George Boody (Executive Director)www.landstewardshipproject.org

Integrating continuous living cover into Midwestern Farming Systems: Perspectives from a Watershed Project

We are grateful for funding from:the Walton Family Foundation, USDA NIFA, the MN ENTF 2010 Chp 362, Sec2, Subd 3i, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, MN Board of Water and Soil Resources and MN Department of Agriculture, Glacial Lakes Trust. USDA NRCS-Wallace Center, 11th Hour Project Any opinions conclusions or recommendations do not necessarily reflect the view of any funder.

Chippewa River Watershed

(CRW)

Ag:68.2% G&F:17.3% W:12.3%

Ag:94.2% G&F:3.9% W:0.5%

Challenges

Impairments and Focal Areas

Partial Solution:10% More Continuous

Living Cover Farming

Chippewa or Root Project Partners

Continuous Living Cover (CLC) Farming(A Green Lands Blue Waters Partner)

Perennial Grains

Perennial Crops

Perennial BiomassAgroforestry

Cover Crops

Winter Annual Crops

Longer Crop Rotations

Managed rotational grazing

1-to-1 Values Conversations

Networks with 100 Farmers

Learning Incentives

Farmer Workshops and Field

Days

CLC Opportunity

Areas

Values: Stewardship, community, family; Barriers; OptionsHaney Soil

Tests, Cover Crop Seed

Organizing Strategies in Chippewa River Watershed to Build Community

Conservation Cropping

Systems Calculator

Networks: Cover Crops for Soil Health and Forage

Non-Operating Landowners:Women Caring for the Land

Return of Grazing Through Community

Continuous Living Cover is Effective,

Models Suggest in Chippewa Watershed

From: GIS analysis by LSP; Hydrologic Simulation Program FORTRAN (HSPF) modeling by RESPEC with Ecosystem Service inputs from ARS

Barriers and CostsBarriers:• Gov’t policies that

deliver $19 +million for corn and soybeans

• Lack of agency on part of farmers and landowners

• Narrative: Technology will solve the problems

Costs:• $31,000,000 to

lessen bacteria and turbidity

• $Outreach =$1.3 million over 5 years

• Individual/public wells?

• Reduced recreation?

Structural Change To Restore Clean Water, Soil Health and People on the Land

Engage Other Watersheds

Integrate CLC into Models

• Federal Crop Insurance Reform Can Be Achieved• It Should Improve

Fertility and the Broad Pubic Good

• Be Shaped by People Affected

Shift Narrative and Markets

Advocate for 20% CLC by 2020 in MN

Perennials are Effective,Monitoring Shows

Severe Storm: June 26th, 1998 2.9” fell in <2 hr, 5” totalSame Lester, Le Sueur, Webster soils

Farm system Slope Soil erosion(%) (lb/acre)

• Organic pasture w/ contours1 18 53

• Conventional corn/soybean field2

– Chisel plow 8 5,000– Moldboard plow 8 10,000

1Digiacomo, G. C. J. Iremonger, L. Kemp, C. van Schaik, and H. Murray. 2001. “Sustainable Farming Systems: Demonstrating Environmental and Economic Performance.” A Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculturepublication. University of Minnesota. St. Paul, MN. www.misa.umn.edu

2 Hansen, N.C., 1999

Management Intensive Rotational Grazing (MIRG) Adds CLC and Profitability

• High density• Short duration• High quality• High yield

Rest-Rotation Continuum

Slide by Laura Paine, 2008. DATCP (used with permission)

• 30 days• 1 paddock

• 30 days• 30 paddocks