Increasing Participation in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP)

Abstract

Since 2012, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has operated the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) for farmers in the state. This voluntary program certifies farmers who implement certain conservation practices that aim to improve soil and water quality. Participation in the program has slowed since its inception and remains lower than the MDA would like. This report explores methods to increase participation in the program, evaluates environmental impacts the program has delivered thus far, analyzes the costs and benefits of the program, and assesses stakeholder views of the program. Methods included utilizing available data, outreach to stakeholders, information gathering from various program meetings, and a literature review of relevant research. Our findings indicate a need for more robust data collection regarding the benefits of the program and non-participant insights, more collaboration with industry and similar programs in other states, and marketing of the program on a watershed-level basis and as one of a stack of programs available to farmers. These findings directly support our offered recommendations and other considerations to work towards the goal of improving water quality and growing conservation minded practices.