Local advisory teams are being formed for the first five projects under the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s revised Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan, according to the recent newsletter of MDA’s Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division.

Ron Struss, MDA fertilizer field unit supervisor, reported that projects were scheduled to start this winter. The goal? To implement nitrogen fertilizer best management practices that help protect groundwater from nitrate contamination.

Townships were selected for the project if more than 10% of private wells tested through MDA’s Township Testing Program were over the drinking water health standard for nitrate.

Here, by county, are the townships in in Minnesota that have been selected:

Dakota County. Nininger, Empire, Coates (city), Vermillion, Marshan, Ravenna, Castle Rock, Hampton, Douglas

Otter Tail County. Parkers Prairie

Morrison County. Agram, Belle Prairie, Ripley

Sherburne County. Clear Lake, Haven

Washington County. Cottage Grove

Each township is in an area of coarse-texture soil prone to nitrate leaching.

Struss noted that the local advisory teams will advise the MDA on selection and promotion of nitrogen fertilizer BMPs. Team members will include farmers, dealers and crop advisers in the project area.

An assessment of BMP adoption will be made three crop seasons after the nitrogen fertilizer BMPs are rolled out in the area. The goal is BMP adoption on 80% or more of cropland acres in the project area.

For more information, contact Ron Struss at 651-201-6269 or [email protected].

Source: MDA’s Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division