Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen is defending the state’s Water Quality Certification Program following a recent audit. Petersen says participation in the voluntary program continues to grow and that farmers have implemented conservation practices on more than one million acres. “The program’s been incredibly successful,” Petersen told RRFN. “We see 1,900 farmers have enrolled in that program in the time we’ve had over a million acres.” Petersen said another 500 farmers are in the process of becoming certified. “This is one-of-one program that no other state has. Other states are looking at replicating it, but it’s really the only program that recognizes voluntary programs and practices that farmers are putting on the landscape.”
