The MDA has the authority to regulate nitrogen fertilizer; the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has the authority to regulate manure.
The rule calls for following the nitrogen fertilizer BMPs. One of the BMPs is to properly credit all nitrogen sources, including manure, when determining the nitrogen fertilizer rate.
No, but you will need to submit one by May 31, 2026 before receiving your reimbursement.
No, but you will need to submit one by May 31, 2026 before receiving your reimbursement.
The appropriation says that the funding is to go to support the CAI duties and the statutes don’t specifically state treating weeds as a duty. If you have justification for purchasing herbicide (spent X hours mapping the area, have spent X hours coordinating with landowners) and the treatments are planned after the coordination and planning work has been completed, then the herbicide purchase is more likely to get approved.
The appropriation says that the funding is to go to support the CAI duties and the statutes don’t specifically state treating weeds as a duty. If you have justification for purchasing herbicide (spent X hours mapping the area, have spent X hours coordinating with landowners) and the treatments are planned after the coordination and planning work has been completed, then the herbicide purchase is more likely to get approved.
If the nitrogen fertilizer best management practices (BMPs) are implemented on more than 80% of the cropland in your area, and residual soil nitrate levels do not increase, or nitrate levels in the public water supply do not increase, then regulations will not be required. Otherwise the Drinking Water Supply Management Area (DWSMA) can move to a regulatory level.
In cropland areas with high nitrate concentrations in the groundwater, the MDA strongly encourages farmers to consider using Alternative Management Tools (AMTs). In the rule, Alternative Management Tools are defined as “specific practices and solutions approved by the commissioner to address groundwater nitrate problems.” Examples of AMTs include, but are not limited to, type of precision agriculture, nitrification inhibitor, cover crops, annual crops, and alfalfa. The MDA will maintain a published list of approved AMTs. This list will be updated on an annual basis. Under the Groundwater Protection rule, land with AMTs in place will be considered BMP compliant in the BMP survey.
It can be pretty simple. There are instructions in the online application that state “Provide a step-by-step description of how you will use the grant funds – how and when you will carry out each item or activity using these funds. Describe the specific activities, objectives, deadlines for accomplishing each activity, and responsible parties.” There are also a couple examples in the online application.
It can be pretty simple. There are instructions in the online application that state “Provide a step-by-step description of how you will use the grant funds – how and when you will carry out each item or activity using these funds. Describe the specific activities, objectives, deadlines for accomplishing each activity, and responsible parties.” There are also a couple examples in the online application.
Yes, it the funds come from the recent appropriation. Even though it’s non-competitive, we still have to have an application process to make sure the grantees are accountable for the grant funds. That being said, there are several criteria spelled out in the appropriation that counties are supposed to meet, and we don’t expect everyone to have met those criteria prior to applying for the grant. Those criteria will have to be met before we reimburse the grant awards, and the Accountability and Reporting Requirements section of the RFP spells out what needs to be in the final report to meet those criteria.
