H2Ohio Rollout, Cover Crops to be Focus of March meeting

Ashland County’s fastest growing conservation program in the last decade has been the implementation of cover crops. And while cover crop implementation has more than doubled in the last five years, there’s still plenty of opportunity for growth—both in the number of acres and the intensiveness of the practice.

That’s why Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is partnering with Wayne and Medina counties to share the opportunities for area farmers to up their cover crop gain (and benefits) for the 2024 season.

“Cover crops are a win-win for farmers,” said Jane Houin, Ashland SWCD directors. “They reduce erosion, build organic matter, improve water quality and even help suppress weeds.”

Cover crops are plants that are planted with a primary purpose of covering the soil instead of being planted primarily for harvest or as a cash crop. Cover crops are a long-term investment in soil health, but because soil biology changes slowly over time, even though improvements begin taking place in their first year of planting, it may take several years before the cover crops yield a positive return on investment.

Houin said cover crops are even more important in Ashland County that some other parts of the state, because of the county’s geography. The rolling hills and steep slopes that dominate the southern portion of the county are important tools to prevent erosion, and in the northern part of the county those same cover crops can help farmers combat soil compaction and standing water.

“Cover crops are like a field of mini super heroes,” Houin said. “They can battle compaction by breaking through a plow man, improve biodiversity and attract pollinators, and they can help counteract our changing weather patterns. They can increase soil’s organic matter to help hold and retain more water during intense rain events, and a mat of cover crops in the field can also help prevent the moisture that is in the soil from being lost to evaporation during drought events.”

All of these benefits combined with cover crops’ filtration powers can make significant impacts on water quality. That’s why Ashland SWCD’s board has identified growing cover crops in Ashland County as one of their top priorities, and the district is committed to offering numerous incentives for Ashland-area farmers to utilize cover crops of their farms.

As an added bonus, participants will learn details about the statewide rollout of agricultural practices through the H2Ohio program and what that will look like for area producers. The initial rollout will focus on development and implementation of nutrient management plans and will have a 10,000 acre cap for Ashland County.

The Rooting for You Conservation Chat will take place on March 21 at 6 p.m. at Valley Vista Farm on County Road 175 outside of Jeromesville.

Highlights of the evenings’s program will include learning more about cover crop cost share opportunities available through both the USDA and the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD). Farmers will also learn more about Ashland SWCD’s equipment rental program, including both a cover crop interseeder for planting cover crops early on as well as a crimper/roller that can be used for cover crop termination. Both pieces of equipment were funded through MWCD’s Partners in Watershed Management grant program.

Participants will also be able to hear from and ask questions to a panel of local farmers on their cover crop experience as well as Bird Agronomics on seed selection for aerially seeding cover crops.

Registration is free and dinner will be provided, but RSVPs are required to plan for meeting supplies. Registration can be made by calling Katie Eikleberry at 419-281-7645 or online at www.eventbrite.com/e/conservation-chat-we-are-rooting-for-you-tickets-764002390717