Conservation

Investing in Farmers’ Responsible Land Management Practices
Important funding has been allocated to partner with farmers in the Maumee River Watershed to continue expanding best practices focused on proactive conservation solutions to address the state’s water quality. Steps are being taken to increase the reach of programs like Blanchard River Demonstration Farms Network and H2Ohio to invest in these practices in every corner of the state.

Here are some ways we have worked to support conservation.

Ohio’s top conservation farmers honored

The five families honored were the Rethmel family, Todd and Melissa Miller, Julius (Jules) and Jodee Verhovec, Brent and Jenna Clark and the Wickerham family.

Part of the water quality solution in Mercer County

Gary Mescher and other farmers have not only learned, but implemented Nutrient Management Plan practices that now serve as models for how to manage agricultural runoff in the Western Lake Erie Basin.

Forecast for 2023 Lake Erie algal bloom released

The 2023 algal bloom is expected to have a low severity index of 3, according to the final NOAA forecast.

Ohio 2023 Water Quality Status Report released

The report highlights how the improvement of nutrient management in Grand Lake St. Marys is promising for what can be accomplished in other areas of Ohio.

State of the Science Report: Ohio’s Agriculture in a Changing Climate

This edition explores the challenges faced by Ohio agriculture due to changing weather patterns and climate.

Over 2,000 farmers participating in program to improve Ohio water quality

Over 2,000 northwest Ohio farmers have become involved in the OACI certification program since its rollout in early 2020.

Ohio EPA releases draft TMDL for Maumee watershed

The implementation of the Maumee River Watershed TMDL is still months away, as Ohio EPA finalizes its version of the proposal.

Videos highlight subsurface nutrient placement

Several farmers in northwest Ohio are using funding from the H2Ohio water quality initiative to implement subsurface nutrient placement on their farms.

Ohio’s top conservation farmers honored

The Ohio Department of Agriculture recognized five families as winners of the 2022 Conservation Farm Family Awards at the Farm Science Review in London.

Too much progress on water quality to ignore

Adam Sharp, Ohio Farm Bureau executive vice president, sent the following letter to the editor to The Toledo Blade in response to the Blade Editorial Board’s opinion piece, “Plan to protect Lake Erie needs teeth.”