DNR seeks designs for Minnesota's 2014 pheasant stamp

Wildlife artists can submit entries for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) 2014 pheasant stamp contest from Monday, Sept. 9, until 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20.

Artists are prohibited from using any photographic product as part of their finished entries. Any entry that contains photographic products will be disqualified.

Entries will be accepted via mail and in person at DNR headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road,  St. Paul. Mailed entries should be addressed to 2013 Pheasant Stamp Contest, DNRFish and Wildlife Division, Box 20, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4020.

Designs should be securely wrapped and enclosed in an envelope or other container. The words “Pheasant Stamp” should be clearly marked on outside of the container. Late entries will not be accepted.

The contest, which offers no prizes, is open to Minnesota residents only. Winning artists usually issue limited edition prints of the artwork and retain proceeds. Revenue from stamp sales is dedicated to pheasant management-related activities.

A contest entry form and reproduction rights agreement, which grants the DNR the right to use the design for the stamp image and other promotional, educational and informational purposes related to waterfowl, must be signed and submitted with the design.

Judging is at 2 p.m.Thursday, Sept. 26, at DNR headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul.

Complete contest criteria and information are available from the DNR Information Center, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155, and online at www.mndnr.gov/contests.

Revised Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan Draft Released for Public Comment

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The MinnesotaDepartment of Agriculture (MDA) released a draft revision of the Minnesota’s Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan (NFMP) for public comment today. The NFMP is the state’s blueprint for prevention or minimization of the impacts of nitrogen fertilizer on groundwater.

In 2010, MDA began the revision process to reflect current activities, interagency water protection programs and implementation work, and to better align it with current water resource conditions and programs. MDAconvened a multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee and conducted a detailed analysis of issues related to nitrates in groundwater. The revisions were based primarily on input from the Committee with consideration for past NFMP implementation experience, input from related programs, increased knowledge about occurrences of elevated nitrate in groundwater, and advances in agricultural technology and management practices.

The revised NFMP includes the following:

1. An emphasis on prevention of groundwater contamination by promoting fertilizer Best Management Practices (BMPs) and other beneficial practices;
2. Extensive testing of private wells in areas with row crop agriculture and vulnerable groundwater;
3. A new phased approach to assessing and prioritizing areas with nitrate contamination in groundwater, with guidance for determining each phase;
4. An emphasis on involving local farmers and communities in problem solving for local groundwater concerns; and,
5. Consideration of alternative land management and cropping practices in highly vulnerable areas.

To assist the public in understanding these issues and the NFMP, MDA will be hosting a series of public meetings across the state during the month of September. Locations and times of the meetings, the revised plan, and other supporting information will be posted on the MDAwebsite: www.mda.state.mn.us

The public comment period will end November 1, 2013.