Lower Minnesota River West

06/02/2026

🌱 Dig Into the Future: Unlock the Power of Healthy Soil! 🌱

Get ready for a mind‑blowing journey beneath your boots. This isn’t just another ag event — it’s a deep dive into the past, present, and future of the land we depend on.

We’re bringing together powerhouse voices to uncover how soil health shapes EVERYTHING: your yields, your water, your landscape, your bottom line.

✨ Featuring:

Geologist Carrie Jennings — unraveling the glacial forces that built our land, how soils formed over 10,000 years, and how today’s farming practices are reshaping it faster than ever.

Farmer Karl Schauer — sharing his real‑world soil health transformation: better infiltration, less erosion, smarter equipment, stronger economics.

UMN Extension’s Taylor Herbert — breaking down how cover crops after canning crops can boost resilience, biology, and profitability.

If you care about your land, your water, your yields, or your legacy… you’ll want to be in this room.

👉 Don’t miss it — tap the flyer, sign up, and bring a friend. This is the kind of knowledge that changes farms.

05/28/2026

🐜 “What’s happening beneath our feet isn’t just local — it’s part of a global system of ‘good bugs’ keeping soil alive, including right here in our watershed.”

🐛 Sibley County Soil Health: The “Good Bugs” That Keep Our Soil Alive 🌱

Across Sibley County, Minnesota farmland, there is an entire living system working beneath our feet every single day. Healthy soil is not just dirt — it is a complex ecosystem made up of billions of organisms that directly support crop production, water quality, and long-term land productivity.

So why are “good bugs” and soil microorganisms so important?

They are the engine behind soil health. These organisms:
• Break down crop residue and organic matter
• Recycle nutrients into plant-available forms
• Build soil structure and reduce compaction
• Improve water infiltration and water-holding capacity
• Help control harmful pests naturally
• Increase soil organic matter over time
• Support stronger, deeper root growth
• Improve resilience during droughts and heavy rains

Without them, soil becomes less productive, more compacted, and more dependent on synthetic inputs over time.

Here are some of the most important beneficial soil organisms found in Minnesota farm soils:

• Earthworms
• Ground beetles
• Rove beetles
• Springtails
• Soil mites (beneficial species)
• Beneficial nematodes
• Dung beetles
• Mycorrhizal fungi
• Soil bacteria
• Actinomycetes
• Protozoa

Each of these plays a role in keeping soil functioning as a living system rather than just a growing medium.

The more biological life in the soil, the more efficiently that soil can support crops — season after season.

Healthy soil is built from the ground up… by life you often never see.

05/28/2026

Lower Minnesota River West Tributary Spotlight:

05/26/2026

🌱 Farmer Spotlight: Mike Anthony — Peer-to-Peer Soil Health Mentor 🌱
In the Lower Minnesota River West Watershed, Mike Anthony farms with a steady focus on observation, patience, and long-term soil stewardship. From his base in New Sweden Township, he manages about 400 acres of corn and soybeans—land he says he doesn’t just farm but learns from every season.
Mike began farming in 2001, but his shift toward conservation started slowly, on a small 40-acre field where he experimented with planting soybeans into vertically tilled corn residue. As neighbors began trying strip-till and no-till, he paid close attention. What he saw made sense—practically, economically, and environmentally. About three years ago, he fully made the transition.
Today, Mike uses no-till and strip-till systems along with cover crops like winter rye and winter camelina. This past season, he saw especially strong results in both his strip-till and cover crop systems. He planted his rye and camelina cover crop using his SoilWarrior strip-till unit, and the stand came through with excellent establishment and overall performance. It’s another step forward in refining his system and dialing in what works best on his ground.
The change wasn’t about following a trend—it was about improving efficiency, reducing stress, and taking better care of the soil.
“The time matters. The labor matters. But stewardship matters most,” Mike says.
The results continue to speak for themselves. He’s seeing improved water infiltration, reduced runoff, lower fuel use, and fewer equipment passes. W**d pressure is more manageable, and there’s more time spent planning ahead rather than reacting in-season.
Looking forward, Mike is focused on improving nutrient efficiency, reducing fertilizer costs, and building organic matter while maintaining yield. He continues to experiment with cover crop mixes and timing, knowing soil health is built over years, not seasons.
Mike also shares what he has learned as a Peer-to-Peer Soil Health Mentor for the Nicollet SWCD. His approach is simple: start small, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
“A lot of people are doing things you don’t even realize,” Mike says. “Until you look.”
🌾 Interested in cover crops, no-till, or strip-till?
The Peer-to-Peer Soil Health Network connects farmers and landowners with experienced local mentors — free of charge. Whether you are just getting started or already implementing soil health practices, the program is designed to support learning through real farm experience.
Contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District for more information on the Peer-to-Peer Mentor Program.

