Fi l lmore County

Fal l 2018

C O N S E RVAT I O N C H R O N I C L E S

2018 Fillmore County Outstanding Conservationists Selected Gerald and Dianne Peter, of Mabel, have been chosen as the 2018 Fillmore County Outstanding Conservationists. The Peters will be honored at a luncheon at the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ Annual Convention on Tuesday, December 11th at the Double Tree by Hilton, Blooming-ton-Minneapolis South. The Peters farm 370 acres of corn, soybeans, oats and hay on both owned and rented land in Preble Township. All their land is in contour strips and no-tilled except where the cows are wintered. They start-ed using cover crops with EQIP and have continued their use on all acres following corn and soybeans. They maintain a 750 foot farmstead shelterbelt, adding trees as needed. A hedge has also been planted along one field to reduce erosion. They have 85 Black and Red Angus cow/calf pairs. All their cattle are grass fed and the calves are sold after weaning in November. Cows are wintered on corn stalks and spend no time in a feedlot. Their 125 acre pasture is rotationally grazed and divided into twelve pad-docks which the cows are moved through weekly. Their 120 acres of woodland are fenced to exclude cattle, which enhances the wildlife habitat. They also have a seven acre field that is maintained specifically for wildlife habitat,

which they have inter-seeded with species beneficial to wildlife. This area is used by both family and guests that include young hunters and participants in the Wounded Warrior hunting program. Gerald is a former Fillmore SWCD supervi-sor, Preble Township Board member and Ma-bel Cooperative Telephone Board member. He currently is a member of the Fillmore County Cattlemen, and the Mabel Legion, having served six years in the Army Reserves,

and is a member of the Land Stewardship Project. The Peters have been participants in the SE MN Volunteer Nitrate Monitoring Program since it began in 2008. Gerald and Dianne are carrying on the conservation tradition on the farm where Gerald grew up and maintain many of the practices that were installed by his parents.

Congratulations Gerald and Dianne!

FILLMORE SOIL AND WATER

CONSERVATION DISTRICT

900 Washington Street NW

Preston, MN 55965

PHONE: (507) 765-3878 EXT. 3

DISTRICT STAFF: Caleb Fischer

Willis Goll Doug Keene Anne Koliha

Aaren Mathison Donna Rasmussen Jeanette Serfling

Dean Thomas Sara West

WE’RE ON THE WEB!

See us at: www.fillmoreswcd.org

Like us on Facebook

DISTRICT BOARD: Brian Hazel—Chair

Tim Gossman—Vice Chair Bob Pickett—Treasurer

Kathy Tesmer—Secretary Travis Willford—Supervisor

The SWCD’s role The function of the Soil and Water Conservation District is to take available technical, financial and educational resources, whatever their source, and focus or coordinate them so that they meet the

needs of the local land user.

CONSERVATION CHRONICLES PAGE 2

Is your farm ready for the next big rain?

Landowners and operators can help with your property’s

ability to “weather” our major rain events that we see each

year. These practices can either be management or structur-

al, with management practices often times being the most

economical to implement. These include cover crops, strip-till,

and no-till. Any of these practices help to increase residue

coverage on the soil surface.

Residue helps to protect the surface of your soil from wa-

ter erosion and crusting by absorbing the energy of raindrop

impact, which reduces soil particle detachment, surface seal-

ing, and runoff. An increased amount of surface residue helps

to slow the velocity of the runoff, which also minimizes the

amount of soil that gets carried away in the runoff. The less

soil that gets carried away means more soil in the field for

future crops to grow, and increased property value.

When a no-till management practice is implemented on a

field, operators save money on fuel, labor, and equipment

costs. Often times the largest pieces of equipment a farmer

owns are tillage tools, and the tractor to pull them. These

larger tractors also generally use the most fuel per hour, too.

A qualified operator to run this equipment is also needed,

which seems to be harder to find.

After making minor changes to management practices,

landowners also see an improvement in soil health. Through

management practices like no-till and cover crops, increases

of soil organic matter occur. Each 1% increase in soil organic

matter helps your soil hold 20,000 gallons more water per

acre. Improvement in soil health also helps landowners in

wet years, by improving the structure of the soil & supporting

field conditions.

If you have questions on helping to prepare your farm for

the next big rain, or any other conservation related practices,

contact the Fillmore SWCD at (507) 765-3878 ext. 3

Gardening for Water Quality & Soil Health

Having clean water is important to all of us, and a beautiful

garden in your yard can help keep our water clean. A rain gar-

den installed on your property can help with stormwater.

Stormwater is water that flows off of homes, lots, yards, and

paved surfaces when it rains or after snow melt. This runoff con-

tains high levels of pollutants & sediment, while increasing the

potential for flooding and erosion problems.

