Conservation practices help protect Minnesota waterways

The president of the Minnesota Farmers Union says conservation management practices are becoming more common among producers.

Gary Wertish says there’s a big focus on water quality through practices like planting cover crops and reducing tillage.

“Water is important to everybody,” he said. “Farmers are doing a lot better job now with their GPS, technology, and all that stuff. We’re doing a better job of applying fertilizers than we have in the past.”

He tells Brownfield many producers are now enrolled in the state’s Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program – a voluntary, non-regulatory initiative that aims to help strengthen the resilience of operations while contributing to long-term environmental stewardship.

“There’s well over a million acres signed up now. It’s slow, but it’s steady. Overall, farmers are doing their job.”

According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the program has helped keep more than 60,000 tons of sediment out of the state’s waters annually.

Wertish spoke to Brownfield at the NAFB’s 2026 Washington Watch.