FINDLAY, Ohio — So much has been said and written about agricultural nutrient runoff and the formation of algae blooms into Ohio’s lakes and streams that two organizations have teamed up to combat the problem.
The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) have partnered to create and manage demonstration farms in the Blanchard River Watershed. The watershed is located in northwestern Ohio near Findlay. The demonstration farms are a key component of OFBF’s Water Quality Action Plan, a comprehensive initiative to help farmers proactively improve and protect water quality.
Through 2020, OFBF will create 2-4 demonstration farms as models for new innovations that reduce and prevent agricultural nutrient runoff, then share those findings with local farmers, land management agencies and the public. Spearheading this effort will be Aaron Heilers of Botkins – he has been contracted to serve as a liaison among OFBF and federal, state and local stakeholders and local landowners.
"I spend my days assisting landowners with drainage issues and conservation practices," he said. "I enjoy what I do because I can connect with landowners as well as farmers, and help them become better stewards of the land."
Previously, Heilers served as a nutrient management technician at the Auglaize County Soil and Water Conservation District. He attended The Ohio State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture.
In the coming weeks, OFBF will appoint a local advisory committee to assist in developing the criteria by which the demonstration farm sites will be selected. Diversity will be important so the farms reflect the makeup of agriculture in the watershed with respect to crops and livestock, farm sizes, soil types, topography and current farming practices.
The demonstration farms are expected to be identified in early 2016.
According to Heilers, OFBF also will contract with landowners and farmers to install demonstration conservation systems to monitor farm inputs and outputs including nutrient levels, annual application rates and the methods and timing of applications. The organization will develop strategies by which to share the innovative practices that are identified.
NRCS will provide eligible farm operators with financial assistance through conservation program contracts for conservation system implementation, and will provide technical guidance to the advisory committee. It will also provide conservation experts for speaking during field days and other outreach events.
The project includes four crucial components:
•Edge-of-field monitoring: Monitoring stations will be established to measure changes in sediment and nutrient losses via surface runoff as well as drainage tile discharge. Water quality and quantity monitoring before and after the project implementation will provide the data necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the conservation practice.
•Economic analysis: The overall economic impact of the conservation practices on the farmer.
•Participation and attendance: The level of interest among farmers, stakeholders (i.e. how many visited the demonstration farm or participated in tours).
•Project replication: The frequency with which other farmers in the Western Lake Erie Basin replicate the conservation practices.
This project will be supported by federal, state and local partners including the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership; Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs); Ohio Department of Natural Resources; OSU and extension; Hardin and Hancock SWCDs; USDA Agricultural Research Service; NRCS; U.S. Geological Survey; Ohio EPA; and the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
