Innovative Farmer Partnership Going Strong
Mark Legvold, a farmer in Bridgewater Township, takes great pride in his family's farming legacy. As a fifth-generation farmer, he understands the importance of keeping the soil and water healthy in the area. That's why he became part of the Farmers Protecting Bridgewater Streams project when it began five years ago.
Mark's farm is adjacent to Rice Creek, a stream that runs through the area. He, along with a dozen other farmers, joined Clean River Partners in an effort to address the declining soil health and increasing soil erosion along Rice Creek. Together, they planted cover crops on about 1,000 acres of land in the Rice Creek watershed. These crops included plants like annual rye grass, winter rye, radish, kale, and clover that are inter-planted with corn during the growing season or planted after soybean harvest in the fall.
The impact of this project has been significant. By planting cover crops and reducing tillage, the participating farmers have been able to improve soil and water quality by keeping nutrients in the soil and soil in the fields. Monitoring has confirmed that water quality in Rice Creek has improved in the last five years.
Data derived from this project shows that cover crops can significantly reduce nitrates in tile drainage. Fields planted with cover crops have 30% less nitrate-nitrogen concentration than those planted without cover crops. Participating farmers have reported that cover crops did not affect corn or soybean yields, which were equivalent to the average yields in Rice County during this period.
Farmers Protecting Bridgewater Streams has succeeded because of the strength of its partnerships. The farmers, Clean River Partners, Rice County Soil and Water Conservation District, St. Olaf College, Fishers & Farmers Partnership, Bridgewater Township, Compeer Financial, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency have all come together to make a positive impact on the environment and the community.
