Ag Notes Week of 7/19/2021
H2O Initiative
meetings set
The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is hosting a series of virtual informational meetings for farmers to learn about Gov. Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio Initiative in the newly added 10 counties.
The program, which incentivizes farmers for implementing proven conservation practices to reduce phosphorus runoff, is now open to farmers in Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, Huron, Erie, Wyandot, Richland, Shelby, Marion and Crawford counties. Phosphorus runoff is a primary contributing factor to algal blooms on Lake Erie.
Virtual meetings will be held to provide more information on H2Ohio's conservation programs to farmers in the newly eligible counties:
• July 20, 6 p.m.
• July 22, 9 a.m.
•July 28, 6 p.m.
• July 29, 1 p.m.
The meetings will be held via Microsoft Teams. More information about the meetings, including links to join, can be found at h2.ohio.gov.
Gov. DeWine launched H2Ohio in November 2019 as a long-term, data-driven water quality plan to reduce harmful algal blooms, improve wastewater infrastructure, and address lead contamination in Ohio. The initiative is a collaboration involving ODA, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Lake Erie Commission and other environmental, agricultural and educational partners. It is the first comprehensive state program that addresses all aspects of water quality.