New Case Studies Tell Hopeful Stories

A brand new volume of farm case studies are hot off the press. This time, the case studies highlight farms and their soil health practices who are certified through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP). 

Angie Walter, the MAWQCP Outreach Coordinator with SFA, began working on this project in 2021 thanks to a boots-on-the-ground grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to promote the program. She took the opportunity to visit ten farms across Minnesota to learn about the variety of soil health practices each has implemented, the effects those practices have had, and what motivated them to get certified through MAWQCP.

“Case studies are beneficial to other farmers who are looking to implement practices on their operations,” Walter said. “Farmers like to hear what other farmers are doing and how it has worked for them. It’s also important for farmers to see how Ag Water Quality Certification could benefit them and their farm operation.”

Readers can find the case studies on the SFA website alongside the three previous volumes of soil health case studies in the growing Resource Library. Printed copies will be available at many SFA field days and workshops this year. Visit the SFA Event Calendar to see what is coming up near you. Farmers can also get a printed copy from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and from MAWQCP certifiers. 

“I hope you enjoy reading these farm case studies as much as I enjoyed meeting these farmers and learning what they are doing,” Walter continued. “I have a lot of renewed hope in our farm community after hearing many of their stories.”

If you have any questions about MAWQCP, you can also contact Angie by phone or email: 320-815-9293 or angie@sfa-mn.org.