Diamond A Farm, a family farm run by Lynn Ayers and her siblings, is making sure clean water is part of its legacy. Diamond A Farm recently received its certification through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP). Diamond A Farm’s certification was recognized on February 15, 2017 at an open house featuring Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Assistant Commissioner Susan Stokes and local Sherburne Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff.
The MAWQCP is a voluntary program that works with famers and landowners to identify and fix risks to water quality on a field-by-field, whole farm basis. Farmers who treat all risks to water quality on their operation are certified and deemed to be in compliance with new water quality rules and laws for 10 years. The MAWQCP is a statewide program that is delivered locally through a partnership between the MDA and Minnesota’s 89 soil and water conservation districts
“Lynn and Diamond A Farm have shown continual commitment to conservation over the years, the century farm land is a model example of responsible planning and management of resources” said District Manager, Francine Larson, Sherburne SWCD.
The Ayers family’s dedication to conservation is apparent in the family’s 500 acre corn, soybean, rye, and edible bean farm. Diamond A Farm is located in a groundwater sensitive area and as part of the certification program’s whole farm risk identification and mitigation process the Ayers are adjusting their nutrient management strategy, planting cover crops, and incorporating nitrogen time trials to help protect and improve water quality.
“I like this program because it isn’t one-size fits-all. I worked closely with the MAWQCP staff to make the improvements that made the most sense for my operation and protect water quality.” explained Lynn Ayers.
To date the MAWQCP has certified 336 farms, covering more than 190,000 acres. Together these farms have implemented over 580 new best management practices that are keeping 16.8 million pounds of soil on fields annually and 11.6 million pounds of sediment and over 7,000 pounds of phosphorous out of our waters every year.
Farmers and landowners interested in learning more should contact the SSWCD or visit http://www.sherburneswcd.org/.
