This document summarizes an irrigation outreach and on-farm nitrogen management project in central Minnesota in response to groundwater nitrogen concerns. The project involved winter workshops on irrigation scheduling and nitrogen management, establishing an agricultural weather network, and an on-farm adaptive nitrogen management program using in-season imagery and stalk nitrate testing. Over the years, thousands of acres have been managed by participating farmers, many of whom have made nitrogen management changes based on program results. The project aims to help farmers precisely manage water and nitrogen to reduce nitrogen losses to groundwater while increasing nitrogen use efficiency.

1. Irrigation Outreach & On Farm Nitrogen
Management in Central MN
A response to Nitrogen Concerns
in a Challenging Landscape
2015 Soil & Water Conservation Society
Conference
Luke Stuewe | Soil Scientist
MN Department of Agriculture – Detroit Lakes, MN

2. • Why Do This Here?
– Vulnerable Groundwater, Nitrogen Concerns, Ag Landuse
• Overview of the Project
– Irrigation Outreach
• Winter Workshops
• Ag Weather Stations
– On Farm Nitrogen Management Program
• Have We Accomplished Anything?
An Overview…

3. Sensitive
Groundwater
• Glacial activity relates…
So….what do we know about
nitrogen in drinking water here?
Map developed by MPCA
First…..A National Perspective

4. Central MN: Elevated GW Nitrogen Levels
1,555 wells
Nitrate
Results
2011
Domestic
(1555 wells)
2012
Domestic
(502 wells)
< 3 mg/L 88.6% 89%
3-10 mg/L 6.8% 8%
> 10 mg/L 4.6% 3%
Important Factors: Construction, Depth, & Age

5. An Agricultural Landscape
• Agricultural presence makes sense
• Landscape characteristics present
challenges….
• Our project seeks
to help producers
meet these
challenges

6. Irrigation Expansion
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Water Use Apps
Apps for Major Crop Irrigation
& Concentration

7. www.isafarmnet.com
Area Resource Concerns
fit for the Project
Sensitive Groundwater
(MPCA)
Agricultural Landuse
(DNR)
Elevated Nitrate
Levels
(MDA)
Project
Boundary

8. Central MN
Irrigation Outreach
On-Farm Adaptive
Nitrogen Management
• Irrigation Forum
• Winter Workshops
• Tools & Technology
• Scheduling Program
• Local Weather Stations
• Tools to Evaluate
Nitrogen Use on Corn
• In-Season Imagery
• Basal Stalk Testing
• Annual Winter Meeting
What is Involved in Our Project

9. Education in Response to Expansion
Winter Workshops
Scheduling Program
Weather Stations
Soil Moisture Assessment
Local ET Data
Groundwater
Model Irrigation Forum
(Held in March 2011)

10. Irrigation Workshops
0
1
2
3
4
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Number of Workshops

11. Irrigation Workshops
Topics Covered
- Irrigation Water Scheduling
- ET Information Sources
- Soil Moisture Assessment
- Nitrogen Management
- Area Groundwater Concerns

12. www.agweathernetwork.com
Central MN Ag Weather Network

13. Irrigators
2014 Irrigation Workship Survey | Highlights
Over 17,000 irrigated acres managed by workshop participants
Said YES!Irrigators
Use Central MN Ag Weather Network
in 2014

14. 2014 Irrigation Workship Survey | Highlights
Irrigation Nitrogen
Also asked whether the workshop provided information that would
help them more efficiently manage irrigation water and nitrogen
in the 2014 growing season

15. On Farm Nitrogen Management…
Adaptive Concept The Difference | Addition Information
- In-Season Imagery
- Stalk Nitrate Test
GOAL: Improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency
for CORN

16. Expanded across the Corn Belt
Including:
• Minnesota
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Maryland
• Delaware
• North Carolina
• Virginia
• Missouri

17. A Possible “Win - Win” Opportunity….
AND
In-field Data
In-Season Imagery
Well Documented Stalk Test
Reduce Risk of Nitrogen Loss to G.W.
Increase Nitrogen Use Efficiency
&
Innovative Producers

18. What Exactly is Involved??
June |
June-July |
August |
Sept-Oct |
Dec-Feb |
Participants asked to sign up before the end of June (Limited)
Field management data & boundaries are collected
Aerial imagery is collected for each field
Basal stalk samples are collected
A winter meeting is held to share results

19. Shows nozzle
problems
Shows overlap with
fertigation
In-Season Aerial Imagery
~ Pivot Example

20. Spatial Extent & Participation
23 Growers
52 Fields
2 Counties
44 Growers
53 Fields
4 Counties
41 Growers
44 Fields
4 Counties
58 Growers
65 Fields
4 Counties
2011 2012 20142013

21. Over 10,000 acres managed by program participants
2013 Meeting Survey | Highlights
Participants that are making
nitrogen management changes
based on the program

22. 2014 Meeting Survey | Highlights
Participants that are making
nitrogen management changes
based on the program
Over 10,000 acres managed by program participants
Nitrogen Rate Change
Over the Projects Life

23. Summary
• Area resource concerns fit this project
• Precise water & nitrogen use is critical
• Strong financial support has accelerated program adoption
• Positive response from producers
• Building partnerships
• Providing meaningful tools and information to producers

24. Thanks for your time…
Luke Stuewe | Soil Scientist
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
218-846-7425
Luke.Stuewe@state.mn.us