SAUK SSA AUK KR RAPIDS APID AP DS HERALD HEER H RA ALLD D | SA SATURDAY, ATU TURD RDAY, RDAY RD AY Y, DE DEC. C. 2 21, 1 2019 1, 201 019 | Page Page Pa ge 1B 1B
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Sauk Rapids Herald | Saturday, December 21, 2019
Paul’s Fireplace Wood strikes a cord yearround in homes, businesses BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Paul Wilczek Jr. and Sharon Wilczek stand in front of dried, split and crated wood at Paul’s Fireplace Wood Dec. 11 in Little Falls. The mother-son duo operate the business which supplies wood to residential and commercial accounts.
Lakes areas and commercial restaurant accounts such as Rafferty’s Pizza, Famous Dave’s and Punch Neapolitan Pizza. The company also ships nationwide. The idea for the business, at 17502 Heron Road, Little Falls, was sparked over 35 years ago when the Wilczek family
built its first home in a dense wooded area. Clearing the oak trees for construction, Paul’s father began selling hand-split wood to area residents. Soon, the endeavor expanded and the family began harvesting the raw agricultural material and building an inventory. “He started selling 100
cords a year back then, and we’re up to 2,500 (cords per year) now,” Paul said. Working with contractors who clear land for the Department of Natural Resources, Paul’s Fireplace Wood receives the majority of its inventory in the winter months. The wood arrives as
Wilczeks page 3B
erry Christmas ! M From Rod, Jake, Paula, Nate and everyone at Fluegges Ag!
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LITTLE FALLS – Nothing brings as much comfort as the sound and warmth of a crackling fire when below-freezing temperatures and winter winds have Minnesota residents in retreat. The Wilczeks, of Little Falls, know this well. Owner Sharon Wilczek and her son Paul Wilczek Jr. operate Paul’s Fireplace Wood – a company that has built its business on the ambiance of the flame. “We don’t do a lot of the boiler fuel; we don’t do bulk heating,” said Paul, operations manager. “We sell some of our scraps that way, but the majority of it we call pleasure burning.” The Wilczeks said pleasure burning is any type of recreational fire where people are relaxing and taking in the atmosphere of a dancing fire. The bulk of their patrons include residents that span from the Twin Cities metro through the Brainerd
8-foot logs. Employees process the wood into 12-, 16- and 24inch lengths and split the wood into smaller diameters, ranging from 1.5-8 inches. “We get it hauled in straight maple, straight oak, straight birch and then we’ll do different blends of 50% birch, 25% maple and 25% oak,” Paul said. All orders are custom, and the company also supplies woods such as cherry, apple, mesquite and hickory which are used to add flavor with cooking or smoking. Sharon, who is the office manager and accountant, works with each customer to supply the best blend of wood for their needs. “The mixture of the oak, maple and birch work really well,” Sharon said. “The birch is the wood with the white bark. It starts a little easier and gives you that snap, crackling, roaring fire, but yet that oak and maple are in there to give you that nice heat on those cold, cold evenings. When you have a mixture of wood, they have a choice of fire. Sometimes, if you just want the ambiance and you’re entertaining, you’ll use more birch. But yet on those
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Page 2B | SATURDAY, DEC. 21, 2019 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD
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Applications due by Dec. 31 ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is reopening enrollment in its Dairy Assistance, Investment and Relief Initiative program for eligible milk producers through the end of the year. Producers who have locked in five years of coverage through the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency’s Dairy Margin Coverage program and who have not already successfully enrolled in the DAIRI program can apply. The MDA has issued $3.4 million to about 1,800 producers representing more than 1,550 farms in Minnesota through the program in its first round of payments. Producers not yet
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21 in Louisville, Kentucky. The team placed fourth. The six-member team of Myra Arvig, Christopher Borash, Erin Borash, Kaitlyn Czeck, Justine Meyer and Seth Walls advanced to nationals after winning regional project bowl competition in Foley and the state contest in Sauk Rapids earlier this year. They
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application. All materials must be postmarked by Dec. 31. Producers who are successfully enrolled and have received their first check do not need to take any action. They will automatically receive a second payment. However, producers who submitted incomplete applications and have not received a check must return any requested information by Dec. 31 to be eligible for the second payment. For additional information and the application form, visit https://www.mda.state. mn.us/dairi.
