Conversion of Pine Lands to Row Crop Agriculture; Who Would Have Guessed?

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1 Conversion of Pine Lands to Row Crop Agriculture; Who Would Have Guessed? Darrin Hoverson, MN DNR Area Hydrologist Ecological & Water Resources State of the Water Conference April 15, 2015 Local Impacts Breakout

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4 Picture of Converted Pine Land on South Side of Boudora SNA from previous slide

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9 Before Conversion

10 During & After Conversion

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14 Why Conversion of Forest Land to Row Crop Agriculture?? Financially Feasible High Commodity Prices Cropping Changes Opportunity Land available Available Water for Irrigation Crop Loss risk reduction Limited tillable lands CRP and Hayland Leases becoming less available Ecological & Water Resources

15 Ag Economics Total Value Per Acre ($) $292 $428 $524 $3,995 Soybeans Potatoes Corn Wheat Source: USDA-NASS 2014 State Agriculture Overview Minnesota

16 Why Conversion of Forest Land to Row Crop Agriculture?? Financially Feasible High Commodity Prices Cropping Changes Opportunity Land available Available Water for Irrigation Crop Loss risk reduction Limited tillable lands CRP and Hayland Leases becoming less available Ecological & Water Resources

17 Cropping Changes Three-Year Crop Rotation Four-Year Crop Rotation Soybeans Potatoes Corn Soybeans Corn Potatoes Wheat

18 Why Conversion of Forest Land to Row Crop Agriculture?? Financially Feasible High Commodity Prices Cropping Changes Opportunity Land available Available Water for Irrigation Crop Loss risk reduction Limited tillable lands CRP and Hayland Leases becoming less available Ecological & Water Resources

19 Conversion of Industrial Forest Lands to Irrigated Agriculture

20 Why Conversion of Forest Land to Row Crop Agriculture?? Financially Feasible High Commodity Prices Cropping Changes Opportunity Land available Available Water for Irrigation Crop Loss risk reduction Limited tillable lands CRP and Hayland Leases becoming less available Ecological & Water Resources

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23 Water availability varies around the state

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25 Why Conversion of Forest Land to Row Crop Agriculture?? Financially Feasible High Commodity Prices Cropping Changes Opportunity Land available Available Water for Irrigation Crop Loss risk reduction Limited tillable lands CRP and Hayland Leases becoming less available Other Unknowns Ecological & Water Resources

26 Why a Straight River GWMA? Increasing Use

27 Why Conversion of Forest Land to Row Crop Agriculture?? Is it slowing Down?? Fewer acres being converted Fewer Water Appropriations but still coming in for other open lands Pressure will likely come back Ecological & Water Resources

28 So Why Care? Forests Are Key!!! Ecological & Water Resources

29 Water Quantity & Quality Ground & Surface Water Central MN aquifers are large but limited and is directly connected to surface waters including lakes, stream and wetlands Permeable sandy soils and agriculture fertilizers pose risk for nitrate contamination and other water quality impacts Potential nitrate concerns in surface water receiving groundwater Ecological & Water Resources

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31 Ground water withdrawal affects surface water and ground water users water supply interference

32 Surface Waters and Drinking Water Wetlands directly connected to water table, potential impacts from runoff and herbicides Lake and Rivers increase in temperature and reductions in flow and habitat Habitat impacts to fish and other aquatic species Source Water Drinking Water Protection ground and surface water provide clean clear drinking water for downstream users such as Minneapolis & St. Paul Ecological & Water Resources

33 DNR SWCD City of Park Rapids Farmer Dept of Health Dept of Ag Wellhead Protection Team New Irrigation in Park Rapids Drinking Water Supply Management Area

34 Forest fragmentation and upland habitat loss Targeting sandy upland mixed jack pine, oak, and aspen forests which are the best year-round forested deer habitats Many forest stands are rare ecotypes with rare plants and animals Wildlife Depredation Concerns Loss of future timber production Wildlife Habitat, Forest Fragmentation & Timber Loss

35 Current Protections & Needs DNR Groundewater Appropriation Program Ground & Surface Water Monitoring Networks Local Landuse Controls Limited at this time happening extremely fast Acquisitions, Conservation Easements & Stewardship Programs - Legacy & Clean Water Funds - SFIA & RIM investments - Counties and State interested in land for forest management - Need to be create incentives to keep land forested. Ecological & Water Resources

36 Local Response Not an easy sell as community may not see that something should be done. Hubbard & Cass County LWP Focus on Forest as they are key to clean water in this watershed Work and grants will focus in those watershed identified

37 Groundwater Management

38 Water Conservation

39 Cover Crops

40 Uniformity Test

41 Further Potential For Expansion Sandy soils with available groundwater common in north central Minnesota Jack Pine stands found almost exclusively on sandy, glacial outwash soils Reduced stands of existing Jack Pine

42 Other Pressures on the Forest - Development Pressures - Sustainable Forest Industry keeping the forests products valuable - Climate Change - Livestock in the Forest Trend of more feedlots and silvi-pasturing occurring Ecological & Water Resources

43 Questions? 43