Corn, soybean growers get buffer law details

Buffer legislation enacted last year will go into effect Nov. 1, 2017, and farmers are taking steps now to put those provisions in place.
Arlyn Gehrke spelled out the details of the legislation at the Rock County Corn and Soybean Growers meeting March 31 in Luverne.
In his opening remarks, he assured producers that compliance with the law won’t be as difficult as it might seem.
“The Environmental Working Group came out with a report on the southern 37 counties in Minnesota and Rock County didn’t get a very good report,” said Gehrke, a technician with the Rock County Land Management Office.
But he said breaking down Rock County’s land that’s actually affected by the buffer legislation, fixing the problem appears to be manageable.
He said aerial photos show that 550 acres of ground in Rock County could be affected by the legislation, and those acres involve 160 different landowners.
“This makes it a little more palatable,” Gehrke said.
At the meeting Gehrke addressed some basic questions about the buffer law. For example, the 50-foot buffer is measured from the top of the bank, not from the water’s edge.
Also, he provided several examples of conservation farming practices that could be implemented in lieu of a buffer, and he talked about financial assistance available to implement these practices.
The timeline to implement buffers along public waters is Nov. 1, 2017, and buffers along public drainage systems need to be in place by Nov. 1, 2018.
Counties or watershed districts will be in charge of enforcement, and penalties may include a $500 fine, but it’s unclear if that’s a daily fine or a one-time penalty.
Gehrke said there are more questions than there are answers, but he urged all landowners to contact his office before they start so that technicians can work with them on the best approach to protecting the water and the soil.
The number for the local office is 507-283-8862, ext. 4
 
Buffer Initiative
The new buffer law will designate roughly 110,000 acres of land for buffer strips alongside Minnesota's waterways.
These new perennial vegetation buffers along rivers, streams, and ditches, will help filter out phosphorus, nitrogen and sediment before it enters the water supply.
With the support of local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the new law will provide flexibility and financial assistance for landowners to install and maintain buffers.
The DNR offers a one-stop website that provides an overview of the initiative, including frequently asked questions. The website is: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/buffers/index.html
The Board of Water and Soil Resources provides a list of financial and technical supports available for farmers and landowners as they implement buffers or alternative water quality practices. That can be found at http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/buffers/assets/lo-financial-options.pdf.