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.