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A new pocket of prairie habitat is taking root at Jefferson Elementary School in Faribault, creating a space where students, pollinators, and the community can grow together.

The transition from conventional tillage to strip till or no till can resemble the seven stages of grief as farmers work through the emotional and management changes that come with reducing tillage.

Soil health practices are increasing in Rice County, including the planting of cover crops on about 10,000 acres and no-till/strip-till on about 8000 acres.

This spring, more than 800 third-grade students throughout Rice County had the opportunity to learn about pollinators, native plants, and prairie habitat through the Rice Soil & Water Conservation District’s (SWCD) Pocket of Prairie Program. Now in its fourth year, the program continues to connect students with hands-on conservation education while encouraging families to create small pollinator-friendly spaces at home and at school.

Students from across southeastern Minnesota gathered this spring at the Byron Sportsmen & Conservation Club near Byron, Minnesota to compete in the annual Southeast Minnesota Envirothon.

Before deciding to excavate seasonally flooded areas to create a wetland, consider managing it with native plants to create a biodiverse habitat crucial for migrating species, amphibians, and other local wildlife!

Learn about the differences between southern lakes and northern lakes in Minnesota.

People concerned about water quality and soil health in Rice County should consider filing by June 2, 2026, to run for the position of supervisor of the Rice Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).

Farmers in Rice and Steele counties are finding that using less nitrogen fertilizer may still deliver solid corn yields—while improving profitability and environmental outcomes.

Planting a diverse mix of trees to replace those lost by emerald ash borer is key to protect our woodlands and forests.

The Rice Soil and Water Conservation District has selected Alan and Andrew Meyer as the 2025 Outstanding Conservationists for Rice County.

If you are looking for more ways to help wildlife that may be passing through your yard this winter, look no further! Here are some methods that you can use to contribute to a healthy wildlife population in your local community.

When projects are being completed by the Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS) or the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), there is a process to deciding on the type of structure that should be designed for a site.

Local organizations partner with farmers in the Rice Creek Watershed to study how cover crops affect nitrogen management and water quality.

For many people, fall is their favorite time of the year. The leaves are starting to change, the temperature has dropped, and you can open up the windows to let the fresh air in. Driving across Rice County’s beautiful countryside, one of the first things you will notice is that our farmers are out in the field, operating the combine, tractor, and truck, working long into the night. To our farmers and your families, we wish you a safe and bountiful harvest. As you are working

The Minnesota Buffer Law was put into law in 2015 to promote healthy bodies of water in Minnesota. Perennial vegetative buffers have been shown to improve many different aspects of water quality. Buffers, also known as riparian filter strips, aid in filtering out nutrients and sediment from runoff, as well as provide bank stability and habitat for aquatic life.

St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) reminds farmers and commercial applicators that fall nitrogen fertilizer applications are restricted in some areas of the state. Under the MDA’s Groundwater Protection Rule, fall nitrogen fertilizer application is prohibited in vulnerable areas of Minnesota based on environmental concerns or risks.

Local study finds nitrogen-rich cereal rye could help reduce fertilizer needs This spring, farmers from Rice and Steele counties joined forces to better understand the nutrient value of cover crops—specifically cereal rye—on their fields. With support from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the University of Minnesota Extension, the Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Rice and Steele counties collected biomass samples from ten fields to assess the levels of n

The Rice Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) collaborated with several organizations to bring the joy of planting prairie to around 800 third-grade students across Rice County as part of its expanding Pocket of Prairie Program. Originally launched in 2023, the program is a hands-on conservation education effort designed to teach children the importance of native prairies and pollinators.