Ohio Department of Agriculture
Reducing Agricultural Phosphorus Runoff
ODA is committed to helping farmers reduce phosphorus runoff from commercial fertilizer and manure to prevent harmful algal blooms.

H2Ohio: Ohio Farmers and ODA Work Together to Improve Water Quality
MAKING CHANGES TODAY TO ENSURE A SAFER TOMORROW
Governor Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio plan will span all areas of water quality, with the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) leading efforts to reduce phosphorus runoff, which is critical to improving water quality. ODA’s H2Ohio program incentivizes farmers to implement proven, science-based, cost-effective, best management practices (BMP). Producers work with their Soil and Water Conservation District to determine which practices will have the most effectiveness on their farm while still producing a high yield of crop. A Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan (VNMP) is required for all cropland enrolled in H2Ohio. The VNMP shows the amount of nutrients in the soil and helps determine which BMPs will be most effective.
Best Management Practices
H2Ohio Farmer Incentive Program: Farmers Answering the Call
The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) portion of H2Ohio was initially made available in the 14 counites that make up the Maumee River Watershed. Producers showed remarkable interest, enrolling over 1 million acres into science-based, and cost-effective Best Management Practices (BMP) proven to improve water quality. With additional funding through the Ohio Legislature, H2Ohio expanded into 10 additional counties to encompass the entire Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB). In January 2022, enrollment in the original 14 counties was reopened giving producers an opportunity to sign up more acres into conservation practices. Producers continue to show enormous interest and commitment to H2Ohio. Producers work with their local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) who administer the program at the county level. If you have questions about applying for H2Ohio, contact your local SWCD.
By the Numbers
To date, 2,400 agreements have been signed by producers to implement these BMPs. These agreements total 1.5 million acres enrolled into VNMPs, and 1.2 million acres enrolled in BMPs, accounting for nearly 35 percent of the total cropland in the WLEB.
“Water quality is an important thing, especially within the Western Lake Erie Basin. H2Ohio is the best vehicle we’ve had to accomplish that so far.”
Research and Partnerships
ODA is working with the Ohio Farm Bureau (OFBF) and Blanchard River Demonstration Farms to assess the economic and agronomic impacts of H2Ohio BMPs. The goal of this work is to evaluate conservation practices that are being implemented across the WLEB and across Ohio to continually improve the data that informs farmer and policy decision making.
Practices that will be evaluated are Manure Incorporation and Timing, Subsurface Placement and Rate, Nutrient Management Planning, Cover Crops, and Variable Rate Technology.
As part of this evaluation, important agronomic information will be collected and analyzed including crop yield, crop health, soil health, soil test trends, practice profitability, and nutrient budgeting. Through this data collection, annual fact sheets will be developed to better inform producers’ decision making to incorporate BMPs on the field long term. Additionally, economic evaluation tools will be developed to assist policymakers, conservation planners and producers to determine the profitability of each BMP.
This collaboration will also provide support for ODA’s education and outreach efforts to promote conservation practices across the WLEB.
ODA is also collaborating with partners to better understand the environmental impacts of H2Ohio practices, as well as economic and agronomic impacts on producers.
ODA with Dr. Kevin King of USDA Agricultural Research Service will evaluate the impact of several H2Ohio BMPs through side-by-side comparisons and edge-of-field water quality monitoring stations that are already in place. The goal of this research is to improve and expand data on nutrient load reductions due to adoption of conservation practices in Ohio. ODA used an extensive process to evaluate BMPs in developing the H2Ohio program, drawing from research across the Midwest. This partnership will supplement research data used to select the H2Ohio BMPs with research conducted in Ohio soils and under Ohio’s climate.
The work will also include the development of a model to better estimate the impact of H2Ohio practices across a regional area. Once developed, this model will provide valuable information to guide ODA decisions for future H2Ohio programming.
What’s Happening
Latest Developments
H2Ohio Stakeholder Presentation November 2022
Agency directors from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio EPA, and Ohio Lake Erie Commission provide an update on the progress of Governor Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative.
H2Ohio Accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2022
Through strong collaboration led by Governor Mike DeWine and among Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio EPA, and the Ohio Lake Erie Commission, H2Ohio has focused resources to provide clean and safe drinking water for all Ohioans....
Governor DeWine Announces $5 Million Grant Program for New H2Ohio Best Management Practice
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) today announced a $5 million grant program for a new H2Ohio Best Management Practice (BMP) – the Two-Stage Ditch. A two-stage ditch is a conservation practice that modifies the shape of a drainage...
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Frequently Asked Questions
More About the ODA/OACI Partnership
