Hockert family farm is located in rural Frazee

Tim Hockett and his family have joined the rising number of producers becoming water quality certified through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP). This voluntary program certifies producers using conservation-minded practices to protect water quality by requiring an in-depth examination of field characteristics, crop rotation, tillage, nutrients, and pesticide management techniques, depending on the type of operation. 

The Hockett’s combination of rented and owned pasture, hay, and row crops totaling approximately 1,200 acres, achieved certification status in August, accompanying over one million certified acres within the program, all working to protect water quality and reduce soil erosion throughout the state.

“The certification process has been a nice guide to help us create a better farm,” Tim’s wife, Tanya, explained. “We were already doing a lot of the practices, but the guidelines we received have helped us expand on them and become better conservationists.”

Tim and his family are the fourth and fifth generations to manage the family farm, who officially took over the cattle herd from Tim’s father in 2021. Tim’s great-grandfather began handing aspects of the ongoing management style down in 1929, meaning the farming operation itself is now four years shy of becoming a century old—making the certification achievement a little more special.

Currently, the Hocketts utilize the rotation of alfalfa-grass hay pastures to raise 120 head of cattle. Eventually, some of the pastureland acres transition to an oat production cycle for three years before being seeded back to hay. The family practices conservation tillage (a minimal soil disturbance practice) and plants a cereal rye cover crop during this duration to help prevent soil erosion and to protect the surrounding water quality.

“People tend to take a lot from the environment without giving back,” Tim said. “And if we don’t give it back, we will not have those same resources down the road.”

For the Hocketts, their environmental contributions take the form of establishing a prescribed grazing system, besides practicing conservation tillage and cover crops, which will help the family establish better pastures while also improving their herd’s health. By definition, prescribed grazing involves moving livestock to different units of pasture to encourage recovery of the previously grazed vegetation. This management system also controls access to sensitive areas, such as wetlands and shorelines, and provides alternative sources for livestock to access water to prevent soil erosion and promote water quality.

“Many people do not understand the agricultural or residential chain of events that can lead to environmental harm to our soil and water,” Tanya said. “But the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program does a great job preventing those harms and teaches producers what they can do to help the environment.”

Overall, the Hockett’s current management practices on their farming operation result in the conservation of natural resources within Otter Tail County, where water quality is protected, and soil erosion is reduced. 

For more information about MAWQCP, contact the East Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation office at (218) 346-9105 or visit their website: www.eotswcd.org.