The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) is a program offered in partnership between the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and our local Soil & Water Conservation Districts.
The program assists and recognizes producers who are managing their operations in a way that protects and preserves our soil, water, and air resources. The benefits of being certified through the program include:
The public benefits through the assurance that certified producers are working to protect our resources.
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) offers producers an annual payment based on the level of stewardship they are performing on their land. It is administered through the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS.
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) encourages landowners to retire their land in highly sensitive areas for a period of 10 to 15 years. This land is often planted in to native grasses or trees, depending on the local resource concerns. It is administered through the USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA).
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) offers financial assistance to producers who want to implement farming practices that have positive environmental benefits. This program is administered through the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS).
Do you own land that is enrolled in a conservation program or has high-quality natural cover?
You may be eligible to enroll in the Walk-In Access (WIA) program. This program provides an opportunity for public hunting on private land. Here is some information about the program:
