COLUMBUS, Ohio — On June 8, the Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative (OACI) presented their priorities for water quality improvement and progress to the Ohio House Agriculture and Conservation Committee. OACI, created to improve water quality in Ohio’s lakes, streams and rivers, is partnering with Governor DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative to address Ohio’s water challenges. Statements were heard from several Ohio agricultural and environmental leaders; academia; and Ohio farmers enrolled in the H2Ohio program and OACI Farmer Certification Program.
“OACI brings an unprecedented group of collaborators together to examine the relationship between water quality and agriculture, which furthers H2Ohio’s broader ambitions to address water quality issues across the state,” said Dr. Cathann A. Kress, Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Dean of the Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). “OSU supports OACI by conducting research to improve water quality and increase sustainability. This interdisciplinary research links field studies, watershed models, and socio-economic analyses with stakeholder groups to investigate connections between downstream water quality and management practices in upstream watersheds.”
OACI is an innovative partnership between agriculture, conservation, environmental and research communities to recognize farmers for their dedication to advancing methods that improve water quality in Ohio and increasing the number of best management practices being implemented on farms.
“We undoubtedly agree that farmers, and the organizations that represent farmers, all want a clean environment and are committed to identifying new and innovative ways to continue to grow and provide food while also reducing nutrient runoff from farming,” said Heather Taylor-Meisle, Executive Director of the Ohio Environmental Council. “However, the costs associated with changing best management farming practices are extremely expensive, and without definitive science-based proof that these new practices work, it is a major obstacle for farmers to make that investment.”
OACI was formed to accomplish two key goals: Create a universally recognized farmer certification program that will help increase adoption of best management practices and create a confidential farm practices assessment that will benchmark best management practices adoption and track progress toward our goals.
OACI Farmer Certification Program
The OACI Farmer Certification Program launched in fall 2020. Through the program, farmers self-report information about their farm’s soil testing, nutrient application, nutrient placement, on-field management and structural practices, with the number of acres in each category.
“Farmers are dedicated to conservation and doing the best they can to improve and ensure their land and resources are managed in such a way that it can be passed on to future generations, and that means working with all our partners in this effort,” said Jeff Duling, Putnam County row crop and hog farmer. “Conservation coupled with continuous improvement isn’t just a goal, it’s something we actively pursue and demonstrate in our practices. OACI’s farmer certification program reinforces farmers’ commitment to always striving for better.”
Confidential Farm Practices Assessment
OACI’s assessment program will gain a baseline understanding of current conservation and nutrient management efforts. The assessment program will recognize those farms that demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement in the implementation of conservation and nutrient management practices. The program will also assess and confidentially take inventory of farm practices to identify and provide resources that encourage increased adoption of science-based practices that contribute toward healthier waterways.
A pilot survey will be conducted in the Lower Maumee Watershed that includes 500 fields. The survey was conducted by staff in the area’s soil and water conservation districts and will be analyzed by OSU CFAES.
“One of the overarching purposes of H2Ohio is to find ways to reduce agricultural phosphorous runoff,” said Kress. “The research conducted by OSU CFAES, as well as the efforts by OACI to increase voluntary adoption of best management practices, perfectly complement H2Ohio, and will help the program succeed. At OSU, we remain committed to our land grant mission and to serve our state through research, education, and extension, while addressing the complex problems and opportunities before us.”
The information will create a roadmap for adoption of best practices by increasing awareness, education and funding for farmers to strive for higher levels of conservation.
OACI offers resources and education that farmers need to proactively employ modern, science-based practices on their farms and better demonstrate how those efforts are improving water quality over time. By collaboratively learning and sharing information across environmental and agricultural communities, OACI is committed to identifying nutrient management and water quality solutions and helping farmers execute them.
For more information about OACI, visit www.OhioACI.org.
About OACI
The Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative (OACI) is a partnership between agriculture, conservation, environmental and research communities to recognize farmers for their dedication to advancing methods that improve water quality in Ohio and increasing the number of best management practices being implemented on farms. Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative partners include: American Farmland Trust, Environmental Defense Fund, National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University, Ohio AgriBusiness Association, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, Ohio Conservation Federation, Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association, Ohio Dairy Producers Association, Ohio Environmental Council, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Ohio Pork Council, Ohio Poultry Association, Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, Ohio Soybean Council, The Fertilizer Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and The Ohio State University College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences.
— Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative
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