Mower Soil & Water Conservation District

09/14/2026

This is our last fundraiser of 2026! Proceeds from the Hog Roast Fundraiser will be used to support the Austin High School Archery Club.

09/12/2026

09/10/2026

Most of MN remains in drought, despite recent rains in the southern and northernmost parts of the state, according to this week's National Drought Mitigation Center update. Our Disaster Recovery Loan Program may help farmers with expenses not covered by insurance.

Info 🔗 https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?MN
Assistance🔗 https://www.mda.state.mn.us/disasterloan

09/10/2026

Mower SWCD Board chair Randy Smith (second from the left) joined other conservation leaders at Minnesota Farmfest last month to connect with farmers, conservation partners, industry leaders, policymakers and community members.

Randy, also a board member of the Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts, is pictured (left-right) with Joe Edel, Waseca SWCD; Mark Schaetzke, Waseca SWCD; Randy Schellack, MASWCD board member and Clay SWCD; and USDA-NRCS State Conservationist Troy Daniell.

Farmfest provides an important opportunity for Minnesota’s conservation community to strengthen relationships, stay connected to the priorities of farmers and partners, and highlight the locally led work SWCDs are doing to enhance and protect the state’s soil, water and natural resources.

09/09/2026

Mower SWCD partnered this summer with Dodge Soil and Water Conservation District to seed nearly 225 acres of former cropland with native prairie seeds for a permanent restoration, east of Blooming Prairie.

This partnership is part of the ongoing Cedar-Wapsipinicon comprehensive watershed management plan in which local agencies work together on projects and practices within a watershed.

For more details, read the story linked in the comments.

Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources

A drone view of the nearly 225 acres of former cropland seeded this summer for a permanent restoration to native prairie east of Blooming Prairie in Dodge County. Blooming Prairie Creek flows through the site on its way to the Cedar River, just north of the Dodge-Mower line.

09/04/2026

Mower County landowners interested in applying for financial assistance to build grassed waterways or basins need to apply by next Friday, Sept. 11.

Mower SWCD will help submit federal EQIP applications through Friday. Projects also might qualify for state cost-share funds under the Cedar and Root River watershed-management programs.

Those interested simply just need to reach out by phone, email or in person before the deadline with Mower SWCD technical manager Paul Hunter.

Contact Paul at [email protected] or 507-460-4576.

09/03/2026

09/01/2026

Grateful for all the summer help from Mower SWCD intern Rose Garry!

08/24/2026

Reminder that Aug. 31 (next Monday) is the deadline for applying to the state's grant program for soil-health equipment. Follow the links in comments for more details and to apply.

Accepted applications by the MN Dept. of Agriculture will provide farmers with cost-share assistance toward buying or retrofitting ag equipment for soil-health practices.

Overall, MDA is offering $5 million in grants statewide through its Soil Health Financial Assistance Program. Awards will be announced by Jan. 1, 2027.