05/21/2026

05/19/2026

🌱 Farmer Spotlight: Karl Schauer — Peer-to-Peer Soil Health Mentor
For Karl Schauer of New Auburn Township, conservation started with a simple rainfall simulator demonstration. Seeing firsthand how much runoff occurs with conventional tillage changed the way he thought about farming and soil health.
“It took seeing a rainfall simulator to really open my eyes to how much runoff there is with conventional tillage,” Schauer said. “Everyone should pay attention or watch a rainfall simulator. It all starts to make sense.”
Since then, Karl has fully embraced conservation practices on his operation, implementing no-till soybeans, strip-till corn, and diverse interseeded cover crops across his acres. By focusing on soil health and reducing tillage, Karl has lowered fuel use, reduced input costs, and improved efficiency on the farm.
“It’s all about management,” Schauer said. “I don’t have to buy as much diesel fuel or do fall and spring tillage. It is a funny feeling.”
Today, Karl not only continues improving his own operation, but also helps other farmers as a Peer-to-Peer Soil Health Mentor and member of the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition. He enjoys sharing real-world experiences and encouraging others to try practices that can improve soil resilience and long-term farm sustainability.
Karl’s mentoring focuses on:
✔️ No-till
✔️ Strip-till
✔️ Cover crops
✔️ Crop diversity
✔️ Equipment selection and modifications
✔️ Nutrient management
His advice to other farmers:
“Don’t be afraid to try some of these practices. It is the way; it is the future of farming. Reach out to me or someone who has been doing it.”
🌾 Interested in adopting cover crops, no-till, or strip-till practices?
The Peer-to-Peer Soil Health Network offers farmers and landowners a unique opportunity to connect with experienced local mentors — free of charge. Whether you are just getting started or already using soil health practices, the program creates opportunities to learn from others navigating the same challenges and successes.
Contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District for more information on the Peer-to-Peer Mentor Program.

05/14/2026

05/13/2026

🌱 Building Knowledge Together Across the Watershed

🚜This spring, farmers across the region came together for a series of Peer-to-Peer learning sessions focused on practical, on-farm soil health topics. Four sessions were hosted in Waseca, St. James, Arlington, and Essig, drawing a total of 49 farmers who shared their experiences, challenges, and successes.
🌽Topics included cover crop seeding, planter setup, strip-till equipment, and soil health testing, with Peer-to-Peer Mentors helping kick-start conversations and keep discussions grounded in real-world farm experience.
🌿What stood out most was the format itself. Small group settings allowed for honest, open conversation—farmers talking directly with other farmers about what has worked, what hasn’t, and what adjustments they’re planning for the next season. Whether it was planter configurations, equipment modifications, or improving nutrient cycling, the focus stayed practical and hands-on.
🌾Feedback collected after the sessions (with a 34% response rate) showed strong engagement and a clear interest in continuing these conversations. Many participants noted the value of hearing directly from peers and expressed interest in attending future sessions and meeting more regularly.
🌻Across all four locations, one theme kept coming through: farmers are learning the most from each other when the conversation is local, specific, and experience based.
🌎These Peer sessions continue to show that soil health education works best when it’s built on shared experience—one field, one adjustment, and one conversation at a time.

05/11/2026

Lower Minnesota River West Tributary Spotlight: