The Blanchard River Demonstration Farm Network is a $1 million, five-year project and the first of its kind in Ohio. Three demonstration farms showcase innovative and standard agricultural practices that help reduce and prevent nutrient runoff. Participating farms are Kellogg Farms, Hardin County; Kurt Farms, Hardin County; and Stateler Family Farms, Hancock County. The Blanchard Demonstration Farms Advisory Committee provides guidance to the project.
Amy Beth Graves - April 16, 2018
More than 125 FFA students gathered April 13 in Hancock County for a day of learning about agricultural careers on and off the farm. During the hands-on event, students learned about the financial and environmental challenges farmers face every year as well as the strong demand for workers in the agricultural industry.
In 2015, Ohio Farm Bureau and USDA-NRCS launched a five- year, $1 million partnership to demonstrate on-farm conservation practices to help improve water and nutrient conservation. Over the course of 2017, the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms Network has hosted over 700…
Amy Beth Graves - Nov. 22, 2017
During tours of the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms, project manager Aaron Heilers likes to bring along a mason jar filled with white pellets of commercial fertilizer. It represents the amount of phosphorus — 1 pound — that scientists estimate is…
On Sept. 8, 2017, be the guest of Ohio Farm Bureau on an all expenses paid (lunch included) tour of the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms Network! Tour attendees will learn about existing and new conservation practices implemented on all three farms…
Ten members of Ohio media toured the three farms participating in the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms Network during a Farm Bureau sponsored media tour May 11. The group learned details about the conservation practices being tested in an effort to…
Amy Beth Graves - May 5, 2017
Addressing the challenges that threaten Ohio’s clean water resources is an important priority for the agriculture community. The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) has released its fourth report detailing its efforts to ensure safe and healthy water for the state. The…
Amy Beth Graves - April 17, 2017
Researchers studying different conservation practices at the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms are narrowing their focus to four practices that appear to help reduce nutrient and sediment loss. “It’s too early to say what the results of our demonstration farms’ edge-of-field…
Lynn Snyder - April 6, 2017
Leading edge conservation practices that will positively impact water quality without negatively affecting the farmer’s economic bottom line will be the featured topic at the event hosted by the Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT). Aaron Heilers, project manager, Blanchard…
Amy Beth Graves - March 28, 2017
Ohio Farm Bureau is continuing to work proactively to ensure the state has both clean water and productive farming. Over the past 2½ years, OFBF has invested more than $2 million in its comprehensive Water Quality Action Plan. Farm Bureau…
Amy Beth Graves - March 28, 2017
Spring and summer are prime times for tours at the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms. The three farms in the Western Lake Erie Basin are testing various conservation methods to help reduce nutrient runoff and better protect water quality. The results…