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successfully enrolled will not receive the first-round payment but may receive a check for the second round which will be determined after all new enrollments have been received. In order to qualify, farmers must have produced less than 160,000 hundredweight of milk in 2018. They will be paid based on production levels, up to 50,000 cwt. of milk produced in 2018. An application form, an IRS Form W-9, a copy of their DMC enrollment form and a statement from their processor(s) detailing the amount of milk produced in 2018 are required to complete an
have studied all aspects of poultry to prepare for these competitions. Myra Arvig, daughter of Scott and Sarah Arvig, is a member of Stearns County 4-H. Myra is a junior at Upsala High School in Upsala and has been in 4-H for 10 years. Christopher and Erin Borash, children of Ron and Ann Borash, are members of the Morrison County 4-H program. Christopher, a senior, and Erin, a sophomore, attend Royalton High School in Royalton. They have been members of 4-H for 13 and 11 years, respectively. Kaitlyn Czeck, daughter of Tom and Melissa Czeck, is a member of Stearns County 4-H. Kaitlyn is studying at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota, and has been in 4-H for 14 years. Justine Meyer, daughter of Marvin and Rita Meyer, is a member in Stearns County 4-H County. She is a senior at St. John’s Preparatory School in Collegeville and has been in 4-H for 13 years. Seth Walls, son of Scott and Cyndi Walls, is a member of Stearns County 4-H. He is studying at the University of Minnesota in Crookston and has been involved in 4-H for 14 years.
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SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, DEC. 21, 2019 | Page 3B
PHOTOS BY NATASHA BARBER
Rows of split, dried and crated wood line the stockyard at Paul’s Fireplace Wood Dec. 11 in Little Falls. The business has the capability to dry its wood within a natural gas kiln or have it air dry for a minimum of 12 months.
Wilczeks from front cold evenings, you’ll put more oak and maple in there which has the tendency to burn more as low red coal.” Paul’s Fireplace Wood is one of nine Minnesota Department of Agriculture certified firewood producers in the state. They purchase their wood green in order to supply a premium product and prevent spreading disease. “That’s why we buy them green,” Sharon said. “Then they’re not bug infested. The foresters go through and check the wood to make sure it’s not infected or under quarantine. … We don’t sell tree-trim wood, diseased wood tree tops, dead fall.” Green wood needs to be dried in order to burn properly. The business’s stockyard is streamlined with rows of crated split wood. Some product is what the industry calls
Boxes of kindling are stored in a warehouse Dec. 11 at Paul’s Fireplace Wood in Little Falls. The business is located at 17502 Heron Road, Little Fall, alongside Highway 371. A natural gas kiln is ready to be unloaded at Paul’s Fireplace Wood Dec. 11 in Little Falls. The kiln can dry 10 cords of wood in 48 hours.
seasoned and are allowed to air dry for a minimum of 12 months. Others are placed in the kiln; logs can arrive Monday and be cut, split, dried and delivered by Friday of the same week. “We have a natural gas kiln that will do 10 cords in 48 hours,” Paul said. “It will bring it from 100% moisture down to 30% moisture. … And more and more is going through the kiln because of the volume we are going through. We can’t sit on 2,500 cords of
wood for a year and a half. … Before we used to run (the kiln) a couple times a month. Now, as soon as a batch is done, the next batch is in. It’s pretty much continuous.” Presentation is also important to the Wilczek family. No matter if the wood is shipped by truckload, crate, box or bag, the business makes it a point to provide a uniform product. “When we do deliver to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, unlike local, it has to look good in
that garage or look good outside on that front porch – where all the pieces are pie-shaped, uniform,” Sharon said. “Anything that doesn’t make the cut or has a knot, we throw aside, and we don’t deliver that.” Paul agreed. “That’s part of the sale – presentation,” he said. “You want to look at a nice stack in your garage or wherever you choose to stack it.” With rotating inventory and restaurant sales, Paul’s Fireplace Wood thrives year-round, but residential sales rise as the temperature falls. The Wilczeks said delivery peaks from September through February, and there is always a rush after the first snowfall and before the holidays. “When the weather turns, people decide to get wood,” Paul said. Birch logs rest at Paul’s Fireplace Wood Dec. 11 in Little And, since the early Falls. In addition to firewood, the business sells logs for ’80s, the Wilczeks have decorative purposes. Paul Wilczek Jr. loads a pickup bed with firewood Dec. 11 in Little Falls. The business been filling that need. sells about 2,500 cords of wood each year.
