2022 Conservationist of the Year

Nominated by the Chippewa Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, Ron and Pam Schultz of Montevideo were named 2022 Conservationists of the Year. The Schultz’s are involved in a diverse array of conservation practices. They own 600
tillable and non-tillable acres and have been farming for 46 years. Ron is a 5th generation farmer of this land. They operate a corn, soybean, and wheat rotation as well as raise beef cattle. The pasture and wild hay field have never been tilled. Across their land they have implemented and maintained field windbreak tree plantings, CRP acres, pasture, remnant prairie, wildlife food plots, buffer strips along waterways, and waterfowl nesting boxes.
Recently, the Schultz’s installed a 3.1 acre sediment pond on their farm. Ron and Pam were recognized for their works on December 14, 2022 at the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation District’s Annual Meeting and Trade Show in Bloomington, MN. The district has enjoyed working with the Schultz’s as they have made conservation improvements on their land. As a thank you for their hard work and dedication to conservation, District Board Chair Steve Jacobson presented Ron with “The Conservationist” print by Terry Redlin at the December 19, 2022 board meeting (as see below).

 

2021 Conservationist of the Year

Chippewa SWCD presents Audrey Arner and Richard Handeen, owners and operators of Moonstone Farm. They have the privilege of organically farming at their century farm located on 240 acres of former Dakotah homeland. Audrey and Richard have a very diverse farm and over the years have installed a pond, multiple wildlife tree plantings and field windbreaks, enrolled acreage into RIM, installed cattle waterlines through EQIP and a cattle crossing through the MN Ag Water Quality program upon their certification. Their farm includes several varieties of plants and animals as well as 40 plus species of wooded vegetation. They also solely operate on solar and they practice controlled grazing. They take their lessons from the great plains and feel it is important to care for the soil and the water to the best of their ability. Congratulations to Richard and Audrey! We look forward to working with you and learning from you in the future.

New Chippewa SWCD Contact Information

The Chippewa SWCD contact information has changed. Please take note of the following:

Chippewa SWCD Main Line: 320-269-2696


Desirae Jarett, Office & Financial Coordinator

Direct Line: 320-269-2692

Ext: 2692

Email: [email protected]


Tom Sletta, District Technician

Direct Line: 320-269-2693

Ext: 2693

Email: [email protected]


Tom Warner, District Manager

Direct Line: 320-269-2694

Ext: 2694

Email: [email protected]


Zach Bothun, Technical Manager

Direct Line: 320-269-2695

Ext: 2695

Email: [email protected]

2019 CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR

Virginia Homme named 2019 Chippewa SWCD Conservationist of the Year

Written by: Tom Cherveny, WCTribune

Tom Warner, SWCD District Manager, presents a Redlin print to Virginia Homme, 2019 Chippewa SWCD Conservationist of the Year, in recognition of her strong commitment to conservation practices.

The Chippewa County SWCD Conservationist of the Year may have put the years of making hay, tending to cattle and raising crops behind her, but caring for the land remains her passion.

Virginia Homme lives on a very diverse, 17-acre farm site that is part of a quarter section in Granite Falls Township. The property has belonged to the Homme family since the early 1940’s. Farming has been a tradition for the families of Virginia Homme and her late husband, Paul, for generations.

A ditch runs through the fields and farm site on its path to the nearby Minnesota River.  To protect against erosion and improve water quality, Virginia has planted buffer plots on slopes next to the ditch.

She had the first planted as a native pollinator plot in 2018. She said it has proven to be very successful.  It blooms with a succession of colorful, nectar-bearing flowers through the length of the growing season.

It’s pleasing to the eye, and provides habitat for wildlife too. This past summer, a wild turkey chose to nest in the middle of the plot.  Now, wild turkeys are part of her neighborhood.

Homme had the second plot planted with a mix of native grasses and forbes to benefit pollinators in the fall of 2019. Like the first plot, it is coming into its own and doing well, she said.  The native perennials hold the soil with their roots and provide year around cover on the ditch slopes. The plants protect against wind and water erosion that would otherwise wash the rich glacial soils into the ditch and  Minnesota River.

