I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Agriculture Water Quality

2. Course Prefix & Number:
AGRO 1116

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 2

Lecture Hours: 2

4. Course Description:

This course introduces students to the different aspects of agricultural water quality. This course will focus on the various dynamics of nutrient, chemical, and sediment losses. Through this course students will learn about the diverse relationship between Federal, State, and Local Government on the monitoring, regulating, and educating on agricultural losses.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

No placement tests required

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

AWM102 Conservation Practice Systems II – 3 Credits – Lincoln Land Community College, AGRY 12500 Environmental Science and Conservation – 3 Credits – Purdue University

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Agronomy Program

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate written communication skills	Write an in-depth report on the role of a government agency (Federal, state, or local) in agriculture.
Utilize appropriate technology	Identify tools or applications used to measure and monitor water quality and nutrient losses.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Recall the role of federal, state and local governments in protecting water quality;
• Document best management practices (BMP’s) for protecting natural resources;
• Explain the 5 principles of soil health;
• Categorize how individual nutrients move in the soil and loss pathways;
• Compare conservation practice to achieve nutrient reduction goal; and
• Demonstrate understanding of the role CLC Ag and Energy Center Farm plays in water quality research.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. State and Federal Laws
• Federal  
• Environmental Protection Agency role in agriculture
• Laws/rules that affect production agriculture
• State
• MN Buffer Law
• Nitrogen Fertilizer Rule & Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan
• Feedlot permitting
• Water appropriation permits
2. Nutrient Movement
• Nutrient loss pathways
• Erosion
• Leaching
• Tile Drainage
• Nutrient mobility
• Formation of a nutrient's affect on movement
• Major loss forms for each nutrient
• Soil type affects on erosion and leaching potentials
• Conservation practices that reduce nutrient losses
3. Nutrient Reduction Strategy
• Reasons for the nutrient reduction strategy
• Gulf of Mexico hypoxia zone
• Algae blooms in Minnesota Lakes
• Define effects of excess nutrients on wildlife
• Goals of the reduction strategy
• Timeline and cost of meeting goals
4. Government Agency Roles
• Federal Agencies
• United States Department of Agriculture
• Farm Service Agency
• Farm data reporting
• Handle relief programs
• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
• Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Environmental Quality Incentive Program
• Conservation Stewardship Program
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Crop Insurance
• Enrollment may affect management strategies/limitations (cover crops)
• State Level Agencies/Resources
• Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Controls fertilizer regulations
• Provides low interest loans for BMP’s
• Minnesota Department of Health
• Set state standards of drinking water
• Monitors the quality of city drinking water
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Administers the 7020 feedlot rules
• Monitors surface water quality
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• Monitor Quantity of Water Resources
• Protects wildlife
• University Institutions
• Perform research and guide BMP’s
• Local Units of Government
• Soil and Water Conservation Districts
• Administers state cost-share program to protect natural resources
• Works locally to promote BMP’s and protect natural resources
• Provides technical assistance to landowners
• Watershed Districts
• County Government
5. Standards and Measurements
• Health assessment risk limits for nutrients/chemicals
• Measurement tools and how they work
• Lysimeter
• Secchi Disk
• Observation Wells (Quality & Quantity)
• Erosion tool predictors (RUSLE2/WEPS)
6. Soil Health
• Soil health affects on water quality
• Five principles of soil health
• Soil Armor
• Minimizing Soil Disturbance
• Plant Diversity
• Continual Live Plant/Root
• Livestock Integration
7. MN Ag Water Quality Certification Program
• Producers benefit by becoming certified
• Process of how to become certified
• CLC Ag and Energy Center Farm’s certification