FROM
May joy, hope and happiness be yours this Christmas season.
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Page 4B | SATURDAY, DEC. 21, 2019 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD
SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, DEC. 21, 2019 | Page 5B
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Dealership tends to maintenance, repairs so you don’t have to BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
Aldrich Tractor understands that a smooth-running operation relies on many working parts. That is why the Verndale dealership takes service so seriously. Located at 19828 Highway 10, Aldrich Tractor repairs and maintains a diverse selection of equipment through the work of its six-member department. “Service is our main goal,� said Tim Current. “We
service anything from skidsteers to tractors to balers.� Current is the owner of Aldrich Tractor. He purchased the business in 2012 and has worked with the dealership for over 30 years. “I come from the service department side of the business originally,� Current said. “I was a mechanic and then I ran the shop.� Aldrich Tractor is an authorized dealer of Bobcat, Bush Hog, Gehl, McCormick, Massey Ferguson, Hesston by Massey Ferguson and
Vermeer, but their capabilities are not limited to those brands – no matter the machinery name, the staff is up to the task. Their proficiencies also span modern to vintage equipment, ensuring its clients can maintain or extend an implement’s useful life. “We’re not just a Bobcat and we’re not just a Gehl; we have knowledge on multiple lines of equipment,� Current said. The dealership’s onthe-farm and roadside repair services ensures customers are literally able to make hay while the sun shines. With the convenience of Aldrich Tractor’s parts department, mechanics are able
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to meet agricultural producers and construction crews on site. Current said that with volatile weather patterns, unexpected equipment failures can quickly become crises, and the flexibility of having a mechanic come to them is a benefit to customers who are in a time crunch. “Mother Nature has been a fight so when the sun is out it definitely is an emergency,� Current said. When the repair is too severe to be done on site, the family-owned business can retrieve and deliver equipment for its clients using the company truck and winchequipped trailer. The service department not only offers its assistance when used equipment is down and out; they take pride in educating their customers, ensuring users are successful
down the road. A technician will accompany clients to their fields to help answer any questions that may arise as machinery is put to use. “With every new piece, or new baler, we send someone out to get the customer going,� Current said. “There are always monitors that are different; not all new balers are field ready. There is always some fine tuning that has to be done in the field so we’d rather be there with you, getting these set up so everything is working properly.� And, Aldrich Tractor instills the expectation that all customers are treated like family. “Whether you spend $1 or $50,000, we try to make sure everyone is treated the same,� Current said. “We try to service the people who service us.�
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Improving Elk River watershed trends Grant funds allow Benton SWCD, land owners to collaborate
D
BY ANN WESSEL MINNESOTA BOARD OF WATER AND SOIL RESOURCES
MAYHEW LAKE TOWNSHIP — Brandon Rehnke started his beef operation with three Jersey calves and earnings from three off-the-farm jobs. Five years later, he is improving his Benton County feedlot and pasture with assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. Clean Water Funds from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources allowed Benton Soil and Water Conservation District staff to design, install and certify the project. It is part of a two-county, $1.9 million effort to improve water quality in the Elk River watershed by reducing how much phosphorous enters Mayhew Lake in Benton County and Big Elk Lake in Sherburne County. Phosphorous feeds algae that turns lakes green. Landowners working with Benton SWCD staff have installed 36 best management practices since 2016, drawing from two Clean Water Fund grants totaling $500,000. NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program dollars allowed staff to leverage those grant funds. Landowner contributions — generally 25% of project costs — and Minnesota Department of Agriculture dollars rounded out the balance. Water quality monitoring results are starting to show improving trends. Projects tied to the most recent grants built upon work of the Elk River Watershed Association, a joint powers board that formed 25 years ago. About 275 projects have been installed throughout the watershed since 1994. Kelly Molitor spent two years completing environmental assessments and outreach in Benton and Sherburne counties for the Elk River Watershed Association. The position was funded by part of a third, $182,500 Clean Water Fund grant from BWSR. Molitor now works for the Stearns County SWCD.
