The Minnesota Corn Growers Association will offer free nitrate screenings Monday to help farmers address water quality.
Farmers can have their wells, ditches, streams and tile outlets water tested for nitrates free of charge to check water conditions and nutrient loss on their own farms.
The screening is confidential and takes about 20 minutes.
Collecting a sample for testing is simple:
To take a ditch, stream or tile water sample, collect one cup of water in a clean plastic or glass container. Freeze your sample and bring it in cool for testing.
For well water, run your cold tap for 5 to 10 minutes and collect one cup of water in a clean plastic or glass container. Freeze your sample and bring it in cool for testing.
If a sample is collected within 24 hours of testing, it does not need to be frozen, but should be kept refrigerated.
There are several locations offering testing across southern Minnesota. The nearest one to Rock County is in Worthington at the University of Minnesota Extension Office at 1527 Prairie Drive.
Testing will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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