Upcoming Events
3rd Annual Winter Agronomy Meeting
Sauk Rapids, MN
Don’t miss the Stearns, Benton, Morrison, and Sherburne county Winter Agronomy Meeting, hosted by the University of Minnesota Extension and local SWCD’s. The event begins with presentations from professionals and researchers who serve Central Minnesota and beyond and is followed by lunch and networking time. Topics will include general agronomy subjects and agricultural conservation practices, with this year’s conservation theme being diversified crop rotations.
Relay cropping is a practice that can be used to improve annual yield compared to a single-crop season. Dr. Matthew Helmers will be sharing the latest in relay cropping research from Iowa State Extension. It’ll be a great opportunity to get a feel for how relay cropping could impact your farm.
Crop farm margins are tight with input prices at new highs and crop prices at severe lows. Brad Carlson will be sharing best management practices to help growers get the most out of their Nitrogen. He’ll teach growers how to calculate the most profitable rate of N to apply and how application strategies impact nitrate loss.
Dr. Anthony Hanson will be sharing the latest University of Minnesota research in IPM and greenbridging. Anthony has worked extensively to build pest forecasting tools to help growers make the most informed decisions. By applying this background to research of his own and from across the state, he’ll share what growers should know about effective pest management in diversified cropping systems, such as those with cover crops.
One of the biggest hurdles in implementing cover crops is managing your herbicide plan to accommodate cover crop species. Jim Mages, a sales agronomist at Nutrien, will be sharing some herbicide plan suggestions that will allow growers to integrate more crops into their rotation.
Catch the Quad County Winter Agronomy Meeting at the Sauk Rapids Government Center Community Room on February 27th, 2026, from 9 am to 1 pm. To ensure we have enough lunches, please RSVP at z.umn.edu/26WAM. If you are interested in a booth at the event for your business, please reach out to Jackie at estre060@umn.edu. We hope to see you there!
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. Times and Location will vary!
Please reach out to Meg with any questions, comments, requests and to RSVP!
Next Meeting:
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 @ 5 pm
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.
3rd Annual Women In Agriculture
2025 Women In Agriculture
Hosted by Sherburne and Benton Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Coyote Moon Grille
On December 11, 2025 more than 50 participants gathered for the 3rd annual 2025 Women In Ag Night, a partnership between Benton and Sherburne SWCDs. The event was made possible with funding from The Nature Conservancy and The Minnesota Office of Soil Health, along with door prize sponsors from local businesses.
We enjoyed several speakers, covering topics such as soil testing, soil health, and long-term farm planning. Carolyn Remer from Centra Sota, Kami Anez from Anez Consulting, Rachel Bork from Ascent Consulting and Alex Kiminski from Land Stewardship Project/ MN Women in Conservation shared their knowledge with us.
The evening was filled with discussion, networking and a painting activity led by Andie Bumgarner from Sherburne SWCD, who led participants through a paint your own winter scene.
We thank everyone that joined us, as well as our sponsors, for a wonderful evening!
2025 Minnesota Irrigator Program: November 18–19 in Becker, MN
The course fulfills Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) CEUs and satisfies one of the requirements for the Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) Irrigation Endorsement.
The Minnesota Irrigator Program is organized by the University of Minnesota Extension, with support from R.D. Offutt Farms, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, EarthScout, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.
If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.
9 am: Registration & networking with coffee and breakfast items
9:30: Local SWCD staff will present on soil health concepts and demonstrate the Rainfall Simulator with samples from across the county.
10:40: Shannon Moeller: Soil Health Educator with Soil Health Institute presents on economics associated with soil health practices and will have a Q&A session to finish up her talk. Questions can be emailed/called into the office for Shannon to answer directly at the field day!
11:45: Backyard BBQ Lunch by Cornerstone Catering Co.
12:45: Equipment Demonstrations by Soil Warrior, Great Plains by Melrose Equipment, Arnolds of St. Cloud, Midwest Machinery and Centra Sota!
~No Till, Vertical Till and Strip Till machines for demonstration, comparison and representatives to talk to and ask questions!
Questions, comments, concerns can be directed to Meg!
Office: 320.968.5300 Ext 3
Mobile: 320.362.1854
megan.gable@mn.nacdnet.net
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!!
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.
2025 Women In Agriculture
Come for a fun evening embracing your inner artist with a paint night. Enjoy dinner while listening to speakers on farm planning and soil health.
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