PLANNING TO PREVENT

Fit zpatrick Completes 18 Year Tenure as Farm Bureau Director PLANNING TO PREVENT

By | Jill Sell FREE LANCE WRITER KENT-RAVENNA RECORD COURIER

HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS

“A lot of people don’t realize that 99 percent of algae is just a natural biological reaction going on,” said Michelle Wood, program administrator, Holmes Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). “But it’s good to be aware. All our water here drains to the Ohio River. If you care about water quality, you need to know what’s happening on your property.”

But what’s going on in Toledo with runoff may not be the same as what is occurring in other parts of the state.

A NEWLY-minted hobby farmer recently moved from an urban area to a more rural location. He was happy to own a pond on his property. But he wasn’t so thrilled when he noticed quickly growing green vegetation starting to cover the water.

Fearing it was a harmful algal bloom (HA B), the man was sure the toxins would affect his skin, nervous system and liver. And, of course, he knew HA Bs can cause major problems with public drinking water, animal health and recreational water activities.

18 | SPRING 2020 “Algal blooms on the Ohio River don’t get as much attention as those on Lake Erie,” said Wood. “But we need plans to stop runoff here, too. There isn’t one plan that is one-size-fits-all plan. We are not like northwest Ohio where the land is flat. Holmes has steeper topography which can complicate runoff. And we have smaller farms here, some five or 10 acres, not 100.”

But there is a happy ending. Not only was the green on his pond not cyanobacteria, it wasn’t even algae. The pond contained common duckweed (Lemna minor), the smallest flowering plants known. The U.S. Forest Service even reports duckweed is used for the bioremediation of waterways with excessive amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen runoff that cause HA Bs.

Wood anticipates the state’s H2Ohio water quality plan will eventually come to Holmes and Wayne Counties in about two years. Currently, Ohio has invested $172 million in concentrating on reducing algal blooms and phosphorous runoff in the Maumee River Watershed and Lake Erie. In the meantime, Wood wants to work with more landowners and farmers in her region concerning nutrient management efforts.

“Excess nutrients are tied to sedimentation and we are trying to keep soil from eroding into lakes, streams and rivers,” said Wood, who suggests:

Wood admits that even though her suggestions are fairly easy, she also understands farmers’ resistance. Unusually rainy seasons make it difficult to find a window to spread manure or other nutrients. River bottom ground may be a farmer’s most fertile and hard to give up for planting setback vegetation. Also, weak-wooded trees planted there for setbacks may fall into waterways causing blockage. In addition, aerial winter cover crop planting may be expensive, but Wood encourages farmers to apply for assistance through the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District.

* applying fertilizer to fields at the right time of year, the right way, and not if rain is predicted in the next 24 hours * creating setback strips of growing vegetation with trees or grasses at least 15 feet on each side of a stream, which can act as nutrient filters * planting winter cover crops, including an oats/ barley mix or rye that help stop erosion, add nutrients back into the soil, and may eliminate the need for excessive future fertilizer.

“We urge farmers to make an appointment with our office to make specific plans for their properties. We can also walk you through apps you can find on your phone to help with nutrient management. It’s better to do things before there is a problem,” said Wood.

For more information: Holmes SWCD, 330-674- 2811, www.holmesswcd.com.

ANNIVERSARY IT’S OUR th NNIVERSARY

Any Replacement System During March & April 25% OFF

ASK ABOUT

OUR HEROS

CLUB

Valid to new customers with any repair. With coupon only. Not valid with other offers. Limited time only for new customers to sample our great service. Expires 12/31/2020

WEWANTTO SERVEYOU (REG. $79)* SERVICE CALL SCHMID’S SERVICE NOW

TO EVERYONE FOR 25 GREATYEARS!

Wooster 330-264-2040 Ashland 419-289-8457

Farm Insurance Specialists for more than 110 years ATTENTION FARMERS... Checkout our newcoverage options!

• Poultry and Hog Confinement Operations • Personal Cyber with Identity Fraud Coverage • Farmowners Cyber and Drone Coverage • Farmowners Advantage Select (offering several new and important coverages rolled into one endorsement)!

Contact an Independent Western Reserve Group Agent for details!