The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources will offer $3.22 million in grants to the state’s soil and water conservation districts to support soil health practices, according to the board. The Soil Health Delivery Funds support conservation practices such as no-till farming, planting cover crops and rotational grazing, which the board said can improve crop productivity and help farms withstand severe weather. BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said in a statement that the funding will help meet landowners’ needs. “This funding will help SWCD staff meet the unique needs of landowners who want to integrate soil health practices into their farming operations. Giving farmers the support they need to protect drinking water sources and adapt to our changing climate is an essential element of achieving large-scale conservation and productivity benefits in the long run,” Jaschke said. BWSR is engaging all Minnesota soil and water conservation districts in a Request for Interest process that opened Monday and closes Oct. 15 to help refine funding needs within each county, according to the board. The board said it has previously awarded more than $57 million in soil health funds in collaboration with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to support an accelerated soil health initiative, which funds local outreach, education, technical assistance and conservation practice implementation.