Minnesota Milk Producers Association (MMPA)
www.mnmilk.org

About the organization
We are the trade association for Minnesota Dairy Farmers. Our activities include dairy development programs, producer education, and policymaker education.

Respondent: Robert Lefebvre, executive director

How important to you is the river or stream nearest your home, and why?
It is an important wildlife habitat corridor.

How can citizens find out about the condition of the river nearest their homes or communities?
A good starting point is their local SWCD. [Soil and Water Conservation District]

What can homeowners do to make their land and property more river friendly? What can farmers do? Business owners?
Homeowners: Reduce amount of fertilizer spread on lawns and respect individual property rights for those along or near rivers.

Farmers have done an outstanding job of respecting rivers and streams as more information has become available. Farmers apply plant specific nutrients to the soil at rates that are not harmful to the environment. Farmers also respect river environment by placing nutrients away from surface water. These nutrients include animal nutrients. Farmers are also helping the environment through technology advances in pesticides. Smaller amounts of pesticides are being used today. Dairy producers do an excellent job of protecting our rivers. Our cows eat alfalfa. Alfalfa is one of the best examples of a sustainable resource and buffer strip.

What are the most important actions citizens can take to help clean up Minnesota's rivers?
First and foremost citizens have the biggest impact by taking care of their own immediate environment. Reduce pesticides and fertilizer on their own lawns and fields.

What are policymakers doing to enhance the current and future health of Minnesota's rivers? What should they be doing?
This year policymakers in MN limited the amount of phosphorus in lawn fertilizers. These fertilizers are strictly used for beautification. At the same time they respect the need for farmers to provide food for citizens and understand that proper fertilizer rates for food production are necessary. However, more must be done and that is why producers allow a buffer of fertilizer application to surface water.

How important is the development of a land-use plan in the watersheds that feed our rivers? Do you have a land-use plan?
Land use planning is extremely important. Economic development must be a factor when determining a land use plan. For example, for every dollar a dairy farmer receives for milk gets turned eight times in the community.

What programs are available—and are more needed—to educate and inform citizens, river users, river property owners, and policymakers about river issues?
Minnesota Milk Producers Association has an Environmental Quality Assurance pilot program available to dairy farmers. The program is partially funded through the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR).