Pope Soil & Water

Providing Quality Conservation Resources since 1949

Providing Quality Conservation Resources Since 1949
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Irrigators Clinic Announced for March 17th

Register online at: bit.ly/35P9eux

Greetings Irrigators,

We have also been working on continuing education credits.  For those that are interested in this feature this update will potentially provide 4.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management (approval pending).

Attention Irrigators! The annual Irrigators Clinic will be held on Thursday, March 17th from 9AM-3PM at McKinney’s in Benson, MN.

Agenda topics include:

  • Soil Health & Strip-Tillage
  • Chemigation Permit Requirements
  • Irrigation Research/Management Strategies
  • Climate Condition Updates
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Soil Health Champion

Pre-registration is required. Register online at bit.ly/35P9eux and then send in your payment.

Registration Details:

  • Register by Monday, March 7 to Pope SWCD
  • $10 fee (includes meal ticket)
  • Checks Payable to:
    • Pope SWCD
  • Mail Payment to:
    • Pope SWCD

Attn: Holly Kovarik

1680 Franklin St. N.

Glenwood, MN 56334

Registration at the door – $20 (meal cannot be guaranteed)

For questions or virtual option, contact Holly Kovarik with the Pope SWCD at (320) 634-5327.

This event is hosted by the Stearns County SWCD, Pope SWCD, Douglas SWCD, Kandiyohi SWCD, Minnesota Department of Agriculture with support from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

Local sponsors will be on site with informational booths and technologies.

Filed Under: Events, General, News, Uncategorized

Tree Availability Update 1-25-2022

2022 Tree Order Form-REVISED 1-25-22Download

Filed Under: General, News, Uncategorized

Invitation to Submit Priority Concerns for Chippewa River Watershed One Watershed, One Plan Planning Process

Date:    January 21, 2022

To:         Local and Agency Representatives in the Chippewa River One Watershed, One Plan Planning Area  

From:    Pope Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) acting on behalf of the Chippewa River One Watershed, One Plan Partnership

Re:        Invitation to Submit Priority Concerns for the Chippewa River One Watershed, One Plan 

The Chippewa River Watershed has been selected by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) for the One Watershed, One Plan program. This program allows counties to transition from county-based water management planning to watershed-based planning. The planning area for the Chippewa River One Watershed, One Plan includes portions of Otter Tail, Grant, Douglas, Stevens, Pope, Swift, Chippewa, and Kandiyohi counties. County and SWCD Boards in each of these counties have entered into a Joint Powers Agreement for the purpose of developing a watershed plan to restore and protect water and soil resources in the Chippewa River Watershed planning area. 

The purpose for this notice is to invite all recipients of this notice to submit, within 60 days, any water and soil management issues they feel the process and resulting plan should address (e.g. land use plans or special ordinances, special projects/plans like wastewater facilities, well head protection plans, etc. that could benefit from having a plan connection). 

Please submit the requested information (by mail or email) by March 22, 2022 and direct inquiries to:

Holly Kovarik

Pope SWCD

1680 Franklin Street North

Glenwood, MN 56334

Email address: holly.kovarik@mn.nacdnet.net

A public information kick-off meeting sponsored by the Chippewa River One Watershed, One Plan Partnership will be held in April 2022.  Additional information will be distributed when plans are finalized.

Planning area map attached for reference

Filed Under: General, News, Uncategorized

Eight Named As Finalists for State’s 2021 Outstanding Conservationist Award

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD) has named the finalists for the state’s 2021 Outstanding Conservationist Award.

The winner will be announced at the 85th annual MASWCD Annual Meeting, at a luncheon on Dec. 14.  The award ceremony is the culminating event of the three-day conference, Dec. 12-14, at the Doubletree by Hilton Bloomington – Minneapolis South in Bloomington, Minn.  The award program recognizes farm families, individuals, conservation organizations, and other groups for their accomplishments in implementing conservation practices and improving Minnesota’s natural resources.

The program is sponsored by MASWCD, with support from The Farmer magazine.  Editors and news directors are encouraged to follow up with the Soil and Water Conservation District contacts listed for feature and interview opportunities.  The information was gathered from nomination forms submitted to MASWCD by individual conservation districts.  The finalists are noted below, with additional background information attached.  Higher resolution photos are available upon request.

