,
and program at 6:30 p.m. A variety of organizations active in the Minnesota
River basin will have displays at the networking fair. Photo: Wild River Academy staff at their table for the April 16 Congress networking fair.
State legislators scheduled to
address the Congress include Reps. Clark Johnson and Paul Torkelson, both of
whom are members of the Legislative Water Commission. Also addressing the
congress will be DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr and former state senator and DNR
regional director Dennis Frederickson.
The proposed
legislation is being developed by the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District.
It is being driven by sediment and dredging costs in the lower Minnesota River.
Data show an increased need for water management throughout the basin to reduce
sediment scoured from near-channel sources, using tools ranging from cover
crops to upland water storage.
The
Lower Minnesota River Watershed District has voted to endorse the Minnesota
River Congress and looks forward to participation and partnering sponsorship of
future Congress functions, says Linda Loomis, executive director.
Register for the July 23 Congress by sending your name and address,
and $15 registration fee (includes meal) to Minnesota River Congress, PO Box
488 New Ulm, MN 56073. Online registration is available at: https://payableform.appspot.com/forms/avm4p.
For more information, contact Scott
Sparlin, 507-276-2280, sesparlin@gmail.com; or Ted Suss, 507-828-3377, tedsuss@gmail.com.
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More than 200 people from a multi-state area are expected to attend the eighth annual Conservation in Action Tour in southeast Minnesota Aug. 11-12. They will network and gain an up-close look at innovative practices and partnerships in conservation farming. To register, go to the online registration page. At the opening social on Aug. 11 and throughout the Aug. 12 tour, you’ll be joined by farmers, agricultural retailers, government agency personnel, legislators, researchers, conservation group partners, and news media.
During the tour, you’ll meet a wide range of farmers and their partners committed to conservation agriculture. At the lunch stop Aug. 12, a large tent will house displays from numerous agencies and organizations. The MPCA display will feature the statewide nutrient reduction strategy and the watershed approach for water quality restoration and protection. Look for more information on the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) website.
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On June 30, the LeSueur River Network had a very informative paddle and
community meeting, with Patrick Belmont, associate professor of hydrology and geomorphology at Utah State University. More than 55 people came to discuss trends
Belmont has seen in his research, and compare to what watershed residents are
seeing in their backyards. Notes and pictures from the meeting will be
available soon on lesueurriver.org.
On July 23, LeSueur River Network steering committee members will be tending an information table at the networking fair of the Minnesota River Congress in New Ulm. The Network has had a networking fair table at every Congress meeting so far.
Photo above right: Le Sueur River Watershed Network members paddled a portion of the river from the boat access CR 16 to Red Jacket Trail. They passed bluffs that Patrick Belmont has been
monitoring, and discussed the changes that have occurred over the last several
years.
Photo below: Le Sueur River Watershed Network members listen to Patrick
Belmont, Associate Professor of Hydrology and Geomorphology at Utah State
University, while paddling down the Le Sueur River from CR16 to Red Jacket
Trail Park. Belmont describes trends being seen in his research in the
Le Sueur River watershed. Network members discussed how those changes are
related to existing land and water management, as well as increases
in high intensity rain events.
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Six one-hour webinars on ag drainage management will be held at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays: July 22, Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18 and Dec. 16. They will provide best management practices for improving drainage water quality and information from multiple states across the Midwest. Topics include:
- Landscape-level nutrient reduction
- Controlled drainage
- Bioreactors
- Saturated buffers
- Wetlands
- Sub-irrigation and the economics of drainage
Developed by a team of extension specialists from several Upper Midwest universities, they are structured to provide both the perspective of the farmer/practitioner and the research/extension specialist. The first webinar July 22 will feature Tim Smith, of Eagle Grove, Iowa and Wayne Anderson of Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. They will present information on landscape-level nutrient reduction.
To join the webinar log in at: https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/bcch/ and click the “Enter as a Guest” button. Full story on Iowa State University Extension webpage.
