Identifying Best Management Practices and Barriers to Adoption
The purpose of this project is to identify effective irrigation and nutrient management best management practices and technologies and the barriers that prevent irrigators, producers, and other agricultural partners from adopting them in Otter Tail County. The primary goal is to reduce nitrate in areas where groundwater is susceptible to contamination as mapped by The Minnesota Department of Health by identifying effective BMPs and addressing the barriers to their adoption.
Nicole Clapp
- Estimated 156 CNMPs/Feedlot Projects and CNMPs - 3,120 pounds of phosphorus per year - 10,140 pounds of nitrogen per year - Eliminate backlog of farmers waiting for CNMP
Contracted with Freshwater Society to plan and faciliate outreach meeting, and draft report. Key takeaways include: Take-aways from the Agriculture and Groundwater Report at the EOT SWCD retreat.
1.Education and outreach to non-farmers. Need to better tell the story of practices implemented by farmers and some of the challenges they face.
2.Field days and tours are needed to promote practices. Showcase where practices are proven to work in our area.
3.Need to facilitate peer to peer learning/sharing opportunities.
4.Education and information on new technologies and how to make sense of information or data from them.
5.SWCD should invest time in forming new partnerships with co-ops, agronomists etc.
6.Research needs to be conducted on local levels
7.Financial incentives or having trial equipment available to reduce the financial risk of making changes.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS