Fall Conservation Tips

Leave the Leaves!

Decomposing leaf matter can be some of the best fertilizer for your lawn! It also means you’re putting the leaves to work for you instead of working hard, raking them up just to send them to a landfill. Keep leaves intact where possible to increase insect habitat and allow natural nutrient cycling. Thick leaf matter may need to be spread out to prevent smothering grass. Also make sure leaves stay out of the gutters to avoid polluting our vital water resources. 

Test your Soil!

Fall is a great time to test soil as it gives you plenty of time to plan your nutrient strategy for the coming year. Whether you’re a large-acre farmer or simply enjoy your manicured lawn and small garden, soil testing can benefit you. Fertilizer is expensive… make sure your soil and plants actually need the amount you’re applying!

Cover Crop Highlight

This fall across the state of Minnesota, there is green where there once was brown. Where erosion once occurred during heavy winter wind or spring rainfall, precious top soil is held in place. Wildlife have additional acres of food and shelter on land that was once bare. All of these changes are thanks to the tireless efforts of conservation workers and passionate producers who have spearheaded the planting of cover crops in thousands of acres statewide. The Minnesota Office for Soil Health estimates that around 5-10% of all row-crop operations in our watershed have planted cover crops. Additionally, producers around Kanabec county have taken advantage of our no-till drill rental program and planted living cover on nearly 800 acres this year. As you drive around Kanabec County, keep an eye out for winter rye and other cover crops emerging from fields. Where soil once lay bare and brown through fall and winter, living plants are now taking root. 

Fall cover crops reduce erosion by increasing water infiltration and holding soil in place with living root structures. These functions allow groundwater to recharge faster and keep our surface water clear of excess nutrients and sediment that would normally be carried in soil runoff. Cover crops not only have water quality and quantity benefits, but they also build healthy soil. Residual plant matter of cover crops increases soil organic matter. Living roots support the soil microbiome of fungi, bacteria, and other critters while breaking through compaction layers and ensuring soil has higher aggregate stability. 

Cropland and rangeland are two of the largest land uses in the United States, and nearly 100% of this land is privately owned, meaning conservation primarily advances through the motivation and choices of landowners. Here in Kanabec County, farmers and landowners play an essential role in putting conservation practices on the ground. Their willingness to try new approaches and invest in the long-term health of their land helps turn conservation plans into lasting impacts. We at the Kanabec SWCD want to extend our genuine gratitude to all the producers and landowners we have worked with towards our mutual goals of clean water, healthy habitat, and productive soil. Together, we can continue to increase the acreage of living cover and healthy soil and water in our county! 

If you are interested in financial assistance for implementing your own cover crop system next year, contact our office. Have a different project in mind for your land? Give us a call anyway, we provide funding for a variety of practices. Additionally, check out these sustainable agriculture grants currently open from the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) organization. 

Sustainable land and farm management leads to healthy water and soil which means cleaner drinking water, greater access to aquatic recreation, drought resilient crops, healthier wildlife populations for hunting, and a prettier view every time you step outside. We're not just in it for the environmental health, we're in it for the human benefits, too. 

Mallory Kaiser

Conservation Technician