Local farmers interested in improving water quality can sign-up now until August 15th to participate in H2Ohio for crop years 2026 and 2027. Participating farmers will work with their local conservation district to develop a nutrient management plan and select best management practices that best fit their operation. This sign-up is available on a first-come basis in a 10 county area, so interested producers are asked not to wait.
H2Ohio Best Management Practices
Voluntary Nutrient Management Plans – $10/$15 Acre
Nutrient management plans utilize the Tri-State Fertilizer Recommendation to determine appropriate fertilizer rates for crops, helping to reduce over applications that could lead to nutrient runoff.
Overwinter Cover – $40/Acre
Making sure our soil is covered by living plants all winter helps to soak up leftover nutrients and prevent soil erosion.
Subsurface Phosphorus Placement – $20/Acre
Applying fertilizer below the soil surface helps to keep the nutrients in the field during storm events.
Manure Incorporation and Utilization – $35/$60 Acre
Properly applied manure at the right time, right place, and the right rate can prevent runoff into our streams.
Sign-up Walk-ins
Erie SWCD will be hosting sign-up walk-ins from 9am – 3pm every Thursday in April starting the 10th and one evening sign-up walk-in from 3pm-7pm on April 9th. If you cannot make any of those dates you can call 419-626-5211 to set up an appointment.
About H2Ohio
H2Ohio was launched in 2019 by Governor DeWine as a statewide water quality initiative, which helps our farmers be better stewards of the land through managing their nutrients and preventing erosion. H2Ohio benefits both the farm and our natural resources by incentivizing several conservation best management practices such as nutrient management planning, sensible application of fertilizer and manure, and planting overwintering covers like forages, winter wheat, and cover crops. In the Firelands area (Erie and Huron Counties), over 138,000 acres of farmland have been enrolled in this program.