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What is H2Ohio?

H2Ohio is Governor Mike DeWine’s initiative to ensure safe and clean water for all Ohioans. It is a comprehensive, data-driven approach to improving water quality over the long term. H2Ohio focuses specifically on reducing phosphorous, creating wetlands, addressing failing septic systems, and preventing lead contamination. The Ohio Department of Agriculture's H2Ohio program incentivizes farmers to implement seven proven, science-based, cost-effective, best management practices (BMP). Producers work with their Soil and Water Conservation District to determine which practices will be most effective on their farm while still producing a high crop yield. A Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan (VNMP) is required for all cropland enrolled in H2Ohio. To date, 2,600 agreements have been signed by producers to implement these BMPs. These agreements total 1.6 million acres enrolled into VNMPs, and 1.2 million acres enrolled in BMPs, accounting for nearly 35 percent of the total cropland in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB). 

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H2OHIO ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

All producers who choose to participate in new H2Ohio 2.0 rollout must have a valid email address, and speak with a soil and water conservation district about getting registered in MyFarms. MyFarms is a new platform that allows district employees and producers to work together in a more efficient way compared to previous years. This platform allows producers to load in field maps, crop rotations, acres, fertilizer placement, and H2Ohio contract data. This process can also be done by the districts working with ag retailers/co-ops that have this information and have the producers consent to share it with the local SWCD. Also on MyFarms, you are able to access information about grant payments per acre and see the total amount to be paid based on practices input.

With patience, we can learn these new programs together & help get Lorain County on the H2Ohio map.



 

H2Ohio Presentations & Recordings
Presentations are available for download in dark blue boxes below each description

Jan. 24, 2024

Annual Partnership Meeting

Up-to-date information regarding H2Ohio expansion into the remainder of Ohio at the Annual Partnership Meeting with Ohio Soil & Water Conservation Districts & NRCS.

Nov. 15, 2023

In-person event at Penfield

Presentation by Kip Studer, ODA Nutrient Management Specialist in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB), for residents of Lorain & Medina Counties

Oct. 18, 2023 

Multi-Agency Updates

H2Ohio updates from Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), & Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA)

March 8, 2023

Ohio Lake Erie Commission

Terry Mescher & Clark Hutson from the Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC) provided updates and statistics thus far from their agency

YouTube Training Recordings for SWCDs, Producers, & Advisors

Operations and Setback Mapping
Crop Rotations and Soil Test
Nutrient App
CNMP
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Other Resources

Journal articles, news sources, and more. Stay tuned - more resources continuously added!

H2Ohio Accomplishments for 2023

Understanding equipment management for planting cover crops - pdf article from the Journal for Soil & Water Conservation. 5 pages. Released August 2023.

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