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Clean water is our state’s most important natural resource and Ohio’s farmers care deeply about protecting it. Ohio Farm Bureau’s Water Quality Action Plan is a series of proactive steps to improve and protect water quality.  

Download our status report to see how we're working to protect Ohio water:

Ohio farmers are natural stewards of soil and water. We know we play a significant role in protecting Ohio’s water resources for Ohio’s families, schools, businesses and communities. Because we take this responsibility seriously, Ohio Farm Bureau’s Water Quality Action Plan helps farmers proactively step-up their historic efforts to improve and protect water quality for the good of all.

Ohio’s farmers will continue their commitment to serve on the front lines of maintaining safe and healthy water for our state. The effort is ongoing. In fact, no other state in the nation is doing as much as Ohio is doing. Along with Farm Bureau, many other Ohio farm organizations, agribusiness professionals and others from the farm community are working to meet your expectations.

Ohio Farm Bureau has twice been recognized nationally for its water quality initiatives. In 2017, the organization's water quality grant program was honored with American Farm Bureau’s prestigious New Horizon Award, which recognizes new and innovative state Farm Bureau programs. And in January 2018, Ohio was again recognized with the New Horizon Award for work on the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms Network. 

Frank Burkett, left, OFBF president, accepts the New Horizon Award from Zippy Duvall, AFBF president. Photo credit: American Farm Bureau Federation

"Ohio’s farmers are focused on two important goals - growing affordable food for everyone’s families and protecting the water of Ohio and Lake Erie."

- Adam Sharp, Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President

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99% of cropland acres in the Western Lake Erie Basin are managed with at least one conservation practice, according to USDA

Getting results: agricultural soil phosphorus levels held steady or trended downward in at least 80% of Ohio counties from 1993 through 2015, according to Ohio State research

Farm Bureau Member investment: 

$2.5 million of member funds have helped farmers improve and protect water quality for all Ohioans

Blanchard River Demonstration Farms Network: Three farms, five years, million-dollar investment, hundreds of tour participants

4R certification program: 

35 branches, representing 5,350 clients spanning 2.78 million 

acres of farmland have earned certification through a voluntary program for agricultural retailers 

and nutrient service providers

Healthy Water Ohio brought 200 individuals and organizations with diversified interests together to recommend the creation of a public-private Ohio Water Trust that would fund the group’s recommendations for preserving the state’s water resources

Fertilizer certification collaboration: To date, 17,493 farmers have taken one of about 200 classes offered through Ohio State University Extension. OFBF provided funding for the classes in counties that did not have Extension educators.

Community investment:

Ohio Farm Bureau and partner organizations have invested more than $1 million in county water quality projects.  39 county Farm Bureaus have partnered with 130 groups on 43 local programs.

The Blanchard River Demonstration Farms Network's three farms showcase new and existing on-farm conservation practices that farmers can implement statewide to help improve water quality by keeping nutrients on the ground and out of waterways. Right to left - Surface water flume for collecting samples for edge-of-field monitoring, Stateler Family Farms family,  Kurt Farms family and Kellogg Farms family.

Download our status report to see how we're working to protect Ohio water:

©2018 Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Inc. All rights Reserved.

Ohio Farm Bureau Federation is a member of American Farm Bureau Federation®, a national organization of farmers and ranchers including Farm Bureau® organizations in 49 other states and Puerto Rico, and is responsible for Farm Bureau membership and programs within the State of Ohio. Ohio Farm Bureau Federation programs and services are available only to Farm Bureau members within Ohio. The political views expressed in these pages represent Ohio Farm Bureau Federation's positions on various issues as they relate to Ohio. The positions of the national Farm Bureau organization collectively are expressed through American Farm Bureau Federation. Any opinions, statements or views expressed through comments or by outside contributors are the express views of those individuals and do not necessarily represent the views of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.