PHOTO BY ANN WESSEL
Brandon Rehnke stands on his beef operation June 19 in Mayhew Lake Township, Benton County. With Environmental Quality Incentives Program assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rehnke is working with Benton Soil and Water Conservation District staff to make feedlot improvements that will benefit water quality in the Elk River watershed.
WATERSHED: The 613-square-mile Elk River watershed spans Benton and Sherburne counties, and includes bits of Morrison and Mille Lacs counties. The Briggs Lake Chain — Big Elk, Julia, Rush and Briggs lakes — lies within the watershed. The Elk River joins the Mississippi River in the city of Elk River. ELK RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION: The joint powers board is composed of both counties and their SWCDs. Its primary focus has been reducing non-point pollution sources. FUNDS: $500,000 in 2016 and 2017 Clean Water Fund grants. As of midDecember: $1,492,904 in USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service assistance, $337,792 in The 613 -square-mile Elk River watershed spans Benton and Sherburne counties. It includes a bacteria-impaired stretch of the Elk River, and nutrient-impaired Big Elk Lake and Lake Orono. Clean Water Fund projects benefitting Mayhew and Big Elk lakes also benefit downstream waters — including a stretch of turbidity impaired river south of Big Elk Lake. “We haven’t reached clean-water goals in some of these water bodies, but we’re getting closer,” said Dan Cibulka, Sherburne SWCD water resource specialist. “I think there’s a lot of great work being done with the agricultural community. There’s a lot of great work being done with our urban and suburban (community). … When we’re talking about water quality, what we’re really talking about is land management and how that affects water quality.” Elk River monitoring
landowner match, $29,560 in nonmatching Minnesota Department of Agriculture funds (including $4,560 from the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program). PROJECTS: As of mid-December, 36 projects had been completed through two Clean Water Fund grants targeting phosphorous reduction in Mayhew and Big Elk lakes. They included 14 erosion control projects, 14 cover crops, four feedlot projects, two test plots, one wetland restoration and one stream crossing. ANNUAL REDUCTION ESTIMATES: About 1,165 tons of total suspended solids, 2,015 tons of soil loss prevented, 1,446 pounds of phosphorous and 3,633 pounds of nitrogen.
data hinted at a decreasing trend in bacteria levels, based on the percentage of samples exceeding state standards. Maythrough-September annual averages date from 2012 through 2018. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency staff received preliminary 2019 data Nov. 1. Those results will be finalized sometime in 2020 after MPCA and SWCD staff discuss results. Data showed trends of improving phosphorous and chlorophyll-a levels from 2006-18 in Elk Lake and from 2009-18 in Lake Orono. Lake Orono’s chlorophyll-a levels have met the state standard each year since 2014. The rest did not meet state standards. Chlorophyll-a indicates the presence of algae. Both lakes showed improving water clarity trends. From 2010-18, Lake Orono has met the state shallow-lake standard
of 1-meter clarity. “The data that we have are showing we’re moving the needle in the right direction,” Cibulka said. “Hopefully we can continue to identify areas that are in need of conservation work, and then work with landowners to put those conservation practices in the ground.” Benton Countybased NRCS district conservationist Pat Gehling said Benton County traditionally has been among the state’s top livestock producers, and poultry barns boosted that number. In Sherburne County, land use is a bigger mix of agriculture, lakeshore homes, hobby farms and suburban developments. “Animal production is pretty prevalent within the Elk River watershed,” Gehling said. “Livestock numbers on a per-square-
Rehnke page 8B
SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, DEC. 21, 2019 | Page 7B
Children’s Christmas
to omit the usual exchange of gifts so Editor’s note: The following exwe decided to have a white elephant cerpts are quoted from portions of the Christmas party at our farm. December 1932 Successful Farming “Each member brought some armagazine. ticle for which he had no further use, “For many thousands of people this or that he especially wanted to get rid is going to be a different Christmas. of. I placed a number on each package It is fellowship, love, understanding, and a corresponding number on a slip sympathy that is most needed this year. of paper. The slips were well mixed and All the tinsels and lights, all the extraveach guest drew one. agant show, cannot take the place of the “Grandpa acted as Santa Claus, real spirit of Christmas. This should be predominately a children’s Christmas. BY ROGER STROM wearing a costume that he’d scraped And that need not be done extravagantThe Business of Farming together somewhere, and the children loved him. He read the number off each ly as the greatest happiness comes from package, and the person holding that number rethe simple things of life. “39 bushels of ear corn has the same heating ceived the gift. In this way all personal element was value as one ton of Iowa coal. Coal is selling for eliminated, and no feelings were hurt. No one was to $12 per ton, and corn for about 13 cents per bushel. open his package until all had been distributed. Then It makes sense for farmers to burn their corn instead the fun began. “Arnold, the big 6-foot athlete