News

On October 1st, Brad Carlson begins his 30th year working for the University of Minnesota Extension. The Extension Educator, who works statewide from the Mankato Regional Office, focuses on water quality issues related to agriculture, and more specifically, nitrates.

Stormwater runoff from our communities - from streets, driveways, parking lots, and rooftops - often negatively impacts lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and sometimes, shallow groundwater resources.

Water Resources Science graduate student Zac Aanerud gained valuable research skills and insights studying sustainable corn production at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center the past three summers. Aanerud’s research is supported by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and the Watershed Innovations (WINS) Grant Program of the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center in conjunction with the United States Geological Survey.

The Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership (LSCWP) is a One Watershed, One Plan partnership that has identified priority surface and groundwaters within its basin to reduce pollutant loading. One of the identified activities to reduce pollutants is to implement non-structural agricultural BMPs, including soil health practices.  The partnership determined biannual and ten-year goals for pollution reductions. “After two years of program implementation, staff can assess the impacts the partnership is producing,” said Extension educator Jennifer Hahn.

Irrigating for quality crops while conserving water requires technology and the knowledge that powers it.

The speed with which water drains through sandy soils makes watering crops in a sand plain both an agronomic necessity and a conservation challenge.