Mississippi River Lake Pepin Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) Outreach and Demonstration

This project will investigate the effects of different farming practices on soil health and nitrogen loss in a minimally tilled, corn-soybean farming rotation in Southeast Minnesota. The project area is a roughly 20 acre, pattern tiled field that will be split into two fields of nearly equal sizes. This will be a paired comparison of a control field and a treatment field where cover crops will be employed. Nitrogen loss will be monitored via two tile control structures and routine collection and analysis of tile water. Field days and demonstration events will share methods and results to help others better understand nitrogen loss and how agricultural Best Management Practices can impact it. Another goal of this contract is to plan and host workshops to facilitate understanding and cooperation between local leaders and natural resource professionals.