drew a tiny pair of buying fuel. “Inexpensive gift ideas included fruit cakes or of baby socks. Henry got an old-fashioned corset plum puddings and packing them in colorful foil or cover. Myra, an elaborate cut-glass whiskey deglossy cellophane with perhaps a modernistic box canter and glasses. The biggest laugh came when or two, tied with the gayest of ribbons. A washcloth Grandpa opened his enormous box. It contained a that is lovely and soft for use on a baby or an in- blank check book on the bank which had closed its valid may be made of several thicknesses of gauze doors and in which all the family had lost money – a stitched together on the machine. Colored thread real white elephant. “I served dinner afterward, but this year we plan may be used to add a decorative look. “I want to tell you what a lot of fun we had last to make it (carry-in dish) style, and we plan for a year without spending a penny for gifts. There are bigger and better white elephant party. And, the fifteen in our immediate family – uncles, aunts, password at the front door will not be: ‘Ain’t times cousins. All live on neighboring farms or the nearby awful?’ but ‘Merry Christmas.’” … just sayin’. town. Last year financial losses made it necessary
Do not overlook the importance of water
BY EMILY WILMES University of MN Extension
The most common factor making water unsatisfactory for livestock is high salinity. High salinity is an excessive concentration of dissolved salts. Other factors that can affect water quality are nitrates, sulfates, alkalinity and toxic elements. The best way to find out the
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quality of your water is to have it tested. A quality analysis can test for total coliform bacteria, pH, total dissolved solids, salinity, hardness, nitrates, sulfates and toxins. Knowing what is in your water is important because certain factors can affect livestock performance, cause health problems and even lead to death. Besides testing, there are a few ways you can make sure your animals have high quality water. First, if your livestock get water from tanks, clean those tanks regularly. In the same vein, animals that have individual water buckets (such as calves in hutches) need to have their pails cleaned and disinfected regularly. If
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The earth is 75% covered in it. Our bodies are made up of more than 60% of it. We can only survive four days without it. I am talking about water. Water is considered one of our most important natural resources and is the most essential nutrient to our diets. That is not only for humans, though – it is true for livestock too. Most livestock can survive for two months without food but cannot go more than one week without water. Water is important to all animals as it is required for bodily functions like digestion and lactation. It is also important our livestock are getting high quality water.
your animals have access to ponds or streams, try to limit those access points in order to keep the water clean. Keep in mind livestock should have access to clean, fresh water at all times. Water is an essential but often overlooked nutrient for all livestock. Giving our animals plenty of fresh, high quality water will ensure peak health and optimum performance. The best way to know what is in your water is to have it regularly tested once a year.
Produce Safety Rule training available for farmers Four events less than 90 minutes away ST. CLOUD — Beginning in December, University of Minnesota Extension, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and other partners will host 10 produce grower safety trainings around the state. Trainings will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and take place in St. Cloud Jan. 15, 2020, Rogers Jan. 30, 2020, Willmar March 10, 2020, and Isanti March 19, 2020. If your farm is not excluded or exempt from the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule, at least one supervisor or responsible party from your farm must complete a training that uses FDA-recognized curriculum or equivalent. The courses offered here will satisfy this requirement. Course topics include produce safety regulatory requirements and best practices related to worker health and hygiene; crop inputs (soil amendments); domestic and wild animals; water use; and testing for pre- and post-harvest operations, such as irrigation and washing. While training is required for farms covered by the Produce Safety Rule, all growers interested in learning about produce safety, good agricultural practices and the FSMA Produce Safety Rule are encouraged to attend. Learning about and implementing produce safety practices can help protect your farm and business, can help you get a GAP audit, if needed, and help keep our food safe and healthy for all. These dynamic courses will be co-led by experienced fruit and vegetable farmers and staff from University of Minnesota Extension and the MDA. Training participants are eligible to receive a certificate of completion. Farms covered by the rule only need to have a responsible party complete training once to meet the rule’s requirements. Register at http://www.psp. tix. No walk-ins are accepted. Fee includes training materials, lunch, refreshments and a certificate of attendance. If you have questions about the training or need assistance in figuring out if your farm is covered by the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, call 651-5393648 or email producesafety.mda@state.mn.us. You can also reach out to extension educator Katie Drewitz at 320-255-6169, Ext. 1.