A rain garden is a shallow, dish-like depression in the ground

that is planted with water-tolerant vegetation. They work best

in small areas that you are able to divert concentrated flow (i.e.

gutter downspout, paved lot/sidewalk, etc). A raingarden is

designed with certain plants and soil that soak up stormwater,

and allow it to infiltrate into the ground. Other benefits of these

specialized gardens include beautify the landscape, provide hab-

itat for wildlife & pollinators, and improving water quality. An

additional benefit of rain gardens is through establishing native,

perennial plants, the landowner will be minimizing labor over

the lifetime of the garden, and also improving the soil quality on

their property.

For any questions in regards to if a rain garden may work on

your property, design features, or any other questions in re-

gards to stormwater solutions, feel free to contact the Fillmore

SWCD at (507) 765-3878 ext. 3, or email:

Aaren.mathison@fillmoreswcd.org

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. Robert Louis Stevenson

CONSERVATION CHRONICLES PAGE 3

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High School Scholarship Awarded Brady Ristau, son of Doug and Deb Ristau of Preston and a

student at Fillmore Central High School was awarded the

Graduating High School Senior $500 college scholarship.

Brady is attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls ma-

joring in Agricultural Studies with a minor in Agricultural Engi-

neering Technology.

Congratulations Brady and best wishes for success in

your future endeavors!

Time for Tree Sales to Begin

The Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District is once

again conducting its annual Tree Sales Program.

The District offers a variety of bare-root and potted trees and

shrubs suitable for conser-

vation plantings or to en-

hance your home or farm-

stead. We sell good quali-

ty trees but offer no guar-

antee of survival.

Order your trees and

shrubs early for best selec-

tion, as quantities are lim-

ited. As in the past, pay-

ment in full is required

with your order and

should be received at the

SWCD office by February 22, 2019. Trees can now be paid by

credit/debit card, with the addition of a 3% upcharge for the

convenience of using a card. Call the SWCD office for more infor-

mation.

Trees and shrubs will be available for pickup in April, 2019.

Customers will be notified by postcard in early April with the

pickup dates and times.

The tree order form can be found in this newsletter along

with descriptions of the trees and shrubs available or on our

website at www.fillmoreswcd.org.

For more information or to order a variety of tree not listed

on the order form, please call the office at 507-765-3878 ext. 3.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts. Winston Churchill

Our SWCD Family Is Growing Aaren Mathison, Resource Technician, and family welcomed a daughter, Scarlett Lorraine, on September 25, 2018. She joins big brothers Porter and Maverick. Sara West, Nutrient Management Spe-cialist, also wel-comed a daughter to her family on October 21, 2018.

Baby West, joins big sisters, Lilly, Hai-ley, and Carlie.

Congratulations to all!

Returning College Student Scholarship Each year the Fillmore SWCD awards a $500 scholarship to

a returning college sophomore, junior or senior majoring in

natural resources, agriculture or related field. This year no

applications were received.

Parents and college students— watch for

the announcement next year for applying

for the returning college student scholar-

ship.

The Fillmore SWCD offers…

State cost-share dollars for waterways, terraces, struc-

tural erosion control structures

Feedlot cost-share assistance

Nutrient Management Plans

Manure Spreader Calibration

Grazing Management Plans

Bacteria Testing

Plat Book Sales

Survey Flag Sales

Tree Planter Rental

Tree Bar Rental/Sales

Gopher Machine Rental

CONSERVATION CHRONICLES PAGE 6

Root River Watershed among Five Receiving Special EQIP Funds Statewide

This past year, the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) applied for and received Regional Conservation Partnership

Program (RCPP) funds for five watersheds in the state that were pilot areas for One Watershed One Plan (1W1P). 1W1P is transi-

tioning water management in Minnesota from county-based plans to watershed-based plans. The Root River 1W1P is one of five

pilot watersheds around the state with a completed and approved watershed plan. The Root 1W1P area includes the entire Root

River watershed plus the Minnesota portion of the Upper Iowa watershed and the portion of Houston County that drains directly

to the Mississippi (Mississippi-Reno watershed) as shown on this map.

RCPP funds in the amount of $2.5 million were awarded to Minnesota to provide implementation funds for conservation prac-

tices in the five pilot watersheds. Initially, $400,000 to $500,000 will be available for the Root 1W1P area through the Environ-

mental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) administered by the local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices in

the six counties in the watershed (Dodge, Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, and Winona). Eligible practices include structural

practices, such as grassed waterways, water and sediment control basins, grade stabilization structures, and terraces, as well as

management practices, such as cover crops and no-till.

In addition to the federal funds, the Root River 1W1P is receiving state funds through ongoing watershed grants from BWSR.

The state funds are being used to implement practices and match federal funds to increase cost share payment rates and for tech-

nical assistance for local staff to assist landowners with planning, designing and installing practices.

