Upcoming Events
The FREE ‘Being Septic Smart’ webinar teaches property owners the basics about how their septic systems work, including how to care for and maintain a septic system so it can function during or beyond its design lifetime. Registration required!!
Tuesday Talks
Introducing a new format for the Benton SWCD Soil Health Initiative Team meetings. We are planning to meet the second Tuesday of every other month at 10 am with lunch to follow.
Please reach out to Meg with any questions, comments, requests and to RSVP!
October 11, 2025
We will be hosting the 2025 SH Economics and Equipment Field Day! More detail to come!
Want to be involved? Contact Meg ASAP!
Past
BENTON SWCD
Events
Joint field day at Meadowbrook Farms July 2024.
Ag field day - 2023
Soil health demo.
Women In Agriculture Night - December 2024
Eco-harvester on Little Rock Lake for the Tour of Practices.
We Are Water MN.
We invite producers, landowners, and local partners to attend the upcoming Rosholt Research Farm Field Day, scheduled for Thursday, August 21, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Rosholt Research Farm- 910 OLD HWY 28 Westport MN 56385
A free meal will be provided, catered by Lakes Area Catering.
This educational event will highlight current research trials and practical innovations in soil health and nutrient management. Presentation topics include:
Nitrogen use in irrigated corn with cover crops
Efficient irrigation and nitrogen management strategies
Interpreting soil moisture data, variable rate, probe technologies
Soil health assessment and wind erosion demonstration
Drone cover crop seeding demonstration
Pre-registration is required. Event details and registration links are available through the Pope SWCD (www.popeswcd.org) and Stearns CD (www.stearnscd.org). Participants are encouraged to register by August 13th using the link online or by calling 320-634-5327.
Funding support for research studies and field day at Rosholt Research Farm is provided by the Minnesota Department of Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC), the Minnesota Office for Soil Health (mosh.umn.edu), MN Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Clean Water Fund. For additional funding details, visit www.legacy.mn.gov/clean-water-fund.
This event is organized by Pope and Stearns Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
For questions or media inquiries, please contact: Katie Disrud, Pope SWCD 320-634-5327 | www.popeswcd.org
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO REGISTER!!
Foley Fun Days Parade Float
Benton SWCD celebrates our 75th Anniversary. Winning Honorable Mention in the Preferred Commercial Entry.
2022 Tour of Practices
Meet at the USDA Service Center in Foley at 9:00 am.
The bus will leave promptly at 9:30 am. Lunch provided,
The tour and lunch are free of charge, but you must register to attend.
The registration deadline for the tour is Tuesday, September 6th, 2022.
We will be stopping at a number of sites so be sure to dress for the weather and terrain.
Call Renee Thell at the Benton Soil and Water Conservation District at (320) 968-5300 ext. 3 or by e-mail at Renee.Thell@mn.nacdnet.net to register for the tour.
Little Rock Lake Association 2022 Annual Picnic- Little Rock Lake Drawdown Updates
Benton SWCD is partnering with Little Rock Lake Association to hold a public meeting to give updates on the Little Rock Lake Drawdown project at their 2022 Annual Picnic. There will be 4 speakers that will discuss various lake updates such as fish populations, wild rice research, vegetation, improved water quality, and more.
Lunch will be provided to non lake association members that register at the link below!
For more info on the lake association visit their website, https://littlerocklake.org/
Grazing Field Day
Please register below for lunch count
Learn about prescribed grazing and pasture management from two Benton County farmers as well as 3 other speakers from NRCS and the University of Minnesota. Topics include pasture management, NRCS cost-share and grant opportunities for prescribed grazing, mentorships between grazers/farmers, grazing plans, and more!
We'll be doing a pasture tour as well where you will get to walk pastures in person and talk with the farmer about his grazing operations.
What to Expect:
Five speakers
FREE Lunch
Pasture tour
Network with local farmers
Questions?
Email kendra.sommerfeld@mn.nacdnet.net
or call 320-968-5300 Ext 3