2025 OACI legislator tour

Ohio legislators took part in a farm tour hosted by the Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative (OACI) to hear firsthand how local farmers are leading the way in conservation and protecting water quality.

Held in Findlay June 9, the tour highlighted three northwest Ohio farms that are implementing science-based conservation practices, demonstrating the real-world impact of the H2Ohio program, a statewide water quality initiative designed to address complex issues impacting Ohio’s waters.

As a proud partner of OACI, Ohio Farm Bureau is committed to advancing science-based solutions that benefit both agriculture and water quality in Ohio.

The farms included on the tour are part of the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms Network, a 10-year, $2 million collaboration between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. The Demonstration Farms aim to help producers find the right combination of practices to reduce nutrient and sediment loss, while considering financial inputs.

Over 30 tour participants witnessed a variety of conservation strategies in action, including cover crops, no-till and strip-till systems, two-stage ditches, land buffers and advanced manure management.

Over the past several years, OACI has worked to benchmark agricultural best practices and establish a framework for voluntary farm certification, all in support of healthy waterways across Ohio. The initiative is focused on understanding current conservation and nutrient management efforts and in encouraging farmer participation through OACI’s certification program.

OACI’s core components of assessment, verification and certification, along with robust research, provide critical tools for evaluating the impacts of farming practices on the state’s waterways and identifying comprehensive solutions to address algal blooms and nutrient reduction to improve Ohio’s water quality.

About OACI

The Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative is a partnership among agriculture, conservation, environmental and research communities to recognize farmers for their dedication to advancing methods that improve water quality in Ohio and increasing the number of best management practices being implemented on farms.

OACI partners include: American Farmland Trust, Environmental Defense Fund, National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University, Ohio AgriBusiness Association, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, Ohio Conservation Federation, Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association, Ohio Dairy Producers Association, Ohio Environmental Council, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Ohio Pork Council, Ohio Poultry Association, Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, Ohio Soybean
Council, The Fertilizer Institute, The Nature Conservancy and The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

New and beginning farmers
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
Greg McGlinch's avatar
Greg McGlinch

Darke County Farm Bureau

Growing Tomorrow Grant
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
Nathan and Jill Parriman's avatar
Nathan and Jill Parriman

Clermont County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
Gretchan Francis's avatar
Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Youth pathways in Farm Bureau
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
Wyatt Morrow's avatar
Wyatt Morrow

Clinton County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Select Partner Program
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
Chad Ruhl's avatar
Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Advocacy
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

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