Features Drainage Management Systems
Should farmers be forced to improve methods?

A new regulatory approach in Minnesota, requiring farmers to install buffer strips to reduce nutrient runoff, is showing that mandating water protection methods can make a significant difference. 

A similar program that uses direct payments to Minnesota farmers who reduce runoff in environmentally sensitive areas has also attracted a high level of participation. The mandatory regulatory approach contrasts voluntary programs in other states or run by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This feature length article explores the success of the Minnesota regulation and what it means for South Dakota and its current environmental methods. | READ MORE