MASWCD AreaFinalistNominating SWCDSWCD Contact
Northwest Area 1Ryan Hough and Michael Hough Rothsay MNWilkin SWCDDon Bajumpaa, Manager 218-643-2933 dbajumpaa@co.wilkin.mn.us
West Central Area 2Nathan and Angie Walter Westport MNPope SWCDHolly Kovarik, Manager 320-634-5327 holly.kovarik@mn.nacdnet.net
Northeast Area 3Burnell Peterson and Ann Carlander Wrenshall MNCarlton SWCDBrad Matlack, Manager 218-384-3891 bradmatlack@carltonswcd.org
Metro Area 4Mallery Jerseys, Inc. Shafer MNChisago SWCDCraig Mell, Administrator 651-674-2333 craig.mell@mn.nacdnet.net
Southwest Area 5Michael and Mary Hewitt Walnut Grove MNRedwood SWCDScott Wold, Administrator 507-637-2427 x3
scott_w@co.redwood.mn.us
South Central Area 6KD2 Farms Karson Duncanson Kameron Duncanson Mapleton MNBlue Earth SWCDJerad Bach, Manager 507-345-4744 jerad.bach@blueearthswcd.org
Southeast Area 7Tom and Shirley Gerard Jeff Gerard Judy Tollefsrud Spring Grove MNRoot River SWCDDave Walter, Manager 507-724-5261 goosey10@hotmail.com
North Central Area 8Hollister Family Farm Abe and Brea Hollister Brainerd MNCrow Wing SWCDMelissa Barrick, Manager 218-828-6197 melissa@cwswcd.org

-More-

Northwest Area 1 Ryan Hough and Michael Hough Rothsay MN nominated by Wilkin SWCD   Background on brothers Ryan Hough and Michael Hough:   Brothers Ryan Hough & Michael Hough of Rothsay, MN, farm 1400 acres of row crops and run a 600 head cattle operation in the northeast corner of Wilkin County. They have a diverse crop rotation of corn, soybeans, sunflowers, wheat, barley, and alfalfa.   They started integrating full season cover crops into the no-till operation to get the benefit of grazing the cover crop after the cash crop was harvested. This allows the Hough Brothers to extend the grazing period beyond the fall frost. They have also switched from conventional grazing to rotational grazing their pastures.   The Hough Brothers have utilized the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) programs, along with grazing Reinvest in Minnesota Reserve (RIM) easements, and are currently in the process of getting their Ag Water Quality Certification.  
 
West Central Area 2 Nathan and Angie Walter Westport MN nominated by Pope SWCD   Background on the Walters:   Nathan and Angie Walter of Westport, Minnesota, operate a 390-acre Organic Minnesota Department of Agriculture Ag Water Quality Certified family dairy farm raising corn, hay, rye, barley, oats, and cover crops for use on their farm.  They milk 100 Guernsey/Red Holstein/Norwegian Cross Cows, raise 50 heifers, 20 calves, broiler chickens, and laying hens.  They have implemented: an ag waste storage facility, nutrient management plan, shelterbelt, cover crops, grazing plan, reduced tillage, cover crops, no-till, and soil health practices.   The Walters are active members in their community, Sustainable Farming Association (SFA), Organic Valley, 4-H and serve in leadership roles in these organizations.  They are mentors for the SFA Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program.  The Walter’s are a premier example of regenerative agriculture and the Pope SWCD is proud to nominate them.

-More-

Northeast Area 3 Burnell Peterson and Ann Carlander Wrenshall MN nominated by Carlton SWCD   Background on Burnell Peterson and Ann Carlander:   Burnell Peterson and Ann Carlander operate a Bed and Breakfast on their land near Wrenshall.  Burnell has worked with the SWCD for decades to improve forest health and pollinator habitat.   Recently, in cooperation with the SWCD, Burnell has thinned out his forest to give the remaining trees room to thrive.  He mills the logs into lumber himself.  Burnell and Ann worked with the district to establish a native grass and flower meadow for pollinator habitat.  They are already noticing more bee and butterfly activity.  Burnell and Ann enjoy caring for their land and sharing it with others.        
Metro Area 4 Mallery Jerseys, Inc. Shafer MN nominated by Chisago SWCD   Background on Mallery Jerseys, Inc:   The Mallery family are owners and operators of Mallery Jerseys, Inc.  They operate a 485-acre dairy farm milking on average 250 head, as well as producing corn for silage and grain along with hay to feed their dairy cattle. The Mallerys started farming in Shafer, MN, along the escarpment of the St. Croix River, in the 1950s.  Due to their unique position and close vicinity to a National Scenic Riverway, the Mallerys have always seen conservation as important to their operation.   They have implemented a wide range of practices, including cover crops, buffers, diversions, water and sediment control basins, no till, nutrient management, and integrated pest management.  In 2020, Mallery Jerseys, Inc. achieved certification in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Conservation Program.

