Wilkin County Producers Become Recertified Under Water Quality Program
June 17, 2025 by Alyson Levig
Since 2014, the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQP) has certified producers who have implemented conservation-minded practices in their farming operations to protect water quality. And now, as the certification duration for the voluntary program is 10 years, the time has come for the initial water quality certified farms to be reassessed, and hopefully, recertified for another decade. Wilkin County producers, Rick and Pam Hendrickson, have recently completed a re-examination of their farming operation and have once again been declared water quality certified under the program.
“It’s always nice to be reminded that we need to take care of the natural resources we currently have,” the Hendricksons said. “The recertification is another great learning tool and gives us a better understanding of conservation.”
Pam and Rick purchased the 20-acre farm in 1999, where they practiced conservation tillage on their 11 acres, surrounded by windbreaks. By definition, conservation tillage is any tillage that leaves at least 30% residue after planting while a windbreak is a row of trees or shrubs that reduce the force of wind. In conjunction, both practices have helped prevent wind and water erosion, which also aids in protecting water quality across the state. Despite their interest in conservation and protecting water quality throughout the state, MAWQCP was never on the Hendricksons’ radar until the Wilkin Soil and Water Conservation District introduced it.
“The district manager at the time presented the program to us saying it would be a great fit for our farm and conservation mindsets,” Pam explained. “We are fortunate enough to live in an area where the water table is high, but we also know that is both a precious and limited resource.”
During their first water quality certification period, Pam and Rick became interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and enrolled their tillable acres into it in 2008. The program is a voluntary one administered by the Farm Service Agency in which agriculture producers convert their sensitive acres into vegetative cover for either 10 or 15 years for an annual payment. This cover typically consists of native grasses and trees which prevent erosion and improve water quality while also promoting wildlife habitat. Hendrickson's first enrollment period ended in 2019, and they decided to re-enroll their acres the following year. The choice has proven to be beneficial as the area - and most of the state - experiences periodic dry spells.
“The dry cycles are the biggest change we’ve seen on our farm but have managed to add some pollinators into our CRP practice,” Pam said. “In the future, we would like to explore a rain garden or a pond to add in more habitat features.”
Looking back, Rick and Pam appreciated the introduction to MAWQCP and are proud of the journey the program has led them down. Overall, the Henricksons’ current management of their CRP land, or conservation cover through MAWQCP, results in the conservation of natural resources within Wilkin County, where water quality is protected and erosion is reduced.
“It may not be for everyone, but I believe that the educational aspect of knowing what is available as well as its benefits are significant,” Pam said.
Posted In: MAWQCP
