Heidi Peterson Email and Phone Number

Provide strategy visioning, staff oversight, and financial management for the foundation’s agricultural conservation division.Identify, develop, and fundraise for collaborative research and demonstration projects, directly engaging agricultural producers and industry.Develop and foster relationships with corporate, government, academic and other agricultural-based partners. Maintain positive interactions and communication with Board of Directors.

Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems EngineeringMember of the Department Advisory Board

Represent the agricultural industry on national and international technical advisory committees.Promote and advance the adoption of agricultural sustainability metrics.Manage 4R nutrient stewardship research projects to ensure project deliverables are within scope, budget and timeline while following scientific protocol.Disseminate scientific information to advance the science of sustainable plant nutrition through invited presentations, peer-reviewed journal articles, industry magazines, technical reports, and other outreach publications.

Managed and implemented Clean Water Funds (CWF) research and demonstration projects (approx. $4.8 million, biannually).Developed, strategized and proposed new legislative initiatives including successfully implemented Nutrient Management Initiative and Vegetative Cover and Soil Health Initiative.Served as a technical expert on the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) to address impaired waters issues in agricultural landscapes. Provided technical assistance and review of scientific products developed in accordance with the Minnesota Water Quality Framework. Chaired the Interagency Research Team and participated on Minnesota Water Resources Digital Library Steering Committee, Interagency Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy Implementation Team (WRAPs), Statewide Soil Health Team, NRCS watershed sub-committee co-chair, and MN Drainage Management Team.

SOIL 440 - Soil and Water ConservationSOIL 120 - Introduction to Soil Science

Quantifying the upstream flux of phosphorus to Minnesota’s Twin Cities urban food-shed.Watershed phosphorus balances as a tool for water quality (TMDL) planning.