It takes commitment. Virginia and her son, Erik, hand weeded box elder seedlings and other, undesired plants. She enlisted a neighbor’s help too. He used his old Alice Chalmers tractor with a belly mower to perform mid-season mowing.

Virginia Homme made this site her home in 2008. She said that she realized right away that a portion of the area where the ditch flows through the farm site looked like a natural place for a wetland or small pond.

She presented the idea to the Chippewa County Soil and Water Conservation District staff this past summer.  They enlisted the help of an engineer, who agreed with her assessment and also saw the benefits it could provide. A wetland at this site could help slow the flow of water from a large Conservation Reserve Program wetland that is located upstream and across the road from this quarter section.

Weather and funding permitting, Homme said she is hopeful the wetland project will happen this year.

She’s also made her mark on the local landscape by making her home a model for energy independence and reducing our carbon footprint. Her home is heated and cooled with an energy-efficient geo-thermal system. In late August of 2010, she sought to further reduce her carbon footprint by turning to solar and wind power to produce the electricity to power her system and light her home.

Green Energy Products had a system online for her by late fall. She now has a 3.7 KW wind turbine and a 6.44 KW solar panel at work. She received a 30 percent tax credit for the costs of installing the systems.  She points out that the costs of installing either are much lower today.

Solar has proven to be the better value for small scale production, according to Homme.  It costs less to install than wind and doesn’t require the maintenance. The solar panels have saved 146,000 pounds of CO2 from being added to  our atmosphere. The wind turbine saves about 20 percent more of the CO2 total.

Virginia Homme sought to reduce her carbon footprint by turning to solar and wind power to produce the electricity to power her energy-efficient farm and home. (Photo courtesy of CURE)

Her recent accomplishments are in keeping with a life-long commitment to good stewardship.

Virginia and her husband Paul graduated from the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota and married as the Korean war flared and a draft was in place. Paul joined the Air Force and remained in his military career for 21 years.

Yet during most of those years, the family would use their vacation and leave time to return to Granite Falls to help Paul’s father with the haying and his cow calf operation.

When Paul retired in 1976,  the couple began farming on the family land.  They built an energy efficient house on the bluff of the Minnesota River across from the Upper Sioux Agency State Park in Hawk Creek Township, Renville County.

(Paul died suddenly at age 74 in 2004, just nine months shy of what would have been the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary.)

Some of the fields they farmed were river bottom land prone to spring flooding. By the early 80’s,  there were even summer floods that ruined their crops. One year, there was even a fall flood.

The couple went to a lot of meetings in hopes there would be steps taken to slow the upstream water and reduce flooding, but to no avail.

They enrolled a portion of the flood prone land in the Reinvest in Minnesota or RIM wetland program.  The remainder is protected from erosion as pastures and used for rotational grazing for grass fed beef.

The steep river bluff on this land is restored as well, thanks to our conservationist. In 2017 she was able to work with the short-lived Working Lands program. It provided cost-sharing assistance to remove invasive cedars from the bluff and allow native seeds to once again emerge. The hillside was historically a dry prairie, and these special grasses and forbes once again make this a special landscape.

Thousands of visitors to the Upper Sioux Agency State Park enjoy the view of the restored bluffland, the floodplain wetlands, and the waterfowl and other wildlife they attract. Most of them are unaware of the individual who has made this possible. With her recognition as this year’s Chippewa SWCD Conservationist of the Year, perhaps more people will now realize how much Virginia Homme has done to protect our lands.

 

2018 Conservationist of the Year

On December 11, 2018 Jerry and Ruth Ann Lee were recognized as the Chippewa SWCD Conservationist of the Year the the MASWCD Annual Convention in Bloomington, MN.

Following their return, Jerry and Ruth Ann were congratulated and presented at the Chippewa SWCD board meeting on December 13th.

Please look for our article in our annual report featuring Jerry and Ruth Ann.

