Mower Soil & Water Conservation District

08/24/2026

Reminder that Aug. 31 (next Monday) is the deadline for applying to the state's grant program for soil-health equipment. Follow the links in comments for more details and to apply.

Accepted applications by the MN Dept. of Agriculture will provide farmers with cost-share assistance toward buying or retrofitting ag equipment for soil-health practices.

Overall, MDA is offering $5 million in grants statewide through its Soil Health Financial Assistance Program. Awards will be announced by Jan. 1, 2027.

08/20/2026

Mower SWCD is pleased to honor the Lukes and Hoffman families with our annual awards for conservation work!

Read the media release linked in the comments for details.

For our Outstanding Conservationist Award, we are recognizing the Lukes family (Brad & Toni and their son, Bret, and his wife Mackenzie) whose farm operation is based in Austin Township, southwest of Austin.

A major part of the Lukes' conservation work consists of strip tilling nearly 6.4 square miles of cropland in Mower and Freeborn counties. This includes more than 4,000 acres of cropland (about 78 percent in Mower) of their land as well as acres they are hired to strip till for other farms.

Strip-till only disturbs the row where seeds will be planted in spring. By leaving the rest undisturbed, strip-till can cut costs and labor; reduce the loss of soil and phosphorus; and promote soil health.

We also honor Mike & Julie Hoffman for their family's permanent restoration of nearly 100 acres of former cropland in Udolpho Township, south of Blooming Prairie. This land features native prairie, wetlands and woods on the west side of U.S. 218 North in the northwest corner of Mower County.

Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts

08/12/2026

Check out Mower SWCD’s display this week at the Mower County Fair in the Game & Fish Building (east end by the historical society).

07/27/2026

Follow the link in the comments to read the draft amended Root River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan.

Mower County's eastern half is the headwaters of the Root's north, middle and south branches. This plan also includes the Upper Iowa River, which beings in southeast Mower County.

Deadline is Aug. 9, 2026, for public comment on the draft as part of a formal 60-day review. This plan was created through the state's One Watershed, One Plan program.

Public comment is asked to be submitted in writing to:

Nikki Wheeler, C/O Fillmore SWCD
PO Box 45, Preston, MN 55965
[email protected]

Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources

07/24/2026

Mower SWCD wants to connect with farmers and agricultural landowners who have experienced erosion issues, especially after this summer's two major rainstorms.

Staff can assist with designing a project, such as a grassed waterway or water-and-sediment control basin, and applying for cost-share assistance from state and federal funds.

Read more in our media release linked in the comments.

Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources

07/23/2026

A friendly reminder that Mower SWCD does not have a service window. You must come into our office. :)

This either is a gray treefrog or Cope's gray treefrog. Apparently, distinguishing between the two is nearly impossible - you must listen to their vocal mating calls or conduct lab testing.

07/22/2026

07/11/2026

07/09/2026

ALERT: MnDOT has closed a few miles of MN Hwy. 105 in Lyle Township due to flooding.

TRAFFIC ALERT from MnDOT:
MN Hwy 105 about 6 miles south of Austin is closed because of flooding from the Cedar River.
Seek an alternate route by checking first with: www.511mn.org
Remember MnDOT's flooded roads warnings: www.dot.state.mn.us/flood/
All other MnDOT state highways in SE Minnesota are open.


Mower County Government