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NEXT BALMM MEETING: Wednesday,
June 16,
TURBIDITY TMDL WORK GETS UNDERWAY IN
The MPCA has hired Barr
Engineering Company to conduct Phase I of the LMB Regional Sediment Data
Evaluation Project. The main objective
of Phase I is to compile existing monitoring data
(stream sediment, turbidity, physical and biological data) and to provide assessment
and interpretation of the data. An
update of the project and a discussion of data sources will be provided at the
June 16th BALMM meeting.
The overall project direction is to make the best use of existing data,
in preparation for upcoming sediment TMDLs.
A technical steering group
will be established to provide direction to the MPCA and Barr. Any person or group having stream monitoring
data should contact the MPCA’s Project Manager, Bill Thompson at 507/281-7764
(or bill.thompson@pca.state.mn.us). Greg Wilson (952/832-2672 or
gwilson@barr.com) will be Barr’s Project Manager.
This effort will also include
a future Phase II (erosion and sediment transport modeling) and Phase III
(watershed-specific guidance documents), when funding becomes available.
EPA APPROVES
FUTURE
OF
For more information on Unfinished
Business please contact Peter Frosch, Environmental Policy program manager,
at 612-334-3388 ext. 108 or pfrosch@mn-ei.org.
WATER QUALITY
STANDARDS UPDATE FOLLOWING BALMM:
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will
be revising Minnesota Rules chapters 7050 and 7052. These rules contain water
quality standards and other provisions that help protect surface and ground
waters from pollution. If approved, the changes would go into effect in July
2005. The following list of changes is proposed:
o Nutrient Standard for Lakes
(new)
o Update the Mercury standard
o Update Human Health-Based
Standards
o Update the Ammonia Standard
o Change the Bacteriological Standard
from Fecal Coliform to E. Coli.
o The purpose of this Web
page is to provide basic information about the planned revision, including the
scope, a schedule of major steps, and information on how to submit comments.
Additional detail and draft proposed rule language will be added to this Web
page as they become available.
More details are available on MPCA’s web
site at http://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/standards/rulechange.html
A public meeting on these changes is
scheduled for
June 16,
1:30 – 4:00 pm, after the morning BALMM meeting.
FARMERS TRIM N RATES WITHOUT RISKING
LOSS OF PROFIT: How much nitrogen should be applied to a corn crop
while at the same time balancing profit and water quality? Over 15
farmers around St. Peter attempted to answer that question through a unique
three-year study.
Thanks to new tools, techniques, and
local watershed programs, many producers can now determine their own nitrogen
rates instead of relying on general recommendations. "The use of yield
monitors and GPS has added a whole new dimension to nitrogen management,"
states Kevin Kuehner, local watershed coordinator. "Through on-farm
demonstrations, growers can judge for themselves which rate of nitrogen
optimizes their farm's agronomic, economic, and environmental
performance."
To initiate each demonstration, a
50-acre portion of a farmer's field was selected with soybeans being the
previously grown crop. Cooperating producers then applied nitrogen in 10-acre
width strips at five different application rates of 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180
pounds N per acre. On the majority of sites a smaller 2.5-acre strip of 0
pounds of applied N was used as a control. In the fall, the N-Rate plots were
then machine harvested using combines equipped with global positioning enabled
yield monitors. The demonstrations were calibrated and verified by a certified
professional independent crop consultant. The data were then analyzed by Dr.
David Mulla of the
"Farmers have been surprised by
the results," says Kuehner. "Most were especially surprised when some
of them found out they could save anywhere between $7-$14/acre by simply
lowering their normal N application rates, even during 200+bu./acre years and
all while maintaining yields. In just nitrogen alone, this could save area
producers $10,000 or more a year in fertilizer costs. They are also surprised
that even in the zero-applied N-strips, corn yields still averaged up to 132
bushels/acre," Kuehner continues.
Dave Mogensen, St. Peter farmer, has
participated in the demonstrations for the past five years in the Seven Mile
Creek Watershed and
The results are remarkably similar
to other plot-work conducted the past two years by Blue Earth Consulting of
Lake Crystal. "These results are right in line with what we have found in
the
The main goal of these
watershed-based projects is to give growers better ways to
address environmental issues without sacrificing the productivity or prosperity
of their operation. It is planned that these farmer-backed, on-farm
demonstrations will continue in future years.
For more information about On-Farm
Nitrogen Rate Demonstrations access the following web site at
http://mrbdc.mnsu.edu/org/bnc/ or call Kevin Kuehner, watershed coordinator at
(507) 381-9440 or Bruce Nowlin, Blue Earth Consulting at (507) 947-3362.
STATEWIDE PHOSPHORUS LAWN FERTILIZER BAN:
(from
Since the law restricts the use, not the sale, of phosphorus lawn
fertilizers, MLA will work with
You can let your local hardware store or landscape center know about
this new law and the need to stock non-phosphorus fertilizers, some of which
are organic and produced in
The
Cannon River Watershed Partnership is celebrating its relocation to a farmhouse
owned by St Olaf College on Tuesday, May 18, from
From
I-35: Take the
the speed limit turns to 45, you
will see a blue hospital sign. Turn left
there (
From
Hwy 3: Go west on Hwy 19 about 2 miles and turn right on
CRWP
is the first driveway on the right.
