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The Sherburne County Soil and Water Conservation District provides technical assistance for the management of rural resources to landowners, Cities, Townships, and Sherburne County. We assist landowners with activities such as identifying buffer areas, creating nutrient management plans, and designing waterways. We assist local government with feedlot inventories, planning and protection programs.
soil health
Did you know that just one inch of good quality topsoil takes 500 years to produce? Healthy soil gives us clean air and water, bountiful crops and forests, productive pastures, diverse wildlife, and beautiful landscapes. Soil health, also referred to as soil quality, is how well soil does what we want it to do. More specifically, soil quality is the capacity of a specific kind of soil to function, within natural or managed ecosystem boundaries, to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and support human health and habitation.
To learn more about Soil Heath or get information on soil surveys done in Sherburne County Click Here. 
pasture management
How you care for the grass in your pastures and deal with animal waste are a few examples of land management. Good land management protects clean water, animal health and saves money. Examples of land management: • Reduce animal waste by installing a manure composting system. By converting manure into compost it becomes an asset instead of an eyesore, odor problem or fly magnet. • Increase grass cover on pastures by seeding and practicing rotational grazing. A pasture full of healthy grass cover results in lower feed costs and better animal health. Please contact our office for more information 763-220-3434. AGBMP
The Ag Best Management Practices (AgBMP) Loan Program provides low interest financing to farmers, agriculture supply businesses and rural landowners to encourage agriculture best management practices that prevent or reduce non-point source pollution identified in the local water plan. The plan reduces existing water quality problems caused by agricultural activities, helps the County implement the local water plan and can be used to fund the private portion of projects partially funded by state or federal cost-share or other sources of funding. For more information on AgBMP loan program click here, or contact our office for an application or further information, 763-220-3434. Nutrient Management
Nutrient Management Planning is a process that helps producers identify and manage the location, rate, timing, form, and method of all nutrient applications. The goal is to optimize crop yields while minimizing the nutrient movement toward surface and groundwater resources. Nutrient Management Plans are an essential best management practice for good farm management. Sherburne County SWCD offers technical assistance to landowners who are developing nutrient management plans. Please contact our office for more information 763-20-3434. Irrigation scheduling
Irrigation Scheduling is the process used by irrigation system managers to determine the correct frequency and duration of watering. The goal in irrigation scheduling is to apply enough water to fully wet the plant's root zone while minimizing overwatering and then allow the soil to dry out in between waterings, to allow air to enter the soil and encourage root development, but not so much that the plant is stressed beyond what is allowable. Irrigation Scheduling Quick Facts...
Uniform water distribution across the field is important to achieve the maximum benefits from irrigation scheduling/management. Accurate water application prevents over or under irrigation. Over irrigation wastes water, energy and labor; leaches expensive nutrients below the root zone, out of reach of plants; and reduces soil aeration, and thus crop yields. Under irrigation stresses the plant and causes yield reduction. Irrigation scheduling offers several advantages:
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