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Landowners are starting to receive the results of what’s in their well water, thanks to the efforts of Ohio Farm Bureau. Last year OFBF announced it was offering free well water testing for members as part of its ongoing Water Quality Action Plan, which has invested $2.3 million of member dues to find ways to improve water quality statewide.

Each county Farm Bureau received 25 well water testing kits to be sent to Heidelberg University’s National Center for Water Quality Research for nitrate analysis. Ohio Farm Bureau is paying the cost of the nitrate analysis, which is $25 per sample. Testing for pesticides and metals was made available at an additional cost to landowners.

The timeline for the program was extended to the end of April to ensure the laboratory could analyze the samples in a timely manner. As of press time, almost a third of county Farm Bureaus had completed pre-registration and sent sample kits to landowners.

Experts recommend wells be tested if they are more than 20 years old, were dug rather than drilled, soil is sandy, a chemical spill happened nearby or they are near cropland, feedlots, landfills or industrial sites.

“We are having people not only do the nitrate testing but pesticide and metal testing at their own cost and some are doing it on multiple locations on their property. We’re getting good participation in this program, which provides the rural homeowner the opportunity to find out the quality of their drinking water,” said Larry Antosch, OFBF’s senior director of policy development and environmental policy.
He noted that the lab results typically take two to three weeks, are mailed directly back to participants and are confidential.

Labor has always been an issue, mainly because we are a seasonal operation. So that's a challenge finding somebody who only wants to work three months out of a year, sometimes up to six months.
Mandy Way's avatar
Mandy Way

Way Farms

Farm Labor Resources
I appreciate the benefit of having a strong voice in my corner. The extras that are included in membership are wonderful, but I'm a member because of the positive impact to my local and state agricultural communities.
Ernie Welch's avatar
Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

Strong communities
I see the value and need to be engaged in the community I live in, to be a part of the decision-making process and to volunteer with organizations that help make our community better.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Leadership development
Farm Bureau involvement has taught me how to grow my professional and leadership experience outside of the workforce and how to do that in a community-centric way.
Jaclyn De Candio's avatar
Jaclyn De Candio

Clark County Farm Bureau

Young Ag Professionals program
With not growing up on a farm, I’d say I was a late bloomer to agriculture. I feel so fortunate that I found the agriculture industry. There are so many opportunities for growth.
Jenna Gregorich's avatar
Jenna Gregorich

Coshocton County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
Jared Hughes's avatar
Jared Hughes

Groovy Plants Ranch

Groovy Plants Ranch
If it wasn't for Farm Bureau, I personally, along with many others, would not have had the opportunity to meet with our representatives face to face in Washington.
Austin Heil's avatar
Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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