Get to Know PARM!

Hello!

I am reaching out to you on behalf of the Partnership for Ag Resource Management (PARM), a project that works with ag retailers to identify, promote, track and report on products and services that keep nutrients on fields and out of waterways. As we all know, algal blooms and hypoxic zones are increasing in intensity and frequency across the US largely due to agricultural runoff. By tracking product and service adoption through annual surveys, PARM can estimate your company’s nutrient loss reductions to help advertise positive impacts and increase sales!

As part of our expansion into new watersheds, my goal is to build personal relationships with ag retailers to encourage revenue-generating solutions to water quality issues in the area. We offer free training webinars for ag professionals and other tools and information at www.partnershipfarm.org. Currently, our project works with 81 ag retailer participants representing over four million acres in the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins to increase sales in cover crops, variable rate technology and others.

After speaking with several retailers in my local area, it was made clear that a one-stop-shop was needed for notification on events, workshops, tools and other resources currently available. I will be sending out a short, monthly newsletter with information relative to the geographic area you are serving, including our own educational resources.

PARM’s annual survey will be released the first week of December! Respondents will receive an individual report that compares their product and service sales with those in their state and overall cumulative responses. An aggregate report will also be provided.

In January, PARM will release details on a new Cover Crop Incentive Program for ag retailers! This program will be available to a select number in the Blue Earth (MN) and Yahara River (WI) watersheds. If your retail location is interested in more information, please contact me at michele@partnershipfarms.org.

The PARM Team wishes you and your staff a safe and joyous holiday season.

Get to Know Michele Wigern!

Michele Wigern, resource management specialist: PARM. Michele has a B.S. in environmental management from South Dakota State University. Michele has worked in conservation for the past eight years in southcentral MN. Most recently, Michele has been working with agriculture producers to implement conservation agriculture practices to increase soil health, yields and profits. Outside of work Michele enjoys golfing, fishing, and keeping up with her two very active boys.

2017 Survey Results

The 2017 survey represents our sixth year working with Sandusky River Watershed, Ohio ag retailers, and our third year for the entire Great Lakes Basin (GLB). Data from the annual survey is critically important to communicate ag retailers’ voluntary efforts to improve water quality to stakeholders, industry leaders and the public.

The 2018 survey, scheduled for release in December, will be the first available for retailers in the Mississippi River Basin. Past surveys show retailers have made tremendous progress increasing sales in variable rate technology (VRT), soil sampling, cover crops and other services. 2017 participant sales retained more than 4 million pounds of P and 46 million pounds of N on fields for crop uptake and out of GLB waterways.

Survey highlights

• 68 ag retail locations representing approximately four million acres participated in 2017.
• Rotational soil sampling jumped 34% to 81% of the acres serviced by participating Sandusky River Watershed ag retailers from 2012 to 2017.
• GLB-wide, VRT increased from 24% to 42% of acres serviced from 2015-2017.
• Cover crop adoption increased 11% to 18% of acres serviced in the GLB between 2015-2017.

A majority of responding ag retailers reported profits from beneficial on the products and services offered. The most profitable were custom P and N application of topdress, foliar P-feeding, and sidedress with 89.5%, 84.9% and 82.2% of those surveyed reporting a profit, respectively. 74% of respondents also reported profits in VRT.

PARM's December Webinar!

This webinar will focus on connecting agricultural field machinery to the internet, and how the data revolution in agriculture will serve the interests of farmers and environmentalists alike. We will investigate emerging opportunities in artificial intelligence and connected sensor networks. The underlying theme will be improved nutrient stewardship through the application of technology.

Dr. Scott Shearer: Professor and chair of the Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering department at The Ohio State University

Tuesday, December 11th @ 8:30 AM CST (9:30 AM EST)

1.5 CCA CEU credits awarded for attending (1 for nutrient management and 0.5 for soil and water management)

Upcoming Events

Freeborn Area Soil Health Team Event

The Land Stewardship Project will be holding a series of winter workshops across Minnesota on ways to integrate profit-producing enterprises and the building of soil health. Joshua Dukart of Seek First Ranch will lead this workshop.

Happy Holidays,

Partnership for Ag Resource Management