Assessment tool for the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP).

The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) is a voluntary opportunity for farmers and agricultural landowners to take the lead in implementing conservation practices that protect water resources. Those who implement and maintain approved farm management practices are certified and in turn obtain regulatory certainty from the State of Minnesota for a period of ten years.

At the heart of the certification process is an on-farm evaluation of each field within the operation using a customized assessment tool. The assessment tool is a computer model in which data inputs are made based on answers to questions related to how each field is managed. The output of the assessment tool is a unitless index score from 1-10 that aggregates a field’s potential risk to water quality. A score of 8.5 or greater is necessary for certification eligibility. The assessment tool evaluates the following:

• Physical field characteristics
• Nutrient management factors
• Tillage management factors
• Pest management factors
• ·Irrigation and tile drainage management
• Conservation practices

Producers can expect to answer questions related to slope and soil type, fertility and tillage management, pest management and water-friendly conservation practices-- such as the use of grass waterways or sediment basins.

This presentation will discuss the overall MAWQCP program with a focus on the assessment tool, specifically how it works and the value of on-farm evaluations. Information about number of certified farms and new conservation practices installed in Minnesota will also be included.