AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS

H2Ohio is a comprehensive water quality initiative to address several of Ohio’s most pressing water related issues.  Agricultural producers in our county as well as 23 other Western Lake Erie Basin counties can benefit from cost-share assistance to implement several effective conservation practices to help reduce sediment and nutrient run-off from reaching Lake Erie.  This program started in Erie County with an initial sign-up in 2021 and followed by a second sign-up to extend the program through crop year 2025.

More than 55 Erie County Producers representing nearly 50,000 acres in Erie, Huron, and Sandusky County have signed up to participate in the H2Ohio program over the next few years.

NUMBER OF ACRES BY PRACTICE

Voluntary Nutrient Management Program

49,966 acres enrolled

These plans ensure nutrients applied meet agronomic need of the crop, which reduces run-off.

Variable Rate Phosphorus Application

81,904 acres enrolled (over 3 years)

This type of precision farms goes a step further by varying the rate of phosphorus applied to different areas within a field, which reduces the amount of nutrients applied. 

Subsurface Placement of Phosphorus

12,397 acres enrolled (over 3 years)

Applying the nutrient below the surface provided even more protection to our water by reducing the potential for surface run-off. 

Manure Incorporation

3,703 acres enrolled (over 3 years)

This practice focuses on spreading and incorporating manure within the 24 hours during the summer months and following an application with living cover to reduce run-off.

 

Small Grains

30,630 acres enrolled (over 3 years)

Planting small grains like winter wheat or barley provides a living cover that reduces nutrient and sediment loss in the winter, builds soil health, and provides a nutrient application window during the summer. 

Over Wintering Cover Crops

58,697 acres (over 4 years) 

Planting an overwintering species to follow the harvested crop helps to soak up nutrients, reduce erosion, and restore soil during the winter months.

Forages

250 acres (over 4 years)

Forages provide a perennial cover for multiple years that help to lower soil phosphorus while improving our soil health. 

Drainage Water Management

18 potential structures 

With more than 75% of our row-crop fields being tiled.  Installing drainage management devices help to nutrient and sediment loss from tile drainage and can boost yields on the farm.