Once a month, Ohio Farm Bureau will highlight a water quality project from around the state on #WaterWednesday. Check in throughout the day or follow us on Instagram, @OhioFarmBureau.

This month’s Water Wednesday is highlighting OFBF’s Water Quality Grant Program which has awarded $350,000 to Ohio counties and garnered over $550,000 matched by outside companies in the last two years. The grant program was recently honored with the American Farm Bureau New Horizon Award which recognizes new and innovative state farm bureau programs. Pictured left is OFBF President Frank Burkett with OFBF executive vice president Adam Sharp. Pictured right is Burkett receiving the award from AFBF president Zippy Duvall. OFBF is pleased to announce the kick-off of the third year of water quality grants. If you are interested in teaming up with your county farm bureau on a water quality project please contact a representative in your area. Contact information can be found at ofbf.org/counties. — OFBF’s Water Quality Grant Program is today’s highlight on #WaterWednesday. — #ohio #farm #farmer #farmlife #farm365 #ag #agriculture #ohiofarm #ohiofarmer #ohioag #ohioagriculture #ohiofarmlife #ohiofarm365 #ohiogram #ohioexplored #ourohio #water #WOTUS #ohiowater

A photo posted by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (@ohiofarmbureau) on Jan 11, 2017 at 6:23am PST

Many projects over the last two years of water quality grants have provided farmers with better access to conservation practices on their farms. County Farm Bureaus teamed up with 32 different Soil and Water Conservation Districts to offer cover crop installation equipment, wetland projects, and water run-off testing just to name a few. If you are interested in teaming up with your local Farm Bureau contact information can be found at ofbf.org/counties. — OFBF’s Water Quality Grant Program is today’s highlight on #WaterWednesday. — #ohio #farm #farmer #farmlife #farm365 #ag #agriculture #ohiofarm #ohiofarmer #ohioag #ohioagriculture #ohiofarmlife #ohiofarm365 #ohiogram #ohioexplored #ourohio #water #WOTUS #ohiowater

A photo posted by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (@ohiofarmbureau) on Jan 11, 2017 at 7:23am PST

A key component of water and nutrient management projects are providing funding for new technology to help evolve the way farmers are operating. Projects have ranged from creating a smart phone app to record fertilizer and manure application to using advanced soil scan technologies to develop nutrient management plans to building new toolbars for farmers to apply manure and fertilizer in ways that significantly decrease nutrient loss. If you have an idea of a new water or nutrient management technology and are looking for grant funding, look up your local farm bureau at ofbf.org/counties. — OFBF’s Water Quality Grant Program is today’s highlight on #WaterWednesday. — #ohio #farm #farmer #farmlife #farm365 #ag #agriculture #ohiofarm #ohiofarmer #ohioag #ohioagriculture #ohiofarmlife #ohiofarm365 #ohiogram #ohioexplored #ourohio #water #WOTUS #ohiowater

A photo posted by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (@ohiofarmbureau) on Jan 11, 2017 at 8:12am PST

On-farm outreach is a huge tool farmers can use to educate their fellow citizens on what is going on at their operation. Many counties used their water grants to provide a variety of tours and educational sessions at low or no cost. Billboards and free informative booklets were used by some counties to get the word out on what their farmers are doing for water quality. If you have an outreach opportunity and want to partner with your local Farm Bureau please visit ofbf.org/counties to find contact information on your county Farm Bureau representative. — OFBF’s Water Quality Grant Program is today's highlight on #WaterWednesday. — #ohio #farm #farmer #farmlife #farm365 #ag #agriculture #ohiofarm #ohiofarmer #ohioag #ohioagriculture #ohiofarmlife #ohiofarm365 #ohiogram #ohioexplored #ourohio #water #WOTUS #ohiowater

A photo posted by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (@ohiofarmbureau) on Jan 11, 2017 at 10:36am PST