Discovery Farms Minnesota
M.L. 2019: (d) $1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000 the second year are for technical assistance, research, and demonstration projects on proper implementation of best management practices and more-precise information on nonpoint contributions to impaired waters and for grants to support on-farm demonstration of agricultural practices. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2024.
- Number of contacts with farmers, crop advisors and other stakeholders at field days, presentations and other education events
- Number of county partners and farm groups engaged in the Discovery Farms program
- Number of counties that initiate edge-of-field monitoring and use Discovery Farms’ Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Number of times Discovery Farms Minnesota data is used to validate a model and /or referenced in a TMDL or scientific paper
- Minnesota state agencies are working together to establish and report outcome-based performance measures that monitor the progress and effectiveness of Clean Water Fund activities. This inter-agency group completed a Clean Water Performance Report in 2012 and 2014. At the heart of this report is a suite of quantifiable performance measures.Discovery Farms Minnesota is reporting on performance measure FM4: Total dollars awarded in grants and contracts to non-state agency partners and FM5: Dollars leveraged by Clean Water Fund implementation activities.
M.L. 2019: (d) $1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000 the second year are for technical assistance, research, and demonstration projects on proper implementation of best management practices and more-precise information on nonpoint contributions to impaired waters and for grants to support on-farm demonstration of agricultural practices. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2024.
- Number of contacts with farmers, crop advisors and other stakeholders at field days, presentations and other education events
- Number of local partners and farm groups engaged in the Discovery Farms program
- Number of counties that initiate edge-of-field monitoring and use Discovery Farms’ Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Number of times Discovery Farms Minnesota data is used to validate a model and /or referenced in a TMDL or scientific paper
- Minnesota state agencies are working together to establish and report outcome-based performance measures that monitor the progress and effectiveness of Clean Water Fund activities. This inter-agency group began completing a Clean Water Performance Report every two years in 2012. At the heart of this report is a suite of quantifiable performance measures. Discovery Farms Minnesota is reporting on performance measure FM4: Total dollars awarded in grants and contracts to non-state agency partners and FM5: Dollars leveraged by Clean Water Fund implementation activities.
The following measures are reported as a cumulative measure over the life of the program.
As of 12/18/2020 Discovery Farms has:
- Engaged about 5,500 participants in 100 presentations and 40 field days/events.
- Engaged 24 local and farm group partners in the program
- 13 counties that have initiated edge-of-field monitoring using Discovery Farms Standard Operating Procedures
- Received 18 data requests for use in model validation or research
M.L. 2017: (d) $1,125,000 the first year and $1,125,000 the second year are for technical assistance, research, and demonstration projects on proper implementation of best management practices and more precise information on nonpoint contributions to impaired waters and for grants to support on-farm demonstration of agricultural practices. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2022.
- Number of contacts with farmers, crop advisors and other stakeholders at field days, presentations and other education events
- Number of county partners and farm groups engaged in the Discovery Farms program
- Number of counties that initiate edge-of-field monitoring and use Discovery Farms’ Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Number of times Discovery Farms Minnesota data is used to validate a model and /or referenced in a TMDL or scientific paper
- Minnesota state agencies are working together to establish and report outcome-based performance measures that monitor the progress and effectiveness of Clean Water Fund activities. This inter-agency group completed a Clean Water Performance Report in 2012 and 2014. At the heart of this report is a suite of quantifiable performance measures.Discovery Farms Minnesota is reporting on performance measure FM4: Total dollars awarded in grants and contracts to non-state agency partners and FM5: Dollars leveraged by Clean Water Fund implementation activities.
As of 12/18/2020: Discovery Farms has interacted with over 5,500 farmers, crop advisers and other stakeholders at field days, presentations and other education events.
M.L. 2017: (d) $1,125,000 the first year and $1,125,000 the second year are for technical assistance, research, and demonstration projects on proper implementation of best management practices and more precise information on nonpoint contributions to impaired waters and for grants to support on-farm demonstration of agricultural practices. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2022.
M.L. 2015: (d) $1,125,000 the first year and $1,125,000 the second year are for technical assistance, research, and demonstration projects on proper implementation of best management practices and more precise information on nonpoint contributions to impaired waters. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2020
M.L. 2015: (d) $1,125,000 the first year and $1,125,000 the second year are for technical assistance, research, and demonstration projects on proper implementation of best management practices and more precise information on nonpoint contributions to impaired waters. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2020.