Tim Smith (left) farms 800 acres near Eagle Grove in north-central Iowa. His crops are evenly split between corn and beans with 35 acres enrolled in CRP. In 2011, Tim became involved with the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative using 550 acres in the Boone River watershed. He uses cover crops, strip tillage, prairie strips, nutrient management practices and a woodchip bioreactor. He has begun doing nitrogen rate and nitrogen source comparisons.
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Wayne Anderson (right) has worked for the MPCA for 42 years. A registered professional engineer, he initially worked in the feedlot program and supervised the development of nonpoint source control program and watershed management assistance. He has been the state’s coordinating committee member for the National Gulf Hypoxia Task Force since its inception in 1997. Wayne is currently focusing on implementing effective solutions through the state’s clean water programs and serves as a strategy coordinator for Minnesota’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy.
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A growing interest in the impact of tillage on soil health drew a large crowd of farmers, consultants, and conservation staff to a field day July 1 at the U of M Extension research facility near Lamberton. University researchers and educators talked about impacts of reduced tillage systems on production, soil structure, and soil biology. NRCS staff demonstrated the differences in infiltration and wind erosion between 'healthy' soil and soil harmed by excess tillage.
One cup of healthy soil holds an estimated nine billion microbes. Cover crops and reduced tillage build soil organic matter, which contributes to crop production by holding water in the soil structure. Available water is the limiting factor for increasing crop yields. Cover crops and improved soil health also contribute to less runoff carrying sediment and nitrogen into surface waters. Photo: NRCS staff demonstrated the infiltration difference between healthy and compacted soil. L-R: Jennifer Hahn, Brown County; Jeff Kjorness, Redwood County; Brian Pfarr, Redwood County.
Unlock the secrets of soil - NRCS
Don’t have time to
sit down at a computer to hear from other farmers, ranchers and researchers
about soil health topics? No problem. Load your audio device with these podcasts and listen when you’re driving in
your pickup, tractor or combine. Check out the menu,
and pick up an order of soil health audio “to go.” - NRCS website.
Mark your calendar for upcoming soil-related events:
- Sept. 10: Tillage technology and residue field day, 9 a.m., U of M-Morris. Brochure.
- Dec. 15-16: Conservation tillage conference, Willmar. Details TBA.
Wind erosion demonstration
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Brian Pfarr holds wind speed anemometer in a makeshift wind tunnel to demonstrate the difference in wind erosion on soil samples from healthy soil with high organic matter and pulverized, heavily-tilled soil. Airborne soil adhered to the adhesive-coated paper, which showed a significant difference between the two soil conditions.
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If you're at the Minnesota State Fair Aug. 27-Sept. 7, be sure to visit the Eco Experience building on the north end. A fun and rewarding way to spend time at Eco Experience is to be a volunteer worker. Information on how to sign up will be posted on the volunteer webpage.
Eco Experience is filled with filled hands-on activities, demonstrations and resources in all areas of environmental stewardship. In 2013 Eco Experience won the fair's Peoples' Choice Award for Best Attraction. Last year it created and displayed a Guinness record: World's largest wad of paper - a visual representation of how much paper Minnesotans throw away in less than 30 seconds. The ball weighed 426 pounds, stood more than 9 feet high, and measured 32 feet around.
Sure to attract attention this year will be the plastic bag "tornado" (photo). More than 30 feet tall in the center of the building, the twirling tornado will educate about the need to reduce or recycle plastic shopping bags. Eco Experience is coordinated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in partnership with a host of businesses and organizations.
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Ostlie leaving Great River Greening for Minnesota Land Trust post
Wayne Ostlie is leaving Great River Greening as Director of
Conservation Programs to become Director of Protection with the Minnesota Land Trust beginning July 27. "It has been an enjoyable ride here at Greening," Wayne says. "Working with
you, we’ve achieved some great things in terms of restoring Minnesota’s land
and water habitats, crafting/implementing strategies to empower local
communities to participated in these efforts, and raising the funds to make it
all happen."
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