By Jeppe Kjaersgaard, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Minnesota’s agricultural productivity relies on the long-term availability of clean, reliable water. As pressures on our groundwater grow—due to changing climate, increasing demand, and evolving land use—our conservation strategies must evolve as well. A major new grant better positions us to meet these challenges as we expand innovative water-efficient irrigation practices over the next five years.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and partner organizations recently were awarded $11.16 million from the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to improve irrigation efficiency, enhance nitrogen and water management, and safeguard groundwater quality and quantity. This five-year initiative will serve producers across 25 counties—including Washington—and bring together a diverse network of technical experts, conservation professionals, and agricultural stakeholders.
This new investment builds on momentum from earlier work. In 2021, MDA received $3.5 million in RCPP funding to pilot similar practices. Those efforts demonstrated that well-targeted financial and technical support—delivered through strong local partnerships—can significantly improve irrigation efficiency and reduce nutrient losses on farms. With the expanded funding, we now have an opportunity to scale these benefits to more producers and regions statewide.
Financial assistance for producers is expected to be available in late 2025. Over the course of the project, MDA and its partners will focus on strengthening local capacity. That includes expanding training for staff in Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), building technical expertise, and supporting peer learning across agencies and producers. The project also will host demonstration events and field days to showcase precision irrigation tools and practices in real-world settings.
One of the greatest strengths of this effort is the depth and diversity of collaboration it brings. Alongside MDA and the NRCS, partners include 26 SWCDs, the Central Lakes College Ag & Energy Center, AgCentric – Minnesota State, the University of Minnesota, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and several irrigator associations and industry organizations. Each brings unique expertise to a shared goal: protecting Minnesota’s water resources while supporting farm resilience and sustainability.
This initiative reflects the kind of forward-looking, systems-based thinking needed to protect our natural resources and strengthen agricultural opportunity for the next generation. By aligning local knowledge, scientific innovation, and targeted investment, Minnesota continues to lead in the advancement of sustainable agriculture.
Jeppe Kjaersgaard is research scientist with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.