Nitrogen BMPs and nitrate water quality issues in southeast Minnesota: What should growers be thinking about?

Today on the show we join a panel of 5 specialists, practitioners, Extension educators to discuss nitrates and water quality in southeast Minnesota. What is the current situation with nitrates and water quality in southeast Minnesota? Is the situation improving over time? What are some key factors affecting nitrate concentrations? What should growers in the region be thinking about in terms of nitrogen best management practices? What are some other ways that farmers in southeast Minnesota can help improve water quality? What else should we be thinking about related to N BMPs and nitrate water quality issues in southeast Minnesota? What resources (financial and otherwise) are available to farmers in southeast Minnesota? All this and much more today's Nutrient Management Podcast from University of Minnesota Extension.

Video of this podcast will be posted to our YouTube channel at a later date.

 

Read the full transcript

Guests:

• Mary Nesberg, Extension educator (Rochester)
• Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
• Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
• Kevin Kuehner, Hydrologist, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (Preston)
• Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)

Additional Resources:

• Improved understanding of groundwater age and nitrate trends
• GreenCovR: Cover crop management tool provides local information on green cover achieved by management
• Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program
• Tap-In: Safe Drinking Water for SE Minnesota
• Grain Gathering 2026 
• Olmsted County SWCD
• Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator
• Minnesota Nutrient Reduction Strategy
• Nitrates and drinking water: Resources for southeast Minnesota well users, farmers
• Southeast Minnesota nitrogen meeting presentations now available online
• z.umn.edu/NitrogenSmart
• Addressing nitrate in southeastern Minnesota
• Extension addresses nitrate water quality issues in southeast Minnesota
• What decade are we measuring? Improved understanding of groundwater age and nitrate trends (YouTube video)

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Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.