See the Runoff Risk Forecast in your area.
The Minnesota Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast (RRAF) system is a tool designed to help farmers and commercial applicators determine the best time to apply manure. Precipitation, snow melt or other conditions can cause recently applied manure to move off target. The movement can decrease productivity and increase the risk of impairing local bodies of water.
This model takes into account soil moisture content, forecast precipitation and temperatures, snow accumulation and melt to predict the likelihood of daily, next day, and 72 hour runoff events. People use an interactive map to locate their field and find the forecasted risk.
Runoff risk is grouped into four categories: No Runoff Expected, Low, Moderate and Severe. When the risk is Moderate or Severe, it is recommended that the applicator evaluate the situation to determine if there are other locations or later dates when the application could take place. There may be additional things to consider when Assessing the Runoff Risk for a Field.
Use the How to use this map? tab on the map for more information about the Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast system.
Collaborative Effort
The MDA, in partnership with the National Weather Service, developed the RRAF system. It is part of a regional Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast project. The goal of the projects is to reduce manure nutrient runoff. Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio have partnered with several federal agencies and educational institutions to develop these decision-support tools. The Minnesota project is funded with Clean Water Funds and is a collaboration of the MDA, the National Weather Service, and other state agency and industry partners.
Other Regional Runoff Risk Maps
