2005-10-27_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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m I ~ ~~~ r r by Harvey Thorleifson, Director, Minnesota Geological Society Over the past year; the Mimresota Geological Survey (MGS) has coordi- nated abroad assessment of ground ~a~ater resources in the Fargo-Moorhead region. The work was sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Interior; Bureau of Reclamation. and the Garrison Diver- sion Conservancy, who are jointly prepcuzng an enviromnental impact statement for the Red River Valley Water Supply Project; intended to ensure that the fiihtre compre- hensive water quality and quantity needs of the Red of the region. Concun-ently, MGS. Min- nesota DNR, and North Dakota agencies confirmed curd potential gromidwater sources across the entire region. Work b 1 S - 4' - _. _ _ . _ -' ~$ River Valley are met. As part of the effort; a team led by the USGS Min- nesota office has compiled quantitative information on currently utilized ground water sources in the Mirmesota portion constnrcted a 3D model based on geologi- cal mapping and available drillhole data, to outline the context and controls on y tie trrvey agencies will no«~ be used to assess options for fiittu-e water supply. According to I-Iaivey Thorleifson; MGS Director. the project has been seen as an excel- lent example of agen- cies ~ti-orhing as a te~un to respond to a pressing societal issue. For more information. please convict: Harvey Thorleifson. Ph.D.. Professor and Director. University of Mirmesota, Minnesota Geological Survey, 2642 Univer- sity Ave. W. St Paul, MN >j11=1-107 USA. phone (67.2) 627-4780 ext 2Z4. fax (612) 627- 4778, E-n1~u1 thorleif a.mnn.edtt. 1 by Les Everett, WRC Sunnner field days at four on-farm research-demonstration sites this year and at rune sites in 2004 provided opporhuri- - } - ~ ' ~ ,( t ~.:~ ~r ~, ~ ,~~ ~ - ~ ~~ ~, _ t , ,~ :,~ r~ ~;f ~ ~jl~ ~ ~~ a I ~l ' Extension Educator David Pfarr and host farm ~~ machinery management for strip-tillage at one of rd conservation tillage field days. ties for approximately 1200 participants to see strip-tillage equipment in action., and A 3D model of ground water resources in the Fargo-Moorhead region developed by the MGS and other agencies hear directly fi~om Extension specialists. host farmers. Nahu-al Resources Conserva- tion Service and Soil and Water Conser- vation District staff. and crop consultants about management of conservation tillage. Farmers do not make ?' expensive equipment ch~mges gtueliiy-the i field days provide rui %'~_ -. opportiuuty for them 'j ' ` ~ - to get the information '~~, _ fiom specialists and ~ .: practrhoners that is es- sential in mal~img these business decisions. Surmner field days `e Kramer explain are part of a WRC- ursummer managed 319 grant that will also produce tlvo publications. A ne`1- Ixtension bttlletir~, "Optimum tillage sys- tems for corn and soybean prochrction and water qu~dity protection in South Centr~crl Mirmesota-Mimiesota River Basin" by Gyles Rand~~ll and Jeff Uetsch was re- leased in August. The bulletin surnm~uizes recent tillage reseauch at the University's Southern Research and Outreach Center ~md presents tillage recormnendations for that region It caul be viewed on-line or ordered at `ti%ww.extension.unm.edu. A second publication, to be released in 2006, ~~ i11 surmnarize the results of on- farn hials comparing tillage systems ~a~ith field scale equipment across the southenr half of Mirmesota. Tlis project, cur- rently in the second of t`vo field seasons, is testing four tillage treatments in tlu-ee replications at ten locations per year. Yield results; economic analyses, and manage- ment considerations will be addressed in the Extension publication. The next major Conservation Tillage event will be the regional Conservation Tillage Conference, to be held February 1-2, 2006. in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.