USDA, EPA, State of Minnesota Sign Agreement Encouraging Farmers to Protect Waterways

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state of Minnesota to develop a new state program for farmers designed to increase the voluntary adoption of conservation practices that protect local rivers, streams and other waters by reducing fertilizer runoff and soil erosion.

Through this partnership, producers will undertake a substantial level of conservation activities to reduce nutrient runoff and erosion, and receive assurance from the state that their farms will meet water quality standards and goals during the life of the agreement.

"Establishment of this program will protect our water resources by providing assurances and incentives to participating farmers that their good deeds—their strong commitment to conservation—will be recognized," Vilsack said.

USDA and EPA will offer support to Minnesota in developing its certainty process for water quality improvements on private agricultural lands and eligible tribal lands in high priority watersheds. While this idea is new to protection of water quality, "certainty agreements" have been successful for encouraging private landowners to conserve wildlife habitat.

The MOU signing is the first step toward developing the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (AWQCP), designed to increase the adoption of recommended conservation practices to improve water quality on agricultural land. The MOU signing formalizes the state-federal partnership and confirms a joint commitment to developing and implementing the program.