M.L. 2013: (d) $1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000 the second year are for research, pilot projects, and technical assistance on proper implementation of best management practices and more precise information on nonpoint contributions to impaired waters. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2018.
Measurable outcomes will be reported at the end of the fiscal year
M.L. 2013: (d) $1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000 the second year are for research, pilot projects, and technical assistance on proper implementation of best management practices and more precise information on nonpoint contributions to impaired waters. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2018.
Number of contacts with farmers, crop advisors and other stakeholders at field days, presentations and other education eventsNumber of county partners and farm groups engaged in the Discovery Farms programNumber of counties that initiate edge-of-field monitoring and use Discovery Farms’ Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)Number of times Discovery Farms Minnesota data is used to validate a model and /or referenced in a TMDL or scientific paper Minnesota state agencies are working together to establish and report outcome-based performance measures that monitor the progress and effectiveness of Clean Water Fund activities. This inter-agency group completed a Clean Water Performance Report in 2012 and 2014. At the heart of this report is a suite of quantifiable performance measures.Discovery Farms Minnesota is reporting on performance measure FM4: Total dollars awarded in grants and contracts to non-state agency partners and FM5: Dollars leveraged by Clean Water Fund implementation activities.
Number of contacts with farmers, crop advisors and other stakeholders at field days, presentations and other education events (Reached a total of ~2,900 people at 45 meetings and conferences and hosted 35 field days, 750 people in attendance )Number of county partners and farm groups engaged in the Discovery Farms program (11 local partners and 13 organizations represented on the steering committee)Number of times Discovery Farms Minnesota data is used to validate a model and /or referenced in a TMDL or scientific paper (6 data requests)
Additional program funding is provided by the MAWRC. They provided $420,000 in 2010-2011 and $774,119 in 2012-2013. Spending in 2014 was $257,856. MAWRC leads the Discovery Farms Minnesota program and the MDA provides technical support and expertise.
M.L. 2011 (d) $775,000 the first year and $775,000 the second year are for research, pilot projects, and technical assistance on proper implementation of best management practices and more precise information on non-point contributions to impaired waters. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016.
Refer to fiscal year 2014
M.L. 2011 (d) $775,000 the first year and $775,000 the second year are for research, pilot projects, and technical assistance on proper implementation of best management practices and more precise information on nonpoint contributions to impaired waters. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016.
Refer to fiscal year 2014
M.L. 2009 (d) $695,000 the first year and $1,570,000 the second year are for research, pilot projects, and technical assistance related to ways agricultural practices contribute to restoring impaired waters and assist with the development of TMDL plans.
Refer to fiscal year 2014
The Discovery Farms program is a farmer-led effort to gather field-scale water quality information on different types of farms across Minnesota. The three pillars of the program are farmer leadership, credible research, and communicating results.
The mission of Discovery Farms Minnesota is to gather water quality information under real-world conditions. The goal is to provide practical, credible, site-specific information to enable better farm management. The program is designed to collect accurate measurements of sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus movement over the soil surface and through subsurface drainage tiles. Monitoring equipment is operational 365 days per year, samples are collected automatically whenever runoff occurs.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) supports Discovery Farms by providing technical assistance and expertise in water monitoring. Visit MDA's Clean Water Fund Discovery Farms webpage for a list of MDA's responsibilities. To learn more about the program visit the Discovery Farms Minnesota website. Find yearly water quality monitoring results, videos, brochures and real-time data for each farm.
Discovery Farms Minnesota was launched in 2009 by farm organizations and commodity groups, specifically the Minnesota Water Resource Center (MAWRC) with the support of the MDA and the University of Minnesota Extension. Discovery Farms Minnesota provides: 1) baseline data on the environmental performance of Minnesota farms, 2) information on how farmers can adopt best management practices, 3) an educational environment where farmers learn from each other
The Discovery Farms Program leads to a better understanding of the relationship between agricultural management and water quality.
Discovery Farms Minnesota emphasizes farmer input and direction. A steering committee comprised of representatives from Minnesota farm, agribusiness, and conservation organizations guides the overall direction of the program, assists in the identification of research priorities and helps in the selection of cooperators and projects. The steering committee also includes non-voting members from state and federal agencies and the University of Minnesota.