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Page 8B | SATURDAY, DEC. 21, 2019 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD
BENTON AG
Rehnke from front
PHOTO BY ANN WESSEL
Landowner Brandon Rehnke (right) talks with Kelly Molitor, Benton Soil and Water Conservation District technician, and Ed Popp, Benton County Commissioner, about conservation practices June 19 in Mayhew Lake Township, Benton County. Popp also serves on the Elk River Watershed Association Board and Molitor has since taken a job with the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District.
tough on the skid loader. Navigating the hill could be challenging — especially in the winter. “You’re sitting on
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mile basis are generally higher than other parts of the state. Dairy is transitioning out a little bit, but a lot of beef has come in its place.” Rehnke converted the dairy barn on his 13-acre home site into a calf barn with room for about 80 Holstein feeder calves. Using the existing setup for beef cattle would have been convenient. The barn opens onto a pasture with a creek at the bottom of the hill. But, it did not meet MPCA setback requirements and posed a few challenges. “Everything I was doing was operating on a hill,” Rehnke said. “(Now) I’m on flat, level ground. The feed’s closer and it’s easier to feed.” Driving across the rough pasture was
a hill that’s icy and the cows all see the feed so they’re charging the gate,” Rehnke said. Now, cow-calf pairs occupy a hard-surface feedlot designed to contain and filter runoff. The $240,000 in improvements also included a concrete scraping lane leading to a 50-by-80-foot roofed stacking slab with 4-foot walls and six months’ storage space. Runoff enters a sediment control basin. Some evaporates. The rest filters through a series of grassed and gravel strips before entering a
grassed waterway. “It allows for some expansion,” Rehnke said. “It keeps me in compliance for years to come. I can grow. It helps significantly with growth.” His status as a beginning farmer qualified Rehnke, 30, for a slightly higher rate of EQIP assistance. “It’s a challenging time,” he said. “I think (for) a lot of our beginning farmers it’s probably not their primary income. A lot of times that’s how they do get started. It’s a secondary job, or they
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have a secondary job. Farming is not an easy business to get into.” Rehnke did not grow up on a farm, but he grew up working on neighbors’ farms. He still works full-time for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and operates St. Cloud Spray Foam and Central Minnesota Ag Services, a mobile repair business. As he builds his herd this winter, Rehnke is seeking rental pasture land. By early December, he had lined up two sites totaling 70 acres. On his own 10-acre pasture, the new seeding flourished. But a wet fall delayed work. Rehnke plans to finish fencing that will allow rotational grazing and keep the cattle out of the unnamed Elk River tributary in 2020. Clean Water Funds and NRCS assistance have allowed producers to cut some of the risk associated with practices such as rotational grazing or cover crops. Benton County Commissioner Ed Popp serves on the Elk River Watershed Association board and farms near Rice. He recalled how farmers’ thinking has changed over the decades. “We were in the go-go ’70s and ’80s where you plowed up everything,
and irrigation came in, and you wanted every inch of cropland you could get,” Popp said. “Fertilizer was cheap, and commodity prices were relatively where they’ve been for the last four years. So, it was just do all of the acres you could do and put on all of the nitrogen you want.” That is no longer the case. Input costs increased. Commodity prices remained low. “The cost-sharing at 75% is a big thing, because otherwise landowners just can’t afford to move forward,” Molitor said. Gehling elaborated on how the NRCS and SWCD partnership has helped farmers. “EQIP tends to be fairly stable funding, and we can typically get financial assistance,” he said. “But quite often the amount of cost-share is fairly low.” NRCS might fund 40% of an erosion control project, for example. “It’s been a great opportunity for the Elk River Watershed to come in with some supplemental funds to piggyback with our EQIP funds so that it makes the projects affordable for the farmers,” Gehling said. “That’s been the key in getting a lot of things done.”
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