Governor Mike DeWine [ [link removed] ]
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*
January 15, 2020 *MEDIA CONTACTS:*
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957
Jill Del Greco: 614-644-0957



$30 Million Available for Farmers Through
Governor DeWine's H2Ohio Plan

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dorothy Pelanda announced today that $30 million in H2Ohio funding will be available for Ohio farmers in more than a dozen counties beginning next month. The funds will be awarded as part of Governor DeWines H2Ohio plan [ [link removed] ] to reduce agricultural phosphorus runoff and prevent algal blooms in Lake Erie.

Since announcing the details of my H2Ohio plan in November, weve had a great deal of interest from farmers in the Maumee River Watershed who want to do their part to improve the health of Lake Erie, said Governor DeWine. H2Ohio will provide farm-by-farm support to help farmers minimize phosphorus runoff while increasing profit over the long-run.

H2Ohio Logo

Farmers living in the following 14 northwest Ohio counties will be eligible to apply for funds at their local Soil and Water Conservation Districts starting on February 1, 2020: Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Lucas, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams, and Wood.

H2Ohio will fund investments in 10scientifically proven interventions [ [link removed] ] to reduce nutrient runoff from agriculture, which is the primary cause for algal blooms in Lake Erie and elsewhere. Algal blooms can threaten drinking water and impact the health of both people and animals.

Ohio farmers want to be part of the solution to water quality concerns in our state, said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dorothy Pelanda. The Ohio Department of Agriculture is excited to work with our partners to help farmers implement these best practices which is a critical first step toward achieving better water quality through H2Ohio.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture, in partnership with local Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative, will host informational meetings next month to outline the application process, explain the H2Ohio certification process, and answer questions. Farmers living in any of the 14 qualifying counties are welcome to attend any of the following meetings.

*February 4
**3 p.m.
*Owens Comm. College
Veterans Hall
30335 Oregon Road
Perrysburg *February 5
**6 p.m.
*Defiance K of C Hall
111 Elliott Road
Defiance *February 18
**6 p.m.
*American Legion Hall
601 N. 2nd St.
Coldwater *February 27
**6 p.m.
*Kissell Community Bldg.
509 N. Main Street
West Unity *February 5
**2 p.m.
*Delphos Eagles
1600 E. 5th Street
Delphos *February 11
**6 p.m.
*Auglaize Co. Jr. Fair Bldg.
1001 Fairview Drive
Wapakoneta *February 20
**6 p.m.
*Fogle Center
815 E. Mathias St.
Leipsic *February 28
**9:30 a.m.
*Ohio Northern University
McIntosh Center
525 S. Main Street
Ada

The H2Ohio phosphorus reduction plan will focus first on reducing runoff into the Maumee River Watershed and Lake Erie but will eventually be offered to other parts of the state.

The $30 million announced today is part of an overall $85 million provided by the Ohio General Assembly for H2Ohio in the first year of the biennium. The remaining first-year funds will focus on reducing phosphorus runoff through the creation of wetlands, as well as on improving water quality by preventing lead contamination and addressing failing septic systems.

H2Ohio is a partnership between the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Lake Erie Commission, and a broad coalition of agriculture, education, research, conservation, and environmental partners [ [link removed] ].

For more information on Governor DeWines H2Ohio plan, visit [link removed].



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