By Rep. Paul Anderson
The Minnesota Corn Growers recently sponsored a series of meetings around the state that focused on Minnesota’s new buffer law. Interest in the topic is high, judging by the attendance at area meetings in Fergus Falls and Sauk Centre. I attended the gathering in Sauk Centre, where about 60 folks, mainly farmers, were also there. The timeline for compliance was explained, with public waters needing to be buffered by November of 2017 and all public ditches having a 2018 deadline.
Dennis Fuchs from Stearns Soil and Water was in attendance, and he explained how his agency will be available to assist farmers in planning and implementing buffer strips. He emphasized that the SWCD will not get into the enforcement part of the new law, as that will be up to the county or watershed district.
No direct method of compensation for land owners was put into the buffer bill. There could be payment from the ditch authority for land utilized for buffers, but since the land owners themselves make up the ditch authority, it amounts to them paying themselves. There is compensation available from the federal government if the land were enrolled in a program called Continuous CRP. One disadvantage to that program is haying or grazing is not allowed, although in visiting with Congressman Collin Peterson at a parade over the weekend, he said the new farm bill made a change and that those practices are now allowed.
Another way that payment for buffer strips could be received would be to enroll the land into a state program called RIM. Because of a relatively large up-front payment, at first this option might seem attractive. However, I would caution land owners that this program requires a lifetime or perpetual easement, and that’s a long time. I personally would choose NOT to tie up land for future generations.
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A town hall meeting dealing with the topic of irrigation and water use has been scheduled for next week. It will be held at the Glenwood State Bank building in Alexandria on July 29, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The chair of the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Denny McNamara, R-Hastings, will be in attendance, along with Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria. We hope to hear from farmers about how new water permitting regulations are affecting them. Representatives from the DNR, the state agency charged with granting large water appropriation permits, will also be in attendance.
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Rainfall once again last week was spotty, with the same locations getting doused several times. The area from Villard over to Sauk Centre and Melrose and points north received good rains, while others were left out. Amounts up to 4-5 inches were reported in some areas. The total at my farm was not so good, just two-tenths last Friday evening, accompanied by an amazing and powerful lightning display. Once again, some areas received heavy winds that did considerable damage, and a tornado was even reported near Watertown, Minn.
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