The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) works statewide on nitrate monitoring and reduction of nitrate leaching. We pay particular attention to areas of the state with vulnerable groundwater. The MDA’s goal is to work together with the ag community to respond to and address localized concerns about elevated levels of nitrate in groundwater. This presentation will provide an update on implementation of the Groundwater Protection Rule and highlight voluntary efforts such as partnerships with ag retailers, working with the University of Minnesota and soil and water conservation districts (SWCD), and support for research, water quality monitoring, on-farm demonstrations, and conservation practice implementation.

Speaker: Margaret Wagner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Biography: Margaret Wagner is the manager of the Non-Point Fertilizer Section at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). In this role, she oversees programs related to nitrogen fertilizer and nutrient management and is responsible for regulatory and non-regulatory programs including implementation of the Groundwater Protection Rule and on-farm research and demonstration projects funded through Minnesota’s Clean Water Fund. She leads a technical team at the MDA and manages 25 staff statewide. Margaret has experience working with farmers, crop advisers, and researchers as well as the state legislature. Partnerships and collaboration are at the core of her work and instrumental to her approach to problem solving. Margaret has over fifteen years of experience working in agriculture and water resources. She earned a BS in Environmental Science from Colorado College and MS in Agronomy from the University of Minnesota.