Accelerated Outreach to Agricultural Producers
The Mille Lacs County agricultural landscape largely consists of long shallow slopes that are prone to intermittent streams, as well as sheet and rill erosion. Nutrient and manure management, reduced tillage, residue management and cover cropping, as well as runoff and erosion control structures, have all been identified as local priority practices necessary to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to surface and ground water.
Increased outreach to agricultural producers is necessary to establish relationships that will result in the implementation of the above conservation practices. Overcoming hurdles to implementation of conservation practices begins with agricultural producers that have information readily available to them as they make decisions about how to protect the land on which they make their livelihood. The Mille Lacs Soil and Water Conservation District will provide an agricultural technician to work directly with producers to answer questions, identify sensitive natural resource features and provide conservation plans that will result in the implementation of conservation practices to protect local soil and water resources.
Please reference following link: http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/aboutbwsr/boarddirectory.pdf
Wayne Zellmer -BWSR Grants Coordinator; Matt Drewitz -BWSR South Region Clean Water Specialist; Jeff Hrubes -BWSR North Region Clean Water Specialist; Marcey Westrick -BWSR Metro Clean Water Specialist; Art Persons -MDH Planning Supervisor Drinking Water Protection; Terry Bovee -MDH Principal Planner Drinking Water Protection; Julie Westerlund -DNR Clean Water Coordinator; Dave Friedl -DNR Northern Region Clean Water Specialist; Joshua Stamper -MDA Research Scientist, Pesticide & Fertilizer Management; Dwight Wilcox -MDA Ag BMP Program Planner; Anna Kerr -MPCA -Stormwater / TMDL Coordinator;-DNR Central Region Clean Water Legacy Specialist; Karen Evens - MPCA -Watershed Projects Manager;
Nicole Clapp
Laws of Minnesota 2011, 1st Special Session, Chapter 6, Section 7, and Laws of Minnesota 2012, Chapter 264, Section 7
Hiring a full time agricultural technician to work directly with agricultural producers.
The source of additional funds varies from project to project, but generally consists of federal, local and non-public sources.