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Monday 8am - 3:30pm Tuesday 8am - 3:30pm Wednesday 8am - 3:30pm Thursday 8am - 3:30pm Friday 8am - 3:30pm

Wilkin Soil and Water Conservation District

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Breckenridge, MN
Wilkin Soil and Water Conservation District

The Wilkin Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) was established in 1944. The Wilkin SWCD is administered by a five-member, elected Board of Supervisors.

Conservation Districts are local subdivisions established under state law to carry out a program for the conservation, use and development of soil, water, and related resources. The district's function is to assist land occupiers in both rural and urban settings. The districts receive their authority from Chapter 103C of Minnesota Statutes. The District works cooperatively with other county agenci

es, local officials, and conservation groups. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service works with the District by offering assistance to agricultural producers within the county. The Wilkin SWCD receives funding from the State of Minnesota, Wilkin County, through the acquisition of grants, and through self-generated revenues.

05/28/2026

Introducing Lawns to Legumes: Habitat at Home 🐝🌼

Want to create a pollinator-friendly yard this fall—but not do it alone?

Join Lawns to Legumes: Habitat at Home, a free guided program from Blue Thumb that helps you build, expand, or care for pollinator habitat—step by step.

🌱 Sign up this spring
📬 Get seasonal guidance & resources June through November
🧑‍🌾 Connect with a community (and optional coach!)
🦋 Make a real impact for pollinators in Minnesota

No grant required—just your interest and a bit of space to grow.

Sign up at https://bluethumb.org/lawns-to-legumes/habitat-at-home/

Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources

05/22/2026

In honor of Memorial Day, the Wilkin SWCD will be closed Monday, May 25th.

05/14/2026

Days like today, with powerful winds turning fields into clouds of black dirt and reducing visibility, remind us just how fragile our soil can be. What we’re seeing in these photos isn’t just weather; it’s erosion in real time, and it's costing us one of our most valuable resources.

Erosion prevention matters; cover crops, windbreaks, no-till, and other conservation practices all work together to keep soil in place.

If you are interested in keeping your soil where it belongs, stop by or give us a call 218-643-2933 EXT 3, we would love to fit conservation into your lifestyle.

05/13/2026

DUE TO A LACK OF QUORUM, OUR BOARD MEETING IS CANCELED FOR MAY 13, 2026, AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED.

05/06/2026

AREA I ENVIROTHON

Students from Rothsay High School along with several teams from west-central Minnesota competed in the Area I Envirothon, held May 5th at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center in Fergus Falls.

The Envirothon is a hands-on, outdoor competition that challenges high school students’ environmental knowledge and problem-solving skills. This competitive event consists of five learning stations, each based on a different environment topic. As each team made their way from station to station, they took an exam related to the environmental subject. After the group of teams complete their exam, area resource professionals review the exams with the students. The five environmental topics were water, wildlife, forestry, soils and a current issue which was, “Non-Point Source Pollution: It begins at home!”. In addition to taking the exams, each team was required to give a 7-10 minute oral presentation on the current issue.

Trophies were presented to the team members which had the highest score in the oral presentation part of the Envirothon, and to the three teams with the highest total combined scores for the entire “overall” event.

The top three teams from the Area I competition will compete at the State Envirothon on May 18th at the Oliver Kelley Farm, Elk River, Minnesota.

05/01/2026

Soil is one of Wilkin County’s most valuable resources—and it’s working for us every day!

As water moves through healthy soil, it slows down, spreads out, and naturally filters out impurities before reaching our streams and rivers. That means better water quality for our community and local ecosystems.

But here’s the catch: it takes over 100 years to form just 1 inch of topsoil.

Depending on conditions like climate, vegetation, and biological activity, that process can take anywhere from 100 to 1,000 years!
Healthy soil is alive with microorganisms, worms, fungi, and microbes. That helps cycle nutrients and support strong plant growth. When soil is degraded, those living systems decline, making it harder for crops to thrive.

That’s why the Wilkin Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) partners with local farmers and landowners to promote conservation practices like cover crops and reduced tillage. These practices help:
• Improve soil health
• Protect water quality
• Support long-term productivity
• Prevent erosion

Protecting our soil is far easier than rebuilding it. Let’s work together to keep Wilkin County’s land healthy for generations to come!

Interested in improving soil health on your land? Reach out to Wilkin SWCD to learn more.

04/30/2026

Healthy soil starts right here in Wilkin County!

Agricultural conservation practices. Like planting cover crops and reducing soil disturbance—help keep soil in place, prevent erosion, boost productivity, and protect our local waterways and wildlife.

The Wilkin Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is proud to work alongside local farmers and producers to implement soil health practices that strengthen both our land and our community.

Interested in improving soil health on your land? Reach out to Wilkin SWCD to learn how we can help!

04/29/2026

Soil in Wilkin County is more than just dirt! It’s a living timeline beneath our feet. These layers have formed over hundreds to thousands of years, shaped by our local climate, water, and land use. When you dig into the soil here, you’re uncovering a piece of our region’s history.

Each layer plays an important role in supporting our farms, waterways, and natural resources:

🌱 Topsoil – Where crops grow, and roots thrive
💧 Subsoil – Holds water and stores key nutrients
🪨 Parent Material – Weathered rock that builds our soils over time
🟫 Bedrock – The solid foundation beneath it all

At Wilkin SWCD, we’re committed to protecting and improving these vital soil layers for future generations.

04/28/2026

At Wilkin SWCD, we see every day how plant roots and soil work hand in hand to support healthy landscapes. Roots don’t just anchor plants—they take in water and nutrients, help keep soil in place, and team up with tiny organisms that keep soil thriving.

Even after plants have done their job, their roots continue to give back by breaking down and adding organic matter to the soil. It’s a natural cycle that keeps our soil healthy, productive, and ready for the next season.

04/27/2026

Celebrate with us! This week, we are talking about the importance of . Follow along with us to learn about soil types across regions, the layers of soil, and more.

This year’s topic, , reminds us that soil is the foundation for all life on the land: plants, animals, and people!

Visit at bit.ly/nacd-sw26 to get involved! Here you’ll find educational materials, soil conservation projects, and social media initiatives that you can use throughout the week.

Address

1150 Highway 75 North
Breckenridge, MN
56520

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 3:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 3:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 3:30pm
Thursday	8am - 3:30pm
Friday	8am - 3:30pm

Telephone

+12186432933

Website

http://www.co.wilkin.mn.us/index.asp?SEC=925340BE-11B1-4820-9AE5-F0F9243DC8BC&Type=B_BASIC

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