The Future of Farming in Becker County

This project builds resilient agricultural systems and achieves non-point source pollution reductions identified by local and regional water quality monitoring and models. Producers in 3 distinct yet connected watersheds of the Red River Basin, within Becker County, have the opportunity to shift towards sustainable practices that reduce overall inputs in their ag production operation. This is accomplished by receiving incentive payments to foster soil fertility, reduce sediment loading to impaired waters, increase water holding capacity, decrease economic and environmental flood damages, and sequester valuable nutrients and carbon.
Participants will: A) Eliminate fall tillage and minimize soil disturbance; B) Increase cover and residue to armor soil; C) Establish living roots through 90% of growing season; D) Add crop diversity, and E) Incorporate livestock where feasible.
With a five year commitment, producers can select from tiered incentives to incorporate: Residue and Tillage management (345), Cover Crop implementation (340), Conservation Crop Rotations (328), Controlled traffic (344), Prescribed Grazing (528), and Nutrient Management (590). Gridded soil sampling will be required where needed to meet practice standards. Applicants can enroll 25% of their operation up to 160 acres, with priority given to critical areas identified through the PTMApp and local knowledge. Our goal is to implement 4,000 acres (25 producers) through these cost effective conservation practices.