Extension Addresses Nitrate Water Quality Issues in Southeast Minnesota

Corn acres have more than doubled while hay and pasture acres have plummeted. This change in the agricultural landscape has brought economic benefits for the region and the state, but it is also a big driver of nitrate water quality issues.

University of Minnesota Extension and its partners are working hard on a variety of creative solutions.

What’s the situation in southeast Minnesota?

Many private drinking water wells in the region have high levels of nitrate, which may cause health issues such as cancer. Nitrate is a form of nitrogen, a key nutrient for crops like corn.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 72% of nitrogen lost to waterways in the state comes from agriculture. Farmers apply fertilizers and manure containing nitrogen to fields to help crops flourish, but some of this nitrogen can move into streams and rivers or leach into groundwater. The southeast part of the state is particularly vulnerable to nitrate loss due to its porous Karst geology.

The Southeast Minnesota Nitrate Strategies Collaborative Work Group, established in 2024 by the state of Minnesota, has recently released recommendations on the next steps to take.

These include:

• More living roots in the ground for longer periods.
• Support for alternative crops and land uses.
• Increased implementation of best management practices for nitrogen.
• Education and outreach.