Soil and water conservation districts awarded up to $250,000

REYNOLDSBURG – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Agriculture Director (ODA) Brian Baldridge announced today $1.8 million in H2Ohio funding to expand conservation practices specifically for pasture and hayland acres in nine Ohio counties.

“H2Ohio projects are ongoing in all 88 counties across Ohio, and the funding we are announcing today is another way we are working with farmers and local soil and water districts to protect our waters,” said Governor DeWine.

Nine soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) throughout eastern and southeastern Ohio have been selected to receive funding to lead water-quality projects in their counties focused on reducing nutrient runoff from hayland or pasture fields.

Proper management of hayland and pasture for grazing livestock is important to maintain healthy soil cover and prevent nutrient and sediment loss into waterways. The new program will fund practices such as rotational grazing, pasture seeding, soil testing, and livestock exclusion fencing to help producers best manage pastureland and decrease the risk of runoff.

“We are working with local partners on effective ways to address nutrient runoff from farms of varying landscapes,” said Director Baldridge. “In Ohio, we are fortunate to have great SWCDs and farmers that look for innovative ways to continue protecting water quality, and we're excited to be partnering with them on this pilot program.”

Each of the selected districts submitted project proposals to ODA for evaluation. Eight projects across nine counties were selected. Each district will launch their own projects while working closely with ODA’s team for implementation, monitoring, and data collection.

Selected SWCD projects include the following:

• Adams SWCD awarded $250,000 for the Adams SWCD Good Grazing Practices Program;

• Ashland SWCD awarded $250,000 for the Ashland SWCD H2Ohio Grazing Program;

• Brown and Highland SWCDs awarded $250,000 for a collaborative program, the White Oak Creek Partnership Pasture Initiative;

• Clermont SWCD awarded $250,000 for the Expanding Clermont S&W Conservation Planning Efforts and Practice Implementation in Underserved Watersheds;

• Hocking SWCD awarded $75,000 for the Grassland Management Program;

• Jefferson SWCD awarded $250,000 for the Clean Water • Pasture • Farm Program;

• Monroe SWCD awarded $250,000 for the Monroe SWCD Grazing Cost-share Expansion;

• Pike SWCD awarded $250,000 for the Fence it. Pad it. Protect it. Pike SWCD's Practical Solutions to Cleaner Water.

H2Ohio is Governor Mike DeWine’s statewide water quality initiative designed to address complex issues impacting Ohio’s waters. Launched in 2019, H2Ohio uses a comprehensive approach guided by science and data to reduce algal blooms, stop pollution, and improve access to clean drinking water. 

H2Ohio’s agricultural program, which initially focused solely on farms located in northwest Ohio near Lake Erie, incentivizes farmers to implement science-based, proven best management practices to prevent nutrient runoff and improve water quality.