Over the past year, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has started to develop a TMDL for the Maumee River watershed to address algal blooms and the sources of nutrients that attribute to those blooms.
A TMDL, or Total Maximum Daily Load, determines the maximum amount of a given pollutant that can be discharged into a body of water and still allow that water body to meet its water quality goals. One such TMDL is being put together right now by Ohio EPA for a big chunk of northwest Ohio, the Maumee River watershed. On this Our Ohio Weekly, learn more about how TMDLs work and what this new one could mean for Ohio agriculture.
00:00 – Joshua Griffin, Ohio EPA environmental specialist, talks about Ohio’s newest TMDL, the development process and impacts on northwest Ohio.
16:50 – Ohio Farm Bureau’s Sr. Director of Policy Development & Environmental Policy, Dr. Larry Antosch, talks about Farm Bureau’s involvement in the TMDL process and the organization’s overall policy on TMDLs.
23:50 – “To the Beat of Agriculture,” hear from the COO of a family farm in Jeffersonville. Learn about his sister, Gail Betterly and the incredible gift of a Nationwide life insurance policy she left for the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation after her passing.
32:20 – Nothing says “I love you” like a prenuptial agreement, but they are becoming an important piece of farm plans. Ryan Conklin, an attorney with Wright and Moore, explains why he is seeing more of these agreements put in place before the knot is tied.
42:20 – The Farm to School program through Ohio State University Extension has been working with farmers, collaborating with community leaders and connecting students with local food and nutrition education for decades. Farm to School’s program assistant Haley Scott explains what the program is all about.
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
The survey results establish a baseline of adoption for various farming practices in the Sandusky watershed.
Read More
The Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District’s annual Test Your Well Event was free to Greene County Farm Bureau members.
Read More
Ohio Farm Bureau 2024 priority issues focus on business climate, regulatory environment, preserving Ohio’s farming heritage, healthy rural communities, and grassroots advocacy.
Read More
