The Ohio Department of Agriculture recently reported that it continues to see strong interest from agricultural producers who want to participate in the H2Ohio.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture recently reported that it continues to see strong interest from agricultural producers who want to participate in the H2Ohio.
Over the past year, agriculture has realized numerous successes in Gov. Mike DeWine’s water quality initiative, with over a million acres of farmland impacted.
With the passage of Ohio’s biennium budget for fiscal years 2022 and 2023, ODA plans to dedicate nearly $60 million annually toward the H2Ohio initiative over the next two years. ODA will continue the program in the originally targeted 14 counties of the Maumee River Watershed and has expanded the program to the remaining 10 counties in the Western Lake Erie Basin.
ODA will continue to offer seven best management practices aimed at reducing nutrient loss from cropland through better nutrient management, erosion management and water management. The first year of H2Ohio enrollees are wrapping up their growing seasons with the first round of those practices. Preventing the over-application of nutrients and then keeping those nutrients on the land is critical.
Also in this last year, the Department of Natural Resources began work on another 33 wetland projects totaling 5,052 acres. These projects are located throughout Ohio though the majority of them are based in the Western Lake Erie Basin, which means more the water from more land in the watershed will be slowed down and filtered through these additional wetlands. Fewer nutrients will end up in Lake Erie and other water bodies. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is also working on water and sewer projects.
ODA also reported that it will also launch a statewide watershed management program, created through the passage of House Bill 7 in 2020. This new watershed management program will assess water quality concerns at the regional level throughout the state and identify management practices to protect watersheds and improve water quality in areas of impairment.
A group of 11 ag coalition partners, including Ohio Farm Bureau, has its own counsel and will be advocating, accurately representing agriculture and what is actually happening in Ohio in terms of water quality.
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With this action, the agricultural organizations are rising to the defense of Ohio farmers, who have long been a legal target of the ELPC, an anti-agriculture activist group.
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This year marks the 10 year anniversary of the Toledo water crisis. Here is a Top 10 list of water quality stories that shine a light on the progress Ohio’s agriculture community is making.
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Learn about farmers’ best management efforts for water quality and hear from a Lake Erie charter captain about what he is seeing on the lake when it comes to algal blooms and the fishing industry.
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The mainly wet weather pattern in early spring caused the flow of water systems within the Western Lake Erie Basin to be above normal, creating what is considered a ‘mildly severe’ algal bloom forecast by NOAA.
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The report showcases the impacts being made by Ohio farmers who are taking measures to ensure clean water through voluntary efforts that are being done on a large scale with measurable results.
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The Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan has been updated to give sole proprietors access to more rate stability and a smart solution that offers potential savings on health care.
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An op-ed was submitted to the Toledo Blade by Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Adam Sharp and multiple Ohio agriculture leaders in response to several recent attacks on Ohio agriculture.
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ODA will enroll 500,000 acres into the program during a sign-up period ending Friday, May 31, 2024. Contact local SWCD offices to apply.
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The survey results establish a baseline of adoption for various farming practices in the Sandusky watershed.
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