Brief Overview of MDA’s Non-Point Program and Midwest
Fertilizer Fees
Bruce MontgomeryMN Department of Agriculture
MDA’s Non-Point Groundwater Program
Who are we? We are a small team of Agronomists/Soil Scientists responsible for responding in areas of the state where groundwater resources have been impacted by ag-chemical inputs (primarily nutrients) from non-point activities.
Mission: Assist agricultural communities in achieving their water quality goals by providing cost effective response strategies; serve as liaison to the impacted producers by providing educational outreach, technical assistance, cost sharing opportunities, assessment of BMP effectiveness & adoption rates, and developing innovative partnerships
Legislative Foundation
• Chap. 326, Art. 6, Sec. 33, Sub. 2b (Session Law)– Nitrogen Fertilizer Task Force– NFMP – prevention, evaluation & mitigation
of nonpoint source nitrogen fertilizer– Finalized August 1990
• Minn. Stat. § 103H– Establish Agricultural Best Management
Practices (to include demonstrations)
Summary of Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan Process
AdoptionGOOD
AdoptionPOOR
AdoptionPOOR
EffectivenessGOOD
EffectivenessPOOR
Rule Writing: Water Resource
Protection Requirements
Re-evaluate Appropriateness
of BMPs
Modify BMPPromotion
Continue BMPPromotion
EffectivenessPOOR
AdoptionGOOD
EffectivenessGOOD
3 Phases: BMP Promotion, Evaluation, Response
SusceptibilityInsufficient DataLowMediumHighVery High
Percent
0 - 2.02.1 - 4.0
4.1 - 6.0> 6
N
40 0 40 80 KilometersN
40 0 40 80 Kilometers
Percentage of wells exceeding 3
mg/L.MDH County Well
Index nitrate results
summarized by agroecoregion.
(Map courtesy of Dr. David Mulla,
UM)
Regions of Minnesota Where Nitrates are Commonly Found in Groundwater
St. Peter Source Water Protection Area
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Year
Nit
rate
-N (
mg
/l)
Well # 6
Well # 9
North Water Plant
South Water Plant
Trend Line
10 mg/L Health Standard
Community Water Suppliers Currently Responding to Nitrate Problems
Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water System
St. PeterPerham
Cold Spring
Edgerton, Luverne, Adrian, Fulda
Hastings
Park Rapids
Irrigators in the Perham’s Source Water Protection Area Responded to Water Quality
Challenges!
Perham Case Study
Perham Volunteer Well Sampling 1993 - 2004
0
5
10
15
20
Sampling Dates
Nit
rate
-N (
mg
/L)
1196 Samples
Changes in MN Tonnage Fees Since 1989 (Not Including “Cleanup”
Programs)
Tonnage Fees
$-
$0.05
$0.10
$0.15
$0.20
$0.25
$0.30
$0.35
Pre- 1990 1990 to 2004 2005
Fee
per T
on
Groundwater Protection Act was passed
Fee increase proposed by MDA approved 2004-05
Session
MDA Staffing Projections-Responding to Nitrate Issues using Fertilizer Funds
2005-2007
Central Sands-Currently
staffed
Mississippi Corridor-Currently
staffed part-time
SE Karst-One FTE needed for this region.
SW –One FTE needed for this
region
Current Midwest Fertilizer Tonnage FeesNote that these figures includes the $0.15 increase to MDA starting 7/05
Fertilizer Tonnage Fees
$-
$0.05
$0.10
$0.15
$0.20
$0.25
$0.30
$0.35
MN I A WI I L SD ND
$-
$0.10
$0.20
$0.30
$0.40
$0.50
$0.60
$0.70
MN IA WI IL SD ND
Cos
t pe
r Ton
Basic Tonnage Fee Research
$0.30
$0.30
$0.17
$0.23
$0.30
$0.30 $0.125
$0.125
$0.05
$0.20
Current Midwest Tonnage & Research Fertilizer FeesNote that these figures includes the $0.15 increase to MDA starting 7/05
Fertilizer Product Sold in Upper Midwest States
1990- 2003
0
1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
5,000,000
Shor
t Ton
s of M
ater
ial
Minnesota
Iowa
Wisconsin
South Dakota
North Dakota
Illinois
Helpful Conversion: Every 10 cent increase in Minnesota’s tonnage fees translates into
$200,000 of revenue.
$0.30$0.17
$0.30$0.125 $0.05
$0.20
$0.23
$0.30
$0.68
$0.125
$0.30
$-
$0.25
$0.50
$0.75
$1.00
$1.25
$1.50
MN IA WI IL SD ND
Basic Tonnage Fee Research Cleanups (ACRRA)
Current Fertilizer Tonnage Fees Including “Basic”, Research, and
“Cleanup”
$0.00
$0.02
$0.04
$0.06
$0.08
$0.10
$0.12
$0.14
$0.16
$0.18
$0.20
MN I A WI I L SD ND
Co
st
pe
r C
rop
lan
d A
cre
Cost per Acre of Cropland Including Basic Fees, Research and “Clean-Up” Type
Programs
Fertilizer Product Sold in Upper Midwest States
1990- 2004
0
1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
5,000,000
Shor
t Ton
s of M
ater
ial
Minnesota
Iowa
Wisconsin
South Dakota
North Dakota
Illinois
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Gra
in C
orn
(M
illio
ns
of B
ush
els)
Nit
roge
n U
se (
Ton
s *1
,000
)
Est. Nitrogen SalesApplied to Grain Corn1988 Drought 1993 Floods
Minnesota Corn Production and Nitrogen Fertilizer Use 1986-2004
Production
Minnesota’s Nitrogen BMP Design
Statewide Special Situations Regional
Examples of States with Research and/or Educational Fertilizer Check-Off
Programs
•Wisconsin Established in 1978
•Iowa Established in 1987
•Illinois Established in 1990
•California Established in 1990
•Oklahoma Established in 1989
•Oregon
•Missouri
•Michigan
Midwest Research Fertilizer Funds(Total Revenue Generated)
$-
$200,000
$400,000
$600,000
$800,000
$1,000,000
$1,200,000
$1,400,000
MN I A WI I L SD ND
Rev
enue
Gen
erat
ed
Basic Tonnage Fee Research
Currently MN does not have check off program
Fee on N Fertilizer provides $700,000 annually to Iowa’s
Leopold Center
WI Fertilizer Research(1/3), DNR (1/3), and Nutrient & Pest Management (Extension) (1/3)
Illinois Fertilizer and Education Council
distributes over $450,000 annually
Funds Generated by Wisconsin
Fee Structure ($/Year)
$377,513
$125,838
$125,838$125,838
Basic TonnageFee (DATCP)
GroundwaterFees (DNR)
Research (Fert.Res.Council)
ExtensionOutreach (NPM)
Wisconsin Fertilizer Fees
fund a variety of programs
Considerations in Designing a Fertilizer Check-Off Program
Will the program fund
research, outreach or
both?
The Board …Who and How?
Governing Rules?
The Research Review Process?
Peer Review?
Who can compete for the funds?Land Grants?
Agencies? Commodity
Groups?
Possible Discussion Topics at Future Ag Nutrient Task Force Meetings
• How are Fertilizer Check-Off Programs in other states structured?
• Additional details and examples of how MDA responds to areas of Minnesota impacted by groundwater problems.
• What other information does the Task Force need?
Fertilizer Product Sold in Upper Midwest States 1990-2004
0
1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
5,000,000
Sho
rt T
ons
of M
ater
ial Minnesota
Iowa
Wisconsin
South Dakota
North Dakota
Illinois