Minnesota farmers get their Nitrogen Smart certificates

Agricultural advocates want to see farmers keep the ability to manage nitrogen.

The Minnesota Ag Water Resource Center (MAWRC) and the Minnesota Corn Growers Association oversaw a series of December workshops called, “Nitrogen Smart.”

This training program, through Extension, teaches the fundamentals for maximizing economic return on nitrogen investments while minimizing nitrogen losses.

Next, MAWRC, as well as the Minnesota Department of Ag and University of Minnesota Extension, are sponsoring two conferences.

The ninth annual “Nutrient Management Conference” will be held Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud.

The other event is the third annual “Nitrogen: Minnesota’s Grand Challenge and Compelling Opportunity Conference,” which will be held Thursday, Feb. 16 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato.

“Our state is likely to follow an example set by some other states, where they actually do require certification training in order to have nitrogen applied on your farms,” said Warren Formo, MAWRC executive director.

“It’s coming, and so rather than let the state agencies dictate how that works, we chose to develop this partnership and begin to deliver a program to you that includes the fundamentals of nitrogen management in an educational format that you can use on your farms.”

Formo said that most farmers don’t have a “real detailed understanding” of environmental water quality or “issues related to nitrates in the water,” per survey results.

In addition, while humans have always farmed, most citizens in the United States today do not understand advanced soil chemistry.

Many government groups want to regulate farming practices. They are responsible for levels of nitrates in the drinking water, runoff into Minnesota’s surface waters and nitrous oxide releases into the atmosphere.

The Minnesota Corn Growers Association believes that if farmers have information, they will make the best decisions for rates of nitrogen and other fertilizers.

Under capitalism, farmers have a motivation to apply fertilizer correctly.

The MAWRC wants to continue to help farmers manage nitrogen through Extension workshops.

“The goal of these sessions is to help farmers gain a better understanding of how to manage nitrogen more effectively,” said Brad Carlson, University of Minnesota Extension educator and workshop presenter.

“It’s an opportunity to talk through the data and research, and use that information to help reduce environmental impacts and reduce costs for the farmer.”

Formo’s crew is keeping track of who is attending sessions and at what locations. To participants, the MAWRC will be sending out certificates and window decals with a “Nitrogen Smart” designation.

They intend to notify participants every three years to update their voluntary certificates.

“At this point, we’re trying to be proactive and preempt regulation,” said Formo. “We hope this becomes the recognized means by which the state would go through training for nitrogen management, when it becomes necessary.”

Nitrogensmart.jpg (two column) The beautiful Redwood River during the late February 2016 thaw. Photo by Andrea Johnson.