Jerry and Ruth Ann at the Annual Convention

Ruth Ann & Jerry at their stream bank restoration project along the Chippewa River.

The Lees with District Manager, Tom Warner at their recognition.

2017 Conservationist

VanRavenswaay named Chippewa County Conservationist of the Year

The Chippewa SWCD presents Carl Van Ravenswaay as Conservationist of the Year for 2017.

Carl, wife Wendy, and their children live near Montevideo. Carl farms a corn-bean rotation with some black beans using conventional tillage on 2,450 acres that he shares in a joint venture with Halvorson Management.

Carl is active in using conservation practices including water and sediment control basins,terraces, waterways, tree plantings, filter strips, CRP,buffers and food plots. Carl also custom feeds hogs,completes annual soil testing, and utilizes covercrops, knife injected manure spreading, and integrated pest management.

In 2017, he worked with the Soil and Water Conservation District, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and the landowners to install a series of conservation practices. Carl utilized the SWCD’s State Cost Share program and NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) to install two narrow grass back terraces totaling 2,035 feet and two water and sediment control basins.

Through the SWCD’s Disaster Recovery Assistance Program (DRAP) a 300 foot water and sediment control basin was also installed. Carl worked with NRCS and through CRP he helped to install 2,337 feet of grass waterway adjacent to the Chippewa River. He also seeded down a grass filter strip. In 2013, 2014, and 2015 Carl completed 1,303 acres of both Nutrient and Pest Management through EQIP and the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI).

Carl played a key role in the processes of installing these projects. He was very patient and understanding throughout the process. He coordinated contract paperwork, estimates and bids between the landowners, the contractors, and the SWCD and NRCS office. He took it upon himself to do some of the legwork and helped with some of the steps to complete them.

The SWCD and NRCS appreciates the work that Carl puts into not only his land but his rented land as well.

Board Chair Scott Roelofs presents Carl and Wendy Van Ravenswaay at the December SWCD Board Meeting

 

2016 Conservationist

Andresen named Chippewa County Conservationist of the Year

Mike Andresen, of Montevideo, has been named the

2016 Chippewa SWCD Conservationist of the Year.

The Chippewa Soil and Water Conservation District

nominated Andresen, and he received the honor at

the Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation

District’s (MASWCD) annual state convention recently held in

Bloomington. He was one of 64 other conservationists who were

honored from other counties in the state.

Andresen farms a corn and soybean rotation with conservation

tillage on 125 acres. He has previously been an Minnesota Pollution

Control Agency water quality volunteer. In 2015 he worked with

NRCS and the SWCD to install two water and sediment control

basins and one grade stabilization structure. He also installed

a native grass wildlife habitat planting and seeded a critical area

planting in 2015. From 2013 to 2015 he maintained

nutrient/pest management on 205 acres.

Andresen has 4,700 feet of established field windbreaks on

one of his farms, as well as a farmstead shelterbelt. He has a

total of 74.86 acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program

(CRP) and has 28 acres of pasture land. Mike is also a conservation

contractor and did all of his own work, installing the erosion

control practices on his own.

Andresen is also an avid sportsman. Recently, Mike and fellow

members of the Tri-County Sportsman Club built and opened

Mills Creek Gun Range on five acres of Mike’s land just north of

Montevideo. He was recognized locally at the SWCD board

meeting in early December with a gift from the

Chippewa SWCD, which was a rustic, custom made sign that was

made out of black walnut, deer antlers, and a painting of a whitetail

deer scene by local craftsman and artist Doug Pederson.

Mike Andresen, of Montevideo, has established conservation practices

on much of his land in Chippewa County, including 28 acres of

pasture land and 74.86 acres in the Conservation Reserve Program.

Scott Roelofs (right), district supervisor of the Chippewa SWCD, presented

Mike Andresen with a gift that Andresen will display in his hunting

shack.