Contact your local SWCD or NRCS office for more information about signing up to implement practices using these funds. The

Fillmore County office of the SWCD and NRCS can be contacted at 507-765-3878 ext. 3.

Of all the questions which can come before this great nation, short of the actual preservation of its

existence in a great war, there is none which compares in importance with the great central task of

leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us.

Theodore Roosevelt

CONSERVATION CHRONICLES PAGE 7

“Soil Your Undies” Farmers across southern Minnesota have been testing how

healthy their soil is by “planting” tighty-whities in their corn

and soybean fields.

With proper management, the ground beneath your

crops should teem with millions of tiny lifeforms-bacteria,

fungi, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods, earthworms-all busy

transferring nutrients, eating and decomposing organic mate-

rial through nutrient cycling in processes that help plants

thrive.

The “Soil Your Undies” test is one way to test biologic

activity. New, white, 100% cotton undies were buried in the

soil beneath various types of land use/crop management sys-

tems. After being buried for four-six weeks, they were dug up

and you can see below what was found. Sterile, lifeless soil

will keep your tighty-whities clean and intact whereas busy,

organically thriving soil will eat away at your briefs, leaving

nothing but an elastic strap!

All the undies were “planted“ between June 5 and June

18, 2018 and “harvested” on July 17, 2018.

“Soil Your Undies” (continued) Practices that produce healthy soil follow four main principles:

1. Keep the soil covered as much as possible (e.g. no till, strip

till, or cover crops)

2. Disturb the soil as little as possible (e.g. no till or strip till)

3. Keep plants growing throughout the year to feed the soil

(e.g. cover crops)

4. Diversify as much as possible using crop rotation and cover

crops.

If you would like more information on soil health and cover

crops, contact Dean Thomas, Area 7 Soil Health Technician at

507-774-9610.

Planted in a soybean field, no-tilled with cover crops

Planted in field with continuous corn, strip tilled with no cover

Planted in field with continu-ous corn, conventional tillage

Planted in corn/bean rotation field, 1st year no till w/cover crop

Planted in a road ditch

The Value of Trees

Before you know it the winter winds will be blowing which gets

people thinking about a windbreak. The SWCD’s tree program

distributes 10,000 to 13,000 trees each year to over 200 cus-

tomers in and around Fillmore County. One of the primary uses

of many of the trees sold by the SWCD is for farmstead wind-

breaks. Tree sales offer affordable trees to our customers while

generating income for the SWCD. More important are the many

functions and benefits that trees provide to the landscape.

(Continued on page 8)

CONSERVATION CHRONICLES PAGE 8

The Value of Trees (cont.)

Windbreaks are an energy conservation measure for the

farmstead plus they offer shelter from wind and sun for live-

stock and wildlife and capture blowing snow for slow melting

and infiltration. In general, young growing trees take up large

quantities of carbon dioxide reducing levels of this greenhouse

gas in the atmosphere. They also intercept pollutants both in

the air and water. A healthy tree stand reduces soil erosion by

dissipating the energy of raindrops before they hit the ground

and by improving water infiltration. Tree roots are great at

holding soil in place. All of these factors reduce surface runoff

which also reduces soil erosion and flooding. According to

American Forests, mature forests can reduce by 40 to 60 per-

cent the amount of water reaching streams.

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago.

The second best time is now.

Proverb

The Value of Trees (cont.)

The Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District has cost share

money available for farmstead windbreaks. The SWCD has an

excellent selection of trees for all your planting needs whether

you live in town or in the country. If you are interested in pur-

chasing trees, check out the order form included in this news-

letter or call the office in Preston at 507-765-3878 ext. 3.

New Initiative for Conservation Planning Dan Wermager, Conservation Planning Technician with the Root River Soil and Water Conservation District in Caledonia, MN, is

getting the word out that there is a new conservation planning initiative for the entire Root River Watershed. The two priority

areas are Torkelson Creek Watershed in Fillmore County and Money Creek Watershed in Houston and Winona Counties. The initi-

ative is a mutual effort between local, state, and federal governments. The purpose is to get more conservation planning done

with landowners and producers. A conservation plan is a guide that helps you to manage your land in the best way possible. It

gives you ideas about best management practices (BMPs) that you may want to implement in the future to maintain and improve

your farm’s productivity by protecting your farm’s soil and water resources. These are practices designed to treat a variety of re-

source concerns, including soil erosion, soil health, and water quality degradation.

Dan can come out to your land to meet with you and do a walkover, and then work together with you to create a conservation

plan. If you then choose to move forward with some of the BMPs, he will be there to help with that as well and can help you get

signed up for the cost share program that best fits your needs and goals. Landowners in the priority watersheds have received

letters about the initiative, but if anyone is interested in more information, feel free to contact Dan at the Root River SWCD office

in Caledonia at 805 N. HWY 44/76, Caledonia, MN 55921, 507-724-5261 ext. 3.