On-Farm projects provide an opportunity to evaluate agricultural practices under conditions that are typical in an area. These projects ensure that current and accurate scientific information is made available and used to address local water quality concerns in agricultural areas of Minnesota. The MDA works with many partners including farmers, crops advisers, university researchers, private industry, soil and water conservation districts, and other state agencies. Current Clean Water Fund projects:
- Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP)
This is a voluntary program designed to accelerate adoption of on farm conservation practices that protect Minnesota's lakes and rivers. - Root River Field to Stream Partnership
Project partners are working to better understand how agricultural practices affect water quality in southeastern Minnesota. This project includes intensive water quality monitoring at the edge of agricultural fields and within streams. - Nutrient Management Initiative (NMI)
The Nutrient Management Initiative is designed to help farmers and crop consultants evaluate management decisions using the farmer's actual field conditions. On-farm trials allow farmers to compare different practices and evaluate their outcomes. Additional farm trials are performed as part of the Southeast Minnesota Nitrogen BMP Outreach Program - Discovery Farms Minnesota
Discovery Farms Minnesota is a farmer-led effort to gather field-scale water quality information from different types of farming systems across the state. Discovery Farms engages the farm community in learning about and evaluating the water quality benefits of a wide range of agricultural practices. - Red River Valley Drainage Water Management Project
This project demonstrates water quality and quantity benefits of Drainage Water Management (DWM) and other practices to store water on the land. - Clay County Drainage Site
The Clay County site was designed to evaluate the environmental impact of both surface and subsurface drainage from agricultural fields in the Red River Valley, in northern Minnesota.
