Minnesota farmers are getting assistance from the state Board of Water and Natural Resources along with the Minnesota Agriculture Department in complying with the state’s Buffer law. Minnesota Corn Grower’s Public Policy Director Anna Boroff says one way for farmers to comply is to become certified through the Minnesota Ag Water Quality certification program.
She advises producers to work with their local soil and water conservation district and realize it will take some time to get certified depending upon the operation.
Boroff says this year’s legislature made some changes to clarify the Buffer law which will be helpful for producers.
The buffer law establishes new perennial vegetation buffers of up to 50 feet on public waters and 16 and a half feet on public ditches. The Public Water Buffer requirement goes into effect in 2017 while the Public Ditches Buffers goes into effect in 2018.
