PRogram Offerings

AgBMP Low Interest Loan Application

  

Follow this link to learn more about the AgBMP loan program.

Contact the SWCD office for further information.
Easy 1 page application for board approval through the Wabasha SWCD 

AgCertainty

 The Minnesota Agricultural 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 farm management practices will be certified and in turn obtain regulatory certainty for a period of ten years.

For more information contact the SWCD office or visit: http://www.mda.state.mn.us/awqcp 

Buffer Initiative

The Buffer Law that was signed into law by Governor Dayton in June 2015 was amended on April 25, 2016, and further amended by legislation signed by Governor Dayton on May 30, 2017 and allows landowners to be granted a compliance waiver until July 1, 2018 when they have filed a compliance plan with the soil and water conservation district.

Contact the SWCD office for more information or visit: http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/buffers/


COOPERATIVE WEED MANAGEMENT AREA (CWMA)

Follow this link to learn more about the CWMA program and funding from the Board of Water and Soil Resources. A limited amount of cost share and technical assistance is available to help understanding and controlling invasive species. Please contact the SWCD office for further information.

Cost Share

Financial and technical assistance for the installation of conservation practices may be available.                            
For more information contact the SWCD office or visit: http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/grantscostshare/index.html 

Cover Crops

Funds are available for assistance with small acreages of cover crops through the Capacity funding. Contact the Soil and Water Conservation office for details. 


Click for access to a FREE E-Book on cover crops

https://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Books/Managing-Cover-Crops-Profitably-3rd-Edition

CREP

 CREP is an offshoot of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the country’s largest private-land conservation program. This project is a federal, state, and local partnership and will voluntarily retire environmentally sensitive land using the nationally-recognized ReInvest In Minnesota (RIM) Reserve program. 


Visit  http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/crep/ to learn more.

Easement Delivery Program

The Easement Delivery grants are issued to assist each SWCD with their site inspection costs and other miscellaneous management activities associated with the easements in their county. These activities include ownership changes, staking boundaries, conservation plan revisions, and assisting landowners with ongoing maintenance of installed conservation practices. 

Free Nitrate Testing of Water Samples

Provide a sample of a minimum of 8 oz. Drop off at the Wabasha SWCD office. Include name and contact information. If multiple samples, identify each sample. Samples will be run in batches when there are enough on hand to run, preferably 15-20 samples. Testing is for informational purposes only and is no cost to landowners.


Search the following link to the MN Department of Health on the affects of high nitrates in drinking water

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/contaminants/nitrate.html

Feedlot Program

  

Learn more about the 319 Feedlot Fix program by following this link.
Learn what other cost share funding may be available through this link to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Technical and financial assistance may be available for feedlots. Contact the local District office.

 

Local Water Management (LWM NRBG)

 The Natural Resources Block Grant (NRBG) is a composite of base grants available to local government units that help implement programs designed to protect and improve water resources. The Local Water Management Program is a voluntary program that requires counties to use local task forces to develop and implement water plans based on their priorities.
 

Contact the SWCD office for more information or visit: www.bwsr.state.mn.us/grants/reporting/Local_Water_Management%20(NRBG).pdf

 

Rain Gauge Monitoring Program

Sign up through the Wabasha SWCD office if you are interested in becoming a volunteer rain gauge monitor. A gauge will be provided. Information is reported to the University of Minnesota Climatology Department. http://climate.umn.edu/ 

Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

The RCPP is an effort in coordination with the SE MN Joint Powers Board to offer cost share for projects including feedlot fixes as well as other projects.
Contact the SWCD office for more information or click the following link

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/farmbill/rcpp/

Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM)

RIM is an easement program for marginal land. Contact the SWCD office for more information. Information also available on the BWSR website http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/easements/index.html 

Tree Program

 The district offers a limited quantity of good quality trees at the yearly spring tree sale. 

Volunteer Nitrate Monitoring Program

  

The VNM is a network of volunteers that sample the water from their wells to document nitrate levels in SE MN. This is a grant funded program since 2007. This link to the MN Department of Agriculture is the summary page for the VNMP. http://www.mda.state.mn.us/southeast-minnesota-volunteer-nitate-monitoring-network
Contact the SWCD office for more details

Well Sealing Cost Share

Total cost share not to Exceed 50% of total cost. Waiting List may be developed as interest in the program grows to target wells most at risk of pollution. Application must be made and approved by SWCD Board of Supervisors Prior to sealing of well.


Click the link to read information about sealing unused wells from the MN Department of Health

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/sealing/abandwel.html

Wetland Conservation Act (WCA)

Technical  and Regulatory Assistance on Wetland Determinations
Contact the SWCD office or see the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) website for further information: http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/wetlands/index.html 

Lists of Contractors

Available through the District office. If you are a contractor and wish to be added to this list, contact Dennis at the SWCD office.

 The SWCD and NRCS do not endorse  any businesses or products on the lists. It is the producer's responsibility to select specific products or a business regardless of whether it is listed. Landowners are not restricted to only the contractors on the lists. If cost-share assistance is involved, any product or service selected and service provided may be required to be approved by SWCD or NRCS as meeting practice standards and specifications prior to payment. 

Contact our office for the most current list of contractors available.