Search Site   
Current News Stories
Solar eclipse, new moon coming April 8
Mystery illness affecting dairy cattle in Texas Panhandle
Teach others to live sustainably
Gun safety begins early
Hard-cooked eggs recipes great for Easter, anytime
Michigan carrot producers to vote on program continuation
Suggestions to celebrate 50th wedding anniversary
USDA finalizes new ‘Product of the USA’ labeling rule 
U.S. weather outlooks currently favoring early planting season
Weaver Popcorn Hybrids expanding and moving to new facility
Role of women in agriculture changing Hoosier dairy farmer says
   
News Articles
Search News  
   

Some farmers feel left out in Kasich’s fertilizer order

 

By STAN MADDUX

TOLEDO, Ohio — Farmers in northwestern Ohio are targeted by a more aggressive strategy to stop the overgrowth of algae, which has had a serious impact on the water quality of Lake Erie.

The ramped-up approach signed July 11 by Gov. John Kasich comes after steps already taken by farmers were seen by his administration as not enough to reduce phosphorus levels quickly. Approval is still needed from the Ohio Soil and Water Commission for the proposal to take effect.

Under the executive order, eight creeks and rivers in northwestern Ohio would be designated as “distressed watersheds” for being main sources of phosphorus fertilizer and manure entering the lake. Classified as distressed would be the Platter Creek, Little Flat Rock Creek, Little Auglaize River, Eagle Creek, Auglaize River, Blanchard River, St. Marys River and Ottawa River watersheds.

Farmers within the designated watersheds would be required to make any necessary changes on their land to reduce nutrient-rich phosphorus in their runoff. Changes could involve building storage facilities for manure and acquiring machinery that injects fertilizer into the ground.

The Ohio State Department of Agriculture estimates 7,000 farms and 2 million acres will be impacted if the order gains final approval.

Dense growth of algae blooms feeding off phosphorus is blamed for turning water on the west side of the shallowest of the Great Lakes into a pea-soup color during the summer. The spread is also deemed the cause of fish kills, beach closures and two days of contaminated drinking water for more than 400,000 people in the Toledo area during a 2014 outbreak.

During his announcement, Kasich said he thinks the quality of the lake has been improving, but “what we know is there are additional steps we can take to make sure this lake continues to improve.”

He said he signed the executive order because the measure did not have enough support to pass in the state legislature.

There’s been significant backlash from the agricultural community about feeling shut out of the process and uncertain if the added restrictions would be successful enough, considering the potential costly investments farmers could face.

Joe Cornely of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation said agriculture had a seat at the table on the issue for years, until several months ago. He said farmers were talking about doing more when the Kasich administration suddenly backed away, then returned with tougher restrictions without seeking input or expertise from agriculture.

Cornely said the objective should be working toward a solution that protects the lake without placing undue hardship on farmers.

“We’re not trying to obstruct what state government wants to do. We can still agree, and we know there is more to be done in spite of all of the regulations we already have and all of the voluntary work that is being done,” Cornely said.

“This really came out of the blue for agriculture,” said Tadd Nicholson of the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Assoc.

He explained farmers striving to reach a middle ground invested money on research and reached out on a regular basis, only to receive from the administration a “cold shoulder.” He said farmers desire solutions based on science, but too often get handed unproven regulations.

“We have seen time and time again agriculture is ready to make those changes if we can know science says so. That’s what we need; not a new wave of regulations from the administration,” Nicholson added.

The administration’s goal is to reduce phosphorus levels 40 percent within seven years. Craig Butler, director of the Ohio EPA, said the eight watersheds contribute more than twice the amount of phosphorus than what’s needed to attain the 40 percent benchmark.

“We’re letting the science guide us to where and what we need to do. Many of the other watersheds in the western Lake Erie basin are doing better, so we don’t need to call them ‘distressed,’” he said.

To help farmers offset their cost, Kasich also on July 11 signed legislation providing $20 million for farming practices designed to reduce fertilizer in runoff.

“The reason it’s a difficult issue is because there are so many interests involved in this,” he said.

7/18/2018