-More-

Southwest Area 5 Michael and Mary Hewitt Walnut Grove, MN nominated by Redwood SWCD   Background on the Hewitts:   Michael & Mary Hewitt of Walnut Grove operate a large grain operation on the banks of Plum Creek raising corn, soybeans, and wheat.  Mike grew up farming with his father raising crops and hogs and began farming full time in 1989.  Mike has always been interested in trying new methods and built his own strip-till unit before the equipment was available.    The Hewitt’s stumbled upon no-till when Mike and his father were helping a neighbor plant soybeans in a wet spring when tillage was not an option.  Because of that experience, the Hewitt’s have stuck with no-till in their operation as well as strip-till and cover crops.  The Hewitts have made strides implementing conservation and are leaders in farmer-to-farmer networking.    
South Central Area 6 KD2 Farms Karson Duncanson and Kameron Duncanson Mapleton, MN nominated by Blue Earth SWCD   Background on KD2 Farms:   KD2 Farms, of Mapleton are fourth generation farmers.  When Karson and Kameron Duncanson took over the family farm five years ago, they continued their father’s conservation efforts by planting over 1,000 acres of cover crops, switching to strip-till practices on their corn fields and moving their bean fields to 100 percent no-till. Before Minnesota’s Buffer Law was written into law, KD2 Farms had enrolled 20 acres of their land into the Conservation Reserve Program for filter strips and grassed waterways, making them compliant before most.   They know using some of these best management practices can be difficult to transition to, but once you make the move, you’ll be glad you did. They want to provide a good example to future generations on how to farm properly and how to be good stewards of the land.

-More-

Southeast Area 7 Tom and Shirley Gerard, Jeff Gerard, Judy Tollefsrud Spring Grove MN nominated by Root River SWCD   Background on the Gerard Family:   The Gerard Family of Spring Grove operate a diversified crop and livestock operation with corn, soybeans, cereal grains and hay along with cover crops.  In addition, they custom feed 300-400 heifers from calves to freshening for a local dairy.  The original farm has been in the family since the early sixties and consists of a mix of forestland, rotational pasture, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and crop land.   Over the years, the Gerards have implemented several grade stabilization structures, feedlot improvements, contour strips, CRP, and a couple miles of waterway in addition to constructing numerous other best management practices to address the resource concerns on their farm. The Gerards have been diligent advocates for conservation and have implemented many practices over the years because it’s “the way it should be done”
North Central Area 8 Hollister Family Farm – Abe and Brea Hollister Brainerd MN nominated by Crow Wing SWCD   Background on Hollister Family Farm:   The Hollister Family Farm is located south of Brainerd near the Nokassippi River (a 46.5-mile-long tributary to the Mississippi River). The Hollisters have transformed an 80-year-old highly intensive soybeans and corn farmland into perennial vegetation with 40 paddocks for cattle and sheep to rotate through. These newly formed lush perennial grasses allow Galloway, British White, and Lowline Red Angus cows and sheep to eat healthy forage while providing nutritious, sustainable grown meat to their customers.   They raise 60 cows on 120 acres to the direct consumer. The intense rotational management system has increased the farm soil organic matter and improved water percolation. The Hollisters partnered with the NRCS, SWCDs, and Happy Dancing Turtle to provide outreach help to individual farmers in the Pine River Watershed to implement soil health practices.

Filed Under: General, News, Uncategorized

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320-634-5327
Pope Soil and Water Conservation District 1680 Franklin Street North Glenwood, MN 56334

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All contents are the property of Pope County SWCD and are the views and opinions of the District. The District's goal is to provide quality and accurate information and products. All information within this site is subject to change and should serve only as a guideline for the districts services and procedures.

For the most accurate information, please call (320) 634-5327. Pope Soil & Water Conservation District prohibits discrimination in all their programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status.

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