Stewardship Programs
Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program
The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) is a program offered in partnership between the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and our local Soil & Water Conservation Districts.
The program assists and recognizes producers who are managing their operations in a way that protects and preserves our soil, water, and air resources. The benefits of being certified through the program include:
- Regulatory certainty: certified producers are deemed to be in compliance with any new State water quality rules or laws during the period of certification
- Recognition: certified producers may use their status to promote their business as protective of water quality
- Priority for technical assistance: producers seeking certification can obtain specially designated technical and financial assistance to implement practices that promote water quality
The public benefits through the assurance that certified producers are working to protect our resources.
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) offers producers an annual payment based on the level of stewardship they are performing on their land. It is administered through the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) encourages landowners to retire their land in highly sensitive areas for a period of 10 to 15 years. This land is often planted in to native grasses or trees, depending on the local resource concerns. It is administered through the USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) offers financial assistance to producers who want to implement farming practices that have positive environmental benefits. This program is administered through the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS).
Walk-in Access Program
Do you own land that is enrolled in a conservation program or has high-quality natural cover?
You may be eligible to enroll in the Walk-In Access (WIA) program. This program provides an opportunity for public hunting on private land. Here is some information about the program:
- It is voluntary for land-owners.
- Property is usually enrolled for two or three years.
- Landowners receive a payment on a per-acre basis.
- Enrolled lands are covered under the Minnesota recreational use laws that limit landowners' liability if an accident were to occur.
- Landowners, or the State, may terminate the contract at any time (effective 30 days after written notice of termination is received).
