Stearns County Pheasants Forever Named MN Chapter of the Year
The Stearns County Pheasants Forever (SCPF) chapter was recognized as the Minnesota Chapter of the Year by Pheasants Forever (PF) at its annual state meeting held February 16 in conjunction with National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic 2013. This honor recognizes a Minnesota chapter that is balanced in its approach to accomplishing the mission of Pheasants Forever and excels in all aspects of being a chapter....read more here
Stearns County Farmers named to 2013 Class of National Outstanding Young Farmers
Nick and Tera Meyer (Sauk Centre) were named to the 2013 Class of National Outstanding Young Farmers. See a video featuring the Meyer Farm and read more about the award here.
Dig It: The Secrets of Soil
There are more living creatures in a shovelful of rich soil than there are people on the planet. Yet, more is known about the dark side of the moon than about soil. These are just a couple of the fascinating facts visitors can learn at the traveling exhibition, "Dig it! The Secrets of Soil."
"Dig It!" is on display Nov. 10, 2012-July 28, 2013 at the Bell Museum of Natural History on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis, MN. For more info visit the website
NRCS Accepting 2013 EQIP Signups
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications to help farmers improve water and air quality, build healthier soil, improve grazing and forest lands, conserve energy, enhance organic operations, and achieve other environmental benefits.....click here for more info
SWCD Offers New Program for Buffers In Stearns County
The Stearns County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is offering an attractive financial alternative to planting corn and soybeans along lakes, streams and ditches. Landowners now have the option to enroll this land into the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Reserve Riparian Buffer Easement Program. The goal of the program is to establish permanent vegetative buffers on land adjacent to surface waters (riparian land). Buffers trap sediment and immobilize nutrients and pesticides in field runoff, and provide important wildlife cover. This new initiative, administered by the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR), is targeting existing Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts, or land that is eligible for CRP enrollment. Approximately 823,000 acres of CRP contracts will expire in Minnesota over the next 5 years and many of these acres would qualify for the buffer program.
SWCD Press Release
Fitting Cover Crops into Your Rotation
Cover crops are an excellent way to build organic matter, protect soil from erosion, fight weeds, capture nutrients, and even provide supplemental forage; they help mimic a natural system where there is cover year round when interseeded into or planted after cash crops. When planting cover crops you can look at your specific goals and consider legumes for a nitrogen source, nutrient recovery and increased infiltration with deep rooted brassicas (i.e. turnips and radishes), or try a mixture that will cover multiple resource concerns. One helpful tool is the Cover Crop Decision Tool offered by the Midwest Cover Crops Council http://www.mccc.msu.edu/index.htm.
WANTED: Places to Install Raingardens, Native Buffers, and Shoreline Restoration Projects
The Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District is looking for property owners within Stearns County that are interested in completing a raingarden, native buffer, or lakeshore restoration project. Interested? Click here.
Do you know the story of Soil?
SWCD Press Releases
Current Releases:
- MRBI Targeted Funding Success Story
- 2013 EQIP Signup
- USDA CSP Reaches 50 Million Acres
- 2012 Conservationist of the Year
- Dust Bowl Documentary
- Conservation Help Available to Improve Soil, Profitability
- New Program for Riparian Buffers
- McKnight Grant Helps with Feedlot Compliance
- Additional Funding Available - Grand/Pearl Lake, Mill Creek Area
Past Press Releases Click here...
Other News Click here...
No-Till University
FREE posters available!
Click here
The On-Farm Network® is here.
The Stearns County SWCD is partnering with the On-Farm Network® to assist farmers in implementing stalk nitrate evaluations to help them fine tune Nitrogen management in corn production. Click here for more information.
Learn about Pheasants Forever.
Check out the video at the bottom of the Pheasants Forever page. Click here...
Want to learn about the soil on your property?
Check out the Web Soil Survey Click here...
Department of Natural Resources is taking tree orders (minimum order 500 trees). Click here for more information.
Mississippi River Basin Initiative Program
The Stearns SWCD and partners have been awarded over $4 million for projects that will protect and restore the waters of the Sauk River. Working with many partners, the SWCD will provide assistance to producers to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus while supporting agricultural productively and wildlife habitat. Learn more...