As part of the event, the
Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Rice County Planning and Zoning and the
Cannon River Watershed Partnership are cosponsoring a free nitrate testing
clinic for homeowner well samples. In addition, a septic system pumpout
demonstration is being sponsored by The Southeast Minnesota Wastewater
Initiative, B&B Excavating, and the Cannon River Watershed Partnership.
For
more info call 507-646-8400
ROTATIONAL GRAZING WORKSHOPS AVAILABLE: Howard
Moechnig announces the following workshops will be provided to producers in
2004. These sessions will be held in the
counties of Wabasha, Winona, Houston, and Fillmore. “ This
is a very ambitious plan because we are behind schedule,” says Howard, who asks
that interested parties contact him at Howard.Moechnig@mn.usda.gov
1. Planning Prescribed Grazing
Systems
This is a
workshop that takes a producer through the planning process for his pasture
system. The textbook for this session is
the Grazing System Planning Guide. In addition, participants will be provided
with aerial photos, soil maps, and topographic maps of their farms. A follow-up visit to their farms by the
grazing specialist at a later date is made if desired by the participants. It is held in a classroom setting. Maximum
number of participants is 5. Duration of the session is 4 hours.
Two sessions
will be held this year. These can be
done at any time, even into the winter.
2. Forage Plant Identification
This workshop
provides training to assist with identification of common cool season grass and
legume forages. Samples of forages will
be available for on-hands experience.
Identification of seedlings as well as mature plants will be done. In addition, information regarding the values
of the forages for hay and pasture will be provided, as well as information on
site preference and seeding. The group
does identification of growing forages in a pasture as part of this course. It
is held at a farm, with the first 2 hours in a “classroom”, then moves to a
pasture for on-site identification of forages. The farm must have a pasture with a large
diversity of species. Maximum number of participants is 20. Duration of the
session is 3 hours. Two sessions will be held this year, best if done in May or
June.
3. Fencing
This workshop
reviews NRCS requirements for constructing fences. We will review construction of different
types of fences with emphasis on permanent power fences. Examples of materials will be on site. It is held at a farm, with the first 1.5
hours in a “classroom”, then moves to a pasture with a good example of
permanent power fence to view. The farm
must have permanent power fence that meets NRCS standards.
Maximum number of participants is 20. Duration of the session is 3
hours.
One session will be held this year.
Can be any month of the year.
4. Livestock Watering Systems
This workshop is
designed to provide some background into the planning and design considerations
for livestock watering systems. We will
discuss types of systems, determining pipe size and location, tank size and
location, effects of elevation, and friction losses. Alternative pumping systems will be displayed
and discussed. A watering system that is
installed will be viewed in a pasture. It is held at a farm, with 2 hours in a
“classroom”, then moves to a pasture with a good example of a watering system
in place. The farm must have a watering
system in place that meets NRCS standards. Maximum number of participants is
20.
Duration of the
session is 3 hours. Two sessions will be held this year. Can be at any time prior to
fall freeze-up.
5. Sensitive Areas Management
This workshop is
to help producers identify and manage sensitive areas in pastures. A number of strategies will be
discussed. Emphasis is on managing
stream corridors, although other sensitive areas will be covered as well. A pasture with sensitive areas will be
viewed. It is held at a farm, with 1 hour in a “classroom”, then moves to a
pasture to view and discuss management strategies. The farm must have pasture with a pastured stream
as well as other sensitive areas.
Maximum number of participants is 20. Duration of the session is 3
hours. Two sessions will be held this year.
Can be done any time during the grazing season.
6. Pasture Monitoring
In this workshop
a method of monitoring quantity of forage in a pasture system (Reserve Herd
Days) will be taught, in addition to other monitoring criteria. This session will make better pasture
managers of producers by giving them a tool that they can easily use to predict
forage shortages or excesses. It is held at a farm, with 1-2 hours in a
“classroom”, then a 1-2 hour practical exercise in a pasture with several
paddocks. The farm must have a
rotational grazing system in place. Maximum number of participants is 20.
Duration of the session is 3-4 hours.
7. Maximizing Cool Season Forage
Production on Pastures
This workshop is
intended to provide options for producer to increase forage production in
pastures with improved pasture management.
Many of these are farmer tested ideas.
13 strategies will be discussed. It is held in a classroom setting.
Maximum number of participants is 20. Duration of the session is 3-4
hours. Four sessions are planned for
this year. Can be held
at any time of the season.
BEARS REPEATING: "We shall never achieve harmony with land,
any more than we shall achieve absolute justice or liberty for people. In these
higher aspirations the important thing is not to achieve, but to strive." -Aldo Leopold
Send comments and
items for future editions to:
balmm currents editor: Norman Senjem, MPCA
Phone: 507/280-3592
Fax: 507/280-5513