 

Buffer Cost Share and Extensions

EXTENSIONS

Buffer extensions are available on protected waters only. Protected waters are to be seeded by November 1, 2017. If you may need an extension please submit a written request to the Chippewa SWCD Board of Supervisors. Please include a location/map, the reason for needing the extension, and your plan for becoming compliant. Extensions give landowners until July 1, 2018 to be in compliance.

Extension requests will be reviewed by the board and landowners will be notified of approval and/or denial. All extension requests should be either mailed to or dropped off at the Chippewa SWCD office on or before September 29, 2017 to allow the board time to approve or deny them prior to the November 1st deadline.

The Chippewa SWCD office address is: 629 N. 11th Street, Suite 7, Montevideo, MN 56265.

BUFFER COST SHARE

Update: As of March 5, 2018, all allocated cost share has been encumbered.

Buffer cost share is now available for both protected waters and county ditches. Buffer cost share in Chippewa County will be $300 per acre. Cost share is to be used for seed, seeding, and maintenance of the buffer. Cost share is available only one time per acre. The acres allowed for cost share are only those needed to bring the landowner into compliance with the buffer law.  If you are interested please contact the office to be put on the list as there are a limited amount of funds available. Cost share will be paid out after the buffer has been established and approved by the Chippewa SWCD. Seed tags will be required to be turned in to the SWCD. The office can be reached by calling 320-269-2139 extension 3.

Seeding Services

To order seed or to be added to the spring 2023 seeding schedule please contact Zach.

SWCD Offers Seed Sales & Seeding

The Chippewa County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is now offering Landowners the opportunity to buy native grass seed and other cool and warm season mixes. Landowners also have the option to have seed planted by the SWCD.

Chippewa SWCD can plant warm and cool season grass plantings as well as certain wildlife food plot mixtures ranging from small seed mixes on up to large seed mixes.

Drill service includes 1 operator, tractor and drill.  The price for seeding is charged by the amount of acres planted plus mobilization fees:

    • $125 flat mobilization fee within Chippewa County (add $1.00 per mile for out of County Projects)
    • $25/acre planting fee ($100 minimum planting fee for 4 acres and less)
  • If a landowner chooses to purchase seed through the SWCD, the prices will vary on seed type and quantity.

 

Seeding Dates:

Warm season grasses require soil temperatures of at least 50 degrees before they will germinate. This is 8 to 10 degrees warmer than the requirement for cool season grasses. Therefore, the optimal seeding time for planting warm season grasses, either alone or in combination with cool season grasses, usually occurs between mid-spring and early summer when moisture and temperature are most favorable.  May 15th to June 30th is the typical window for planting warm season grasses in this area.

Note: Late April through June is a busy time for the district.  The tree program is usually in full swing at the same time CRP and other grass plantings need to be planted.  Contacting the district early on to get on the list for planting is crucial.  Unfortunately there will be a limit to how many acres can be planted each spring by the district.

Seedbed Condition:

Note: It is the landowners’ responsibility to prepare a decent seedbed before planting.

A firm seedbed is very important when seeding native grasses.  The districts Truax seed drill needs a firm seedbed in order to turn the double disc openers properly which is crucial for seed planting depth.  A firm seedbed also helps conserve moisture and ensure good seed to soil contact which is critical for adequate germination and an overall successful planting.  IMPORTANT: Recently tilled ground should be packed with a coil or roller packer, or something equivalent prior to planting. The seedbed is considered firm enough when an adult’s footprint penetrates no more than 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep.  For example: untilled bean stubble works great for seeding with the Truax drill.

 

To order seed or get on the seeding list, please contact Zach or Tom S. at 320-269-2696.

Tree Ordering

If you are interested in ordering trees for 2022, please contact Tom Warner. Availability is based on the nursery stock.

 

Below is the link to the tree and shrub order form. If there is a variety not listed that you are interested in, please contact us. Please note, all bareroot trees are 18-24″ unless otherwise specified. Larger sized bareroot prices depend on nursery pricing and availability as well as quantity order. Contact staff for special orders. Special orders are sold by the bundle.

Tree & Shrub Order Form