Cannon River Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) Nitrogen Project, Stage 2

This project will assess the ability of using cover crops as a best management practice to reduce nitrate leaching loss from corn and soybean acres. Increasingly, farmers throughout Minnesota are tasked with generating economic returns to soybean and corn enterprises while simultaneously generating environmental benefits. This is evidenced by enforcement of Minnesota's buffer law and groundwater protection rule – both seeking to achieve environmental benefits from agricultural land use practices in the face of depressed commodity market prices for soybeans and corn.

The goal of the project is to create long term watershed wide benefits to a trout stream (Rice Creek) through the cover crop best management practice while also showing the impact on the profit potential for soybean and corn production. Coordination, outreach, and field work to support implementation of the Cannon River Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) nitrogen strategy in Rice Creek and neighboring Wolf and Heath Creeks.