Watertown Council Bets on Row Crops to Triple Airport Revenue Despite Wildlife Concerns
- Steve Jurrens
- Mar 3
- 3 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - In a strategic move aimed at tapping into “non-traditional” revenue streams, the Watertown City Council on Monday night unanimously approved a new agricultural lease for the Watertown Regional Airport.
The two-year agreement with Lyle Bothe (dba LNJ Farms and Ranch) will transition approximately 732 acres of airport property from simple haying to active row crop cultivation, a shift expected to increase revenue substantially.
Airport Director Ian Merriweather laid out the financial rationale for the transition, noting that the move is part of a broader effort to maximize the city’s assets.
“It’s part of my job to look for non-traditional sources of revenue, and farming operations will definitely bring in much-needed revenue,” Merriweather explained. “We’re estimating about $122,000 with this setup as opposed to the $46,000 that we currently receive for haying.”
Under the new terms, the city will receive $200 per tillable acre for roughly 500 acres and $95 per hay acre for the remaining 232 acres, for a total annual rent of $122,040.
The “Farm Kid” Skepticism: Revenue vs. “Rascals”
The debate over the lease quickly turned technical as council members weighed the financial windfall against the high-stakes safety risks of managing wildlife on an active airfield. Councilman Lynn Jurrens, drawing on his own background, was quick to challenge the feasibility of keeping hungry animals away from the runways.
“Bringing food in proximity to a runway is an interesting concept,” Jurrens remarked. He warned that the aftermath of a harvest is a magnet for birds: “Flock after flock after flock is what us waterfowl hunters would hope for. You can’t get all the crop off after they’ve combined it.”
Jurrens specifically highlighted the difficulty of managing Canadian geese, describing them as “rascals all around the country” that do not easily deter.
The 24-Hour Rule and Active Defense
Merriweather countered that the lease isn’t a “free-for-all” for the farmer and includes strict safety protocols mandated by the FAA. Most notably, the contract includes a “24-hour rule” requiring the tenant to remove all potential food sources within one day of harvesting.
When Jurrens pressed for details on how the airport would handle the wildlife that inevitably arrives, the exchange became a dive into aviation safety tactics.
· Jurrens: “What are your hazing techniques? Because pyrotechnics don’t work.”
· Merriweather: “Everything from pyros to physical hazing to firearms. We have a depredation permit that we apply for every year... It’s active, it’s not reactive, and we’re constantly out hazing.”
The Director also noted that tall row crops remain prohibited to prevent providing cover for larger animals like deer.
Managing Ground-Level Hazards
The discussion wasn’t limited to the air. Jurrens inquired about the “big black mounds” created by pocket gophers, asking if the airport team utilized propane to manage them. Merriweather explained that the farming operation actually provides a long-term solution to ground pests such as gophers and squirrels.
The agreement allows LNJ Farms to “disc up and help us regrade that area,” which effectively destroys existing burrows and ensures a more stable, safer Runway Safety Area (RSA).
The Ultimate “Kill Switch”
Recognizing the inherent risks of the transition, Merriweather assured the council that the city maintains total control over the operation.
“If it does get to a point where I deem it to be unsafe, which it won’t, but then we’ll just go back to haying,” Merriweather confirmed.
City Manager Alan Stager added that the Airport Board and the Airport Manager retain final determination on which crops can be planted and in which seasons. Furthermore, at the conclusion of any row crop farming, the tenant is contractually required to restore hay grasses to the entire property.
Despite his questioning of the logistics, Jurrens ultimately signaled his approval of the project’s fiscal outcome, stating, “I love the revenue.” Following the debate, the council voted to move forward with the lease, marking a new, more lucrative era for the airport’s surrounding acreage.