Skaug Farms becomes Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Program Certified.
Congratulations Mike & Ryan Skaug of Skaug Farms, Beltrami MN achieving the designation of Minnesota's Agriculture Water Quality Program (MAWQCP) certified farm!
The program is an opportunity for farmers to gauge their progress in protecting water quality on their land with trained conservation specialists that will work with them to identify risks to water quality on a crop by crop, field by field basis. Farmers who pursue certification are eligible for priority on-farm financial and technical assistance to treat any risks to water quality found on their farm.
To learn more of the program visit the MN Department of Agriculture.
Congratulations Mike & Ryan Skaug of Skaug Farms, Beltrami MN achieving the designation of Minnesota's Agriculture Water Quality Program (MAWQCP) certified farm!
The program is an opportunity for farmers to gauge their progress in protecting water quality on their land with trained conservation specialists that will work with them to identify risks to water quality on a crop by crop, field by field basis. Farmers who pursue certification are eligible for priority on-farm financial and technical assistance to treat any risks to water quality found on their farm.
To learn more of the program visit the MN Department of Agriculture.
Pictured left to right at the Skaug Farm near Beltrami are Jim Lahn, Glen Kajewski, Mike Skaug and Ryan Skaug.
Picture courtesy of Mike Christopherson, Crookston Daily Times.
About the Program
The Minnesota Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) is a voluntary opportunity for farmers and agricultural landowners to take the lead in implementing conservation practices that protect our water. Those who implement and maintain approved management practices will be certified and in turn obtain regulatory certainty for a period of ten years.
Certified Farms Receive:
- Regulatory Certainty: certified producers are deemed to be in compliance with any new water quality rules or laws during the period of their certification
- Recognition: certified producers may use their status to promote their business as protective of water quality
- Priority for technical and financial assistance: producers seeking certification can obtain specially designated technical and financial assistance to implement practices that promote water quality
The Public Receives:
- Assurance that certified producers are using conservation practices to protect Minnesota's lakes, rivers, and streams
Becoming a Water Quality Certified Farm
This program certifies farmers for managing the land within their operation in a way that protects water quality. Agricultural operations and landowners seeking certification will undergo a whole farm assessment that evaluates physical field characteristics, nutrient management factors, tillage management factors, pest management factors, irrigation and tile drainage management, and conservation practices. The output of the assessment tool is a unitless index score from 1-10 that aggregates a field's potential risk to water quality. A score of 8.5 or greater is necessary for certification eligibility.
To view the online assessment tool, visit
https://mnwatercertify.mda.state.mn.us/wqcpapp/
The Minnesota Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) is a voluntary opportunity for farmers and agricultural landowners to take the lead in implementing conservation practices that protect our water. Those who implement and maintain approved management practices will be certified and in turn obtain regulatory certainty for a period of ten years.
Certified Farms Receive:
- Regulatory Certainty: certified producers are deemed to be in compliance with any new water quality rules or laws during the period of their certification
- Recognition: certified producers may use their status to promote their business as protective of water quality
- Priority for technical and financial assistance: producers seeking certification can obtain specially designated technical and financial assistance to implement practices that promote water quality
The Public Receives:
- Assurance that certified producers are using conservation practices to protect Minnesota's lakes, rivers, and streams
Becoming a Water Quality Certified Farm
This program certifies farmers for managing the land within their operation in a way that protects water quality. Agricultural operations and landowners seeking certification will undergo a whole farm assessment that evaluates physical field characteristics, nutrient management factors, tillage management factors, pest management factors, irrigation and tile drainage management, and conservation practices. The output of the assessment tool is a unitless index score from 1-10 that aggregates a field's potential risk to water quality. A score of 8.5 or greater is necessary for certification eligibility.
To view the online assessment tool, visit
https://mnwatercertify.mda.state.mn.us/wqcpapp/
MAWQCP Videos:
Darwin Roberts, Martin County farmer talking about his certification.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ22RvGllpw
Darwin Roberts is a corn and soybean farmer in Minnesota. He's also involved in water quality research projects with the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Pioneer Public TV: Ben Dwire's Sustainable Farming Practices
Ben Dwire's farm near Arco is a model of sustainable farming practices that include integrated pest management, cover crops, reduced tillage and rotational grazing.
https://video.pioneer.org/video/ben-dwires-sustainable-farming-practices-cyzj0f/