Minnesota is home to more than 80,800 farms, making it one of the nation's largest agricultural producers. But, miles and miles of corn, beans and grains usually mean an equally large share of agricultural chemicals that could threaten another Minnesota hallmark: its lakes and rivers.
Dr. Jim Anderson is looking for a way to ensure producers can still thrive while finding ways to protect state and national water resources.
Anderson is co-director of the University's Water Resource Center and a professor in the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate.
From an early age, Anderson experienced first-hand the importance of outreach and education, watching his father work as a county extension agent for the University of Wisconsin. That, coupled with an interest in nature, inspired Anderson to attend the UW-Madison and enter the natural resources program.
"I had an interest in landscapes, geology and soils, as well," he says. "I grew up fishing and connected to the outdoors."
Through field work and the advice of a college mentor, he decided to continue his studies at Madison, graduating with a masters and Ph.D. in Soil Genesis, Classification and Morphology.
Following graduation, Anderson moved west to the Twin Cities and took a job as a district soil scientist for the Hennepin Soil and Water Conservation District. There, he worked with sewage treatment plants and even visited the University of Minnesota to give seminars on water quality issues.
After a few visits, the Department offered Anderson a position as an assistant professor to help with an accelerated survey project, aimed at mapping the soil properties of every county in Minnesota. From 1978 to 1984, he worked on that project, gathering information that is still today a useful resource for farmers, engineers and planners.
After a promotion to associate professor in 1985, Anderson was given a three-year assignment to lead the inception of a water quality center. He founded the Center for Agricultural Impacts on Water Quality (CAIWQ) and continues to dedicate himself to projects that promote responsible agricultural management practices.
During the course of his career, Anderson has wet his feet in numerous areas of research. It's something he says keeps his job new and exciting.
"There are a whole variety of things going on," Anderson says. "It's different all the time."
Anderson's continues to work as co-director for the Water Resource Center, uniting the Water Resources Center, the CAIWQ and the Extension Water Quality Program with one common mission.
WRC's current research program is:
- evaluating the impact of controlled drainage to mitigate nutrient loss
- developing and disseminating farmer-led water quality initiatives, estimating the costs and benefits of water quality improvements
- continuing public education programming to increase adoption of best management practices
Anderson says one WRC project includes a regional water impairment program (for WI, IL, MI, IN, OH and MN), looking at bacteria and nutrients in water.
The Water Resource Center involves a broad scope of collaborators, creating what Anderson calls a very interdisciplinary approach to water quality and management issues.
Besides the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, the Departments of Agronomy and Plant Genetics; Applied Economics; Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering; Entomology; and Horticulture all provide expertise in forming best management practices to protect water quality.
Anderson says he likes the leadership qualities he sees in the Department and appreciates the cooperation between the University and state agencies - something not always present at other colleges throughout the U.S.
Minnesotans can be proud of their conservation efforts, Anderson says, but acknowledges that more work must be done to ensure healthy water resources for another generation to enjoy.
"Minnesota stacks up really well," he says. "It's in the top five states in dealing with water issues in general."
Minnesota continues to lead the way thanks to the guidance of researchers like Anderson, who are working to solve environmental issues while still providing tools for producers to be successful.
"The hope is trying to bring a balance between the environment and production," he says.
"I've seen a lot of progress."
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