Beyond the Dirt

We sit down with folks from the Upper Mississippi River Basin Initiative (UMRBI) and talk about the success of Howard County.

Today we sit down with Brian Hrdlicka, who wears many hats all at once. Brian is currently the Howard SWCD Commissioner Chairman, Agronomist at Farmers Winn Coop and actively farms. We go through the many benefits of being actively involved in all threes roles and what he has learned over the years!

Take a listen to the most all encompassing programs we have to offer. From soil testing, to cover crops, to tillage management there is a avenue for everyone!

What does it take to be successful not only in the conservation career field but life in general? The man, the myth, the legend, Neil "Dirt Cop" Shaffer adds his thoughts on how became successful and looks for potential conservationists.

Let us share our wealth of knowledge on the topic of Grassed Waterways. From identifying the gully, to surveying, to constructing and eliminating all that soil loss! You will be the grassed waterway expert after listening in to this exciting episode!

What is the secret sauce to conservation success? Well we may not have all the answers but one simple start is getting involved within your community and volunteer groups. Get your name out there and learn every single day. God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason. Go get 'em!

Meet our newest addition to the Howard SWCD team! Riley is a Cresco native and brings a great deal of technical knowledge, he even knows and understands conservation practices!

This week is all about the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Don't get lost in all the codes but find yourself at your habitat destination! Stay in tuned through the entirety of the episode as we go through specific examples at the end!

Tim Sadler, Finishing Supervisor for Reicks View Farms, sits down with us to discuss what he does at Reicks View Farms and how his experiences led him to the successful position he is in now. We have had the opportunity to help Tim first hand within his barns to witness what is required to sustain a profitable swine market.

Hear about how Native Brook Trout have been re-introduced into Silver Creek Watershed and the steps leading up to this success story!

Learn about one of the most successful watershed projects in the state and maybe in the nation!

We've talked about the watershed projects here in Howard County, now you will know the nitty gritty of the Turkey River Headwaters project!

Let's talk about how we can help our cattle farmers and give them the optimal package for their operation.

Neil & Hunter take a "deep dive" into the streams of Howard County and how we try to improve our water bodies. After many projects have been completed Silver Creek is able to sustain a natural reproducing population of Brook Trout.

We are getting down and dirty into the details of what we do here in Howard County and the whole spectrum of cover crops!