Water is arguably the most vital resource to known to man. Our individual bodies are a made predominately of water, we use water to shower, bathe, cook, clean, eat, for recreational activities and, in general, we need water to LIVE. Farmers of all sizes also use water to grow produce, row crops, vegetables and livestock, wash food items before market, and to clean animal housing, processing facilities and equipment. And, of course, there are other industries that rely on water to create their products. So, with all of that in mind, can you explain to me why any person who needs and uses water on a daily basis would willingly and openly destroy the quality of the water table?
The Noise
While you think about that last question, I want you to look back in time not too long ago when the city of Toledo told its residents (over 500,000) that there was a ban on tap water usage as a result of the algae bloom in the Western Lake Erie basin and the finding several toxins in the city water treatment plant. Do you remember that? That was the end of July and early August of 2014.
What is Farm Bureau doing?
If you look back to the press clippings from regional and national media outlets, you’ll see the many folks unfamiliar with farming and farming practices cast a heavy hand of blame on farmers, particularly those in northwest Ohio. However, Farm Bureau and a long list of other agriculture related organizations were well ahead of the bloom in getting Senate Bill 150 signed into law at the end of May of 2014. The original draft of the bill was actually submitted in June of 2013. This was all taking place while the majority of the press merely glanced over the fact that the City of Toledo had a well-documented history of a malfunctioning and deteriorating wastewater treatment facility.
The premise of SB 150 was to require certification of those folks who were spreading commercial fertilizer on plots of 50 acres or more. Certification opportunities began in the fall of 2014 and have been offered all over the state since. This certification is relevant for a number of reasons. The first is that the certification reinforces the basics of being a good steward of the land. Certain crops require a certain amount of specific nutrients at specific times. If a farmer goes outside of this common thought, chances are the farmer is buying too much fertilizer and, as a result, likely applying too much fertilizer or the incorrect amounts of it.
After the crisis, Farm Bureau and many of the same agriculture organizations continued to have discussions about how the agriculture industry can be a part of the solution not only in the Western Lake Erie Basin and its affiliated watersheds, but statewide. I believe, since the fall of 2014, over 6,000 farmers have taken this certification course and a majority of them have been from northwest Ohio.
The recently signed Senate Bill 1 is a continuation of the discussions and concerns regarding water quality. In a nutshell, this bill limits or restricts the application of manure (not addressed in SB 150) on saturated, frozen or snow-covered ground in the Western Lake Erie Basin. There are some exceptions depending on how quickly the manure/ fertilizer is applied into the ground and also certain timeframes that will allow farmers to get into compliance depending on the size of the farm. SB 150 and SB 1 are the first legislative pieces of its kind in the United States. To learn more about what Ohio agriculture is doing to be provide a long-term solution, you should visit www.farmersforwater.org
Why You Should Care
I have been fortunate to work with five different County Farm Bureaus and a variety of farmers. In my opinion, the majority of farmers in this region, and across the state, follow basic common sense practices when it comes to applying commercial fertilizer or manure. How can I be so reassured? Fertilizer costs money. The diesel needed to fill the tractor and sprayer/spreader costs money. If the volume of and type of fertilizer is incorrect, it will lead to a low-yielding crop, which means less money. If a farmer weakens or destroys their water table, they run a high risk of ruining their well that bathes and feeds their family as well as their livestock and crops. This also costs money. Profit margins are slim and the margin of error is even slimmer. So, why on earth would farmers destroy the very item that we need the most to survive?
Why should you care? To answer that question, I ask you to perform this science experiment. Find a 5-gallon bucket and fill it with water. Dump half of that bucket onto your front yard and see how far the water travels and how long it takes to be absorbed. Then, repeat the process, this time dumping the water on your asphalt/concrete driveway. As you will see, the water dumped onto your lawn was slow moving and eventually absorbed. The water dumped on the pavement, moved swiftly and was not absorbed until it found its way to the drain. The fact of the matter is that our lifestyles have made all of us contributors. The question that remains is, can we all be part of the solution before the legislation affects the entire state?
Please mark your calendars for future Geauga County Farm Bureau events. The first is on Thursday, May 14, at 7 p.m., at Cleats, where we will discuss what other events, topics and programs for our Young Farmers. Next, on Monday June 22, we’ll host our first Farm Forum. On Friday July 10, we’ll host our Policy Development session. If you’d like to see what other events we have coming up, please “like” our Facebook page and to become a member, please visit our online application here.
This article is brought to you by Geauga Farm Bureau
Author: Ty Kellogg
Ty Kellogg has been the Organization Director of the Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula and Trumbull County Farm Bureau for just shy of two years. His primary duties include management of the four-county Farm Bureau office, assisting volunteers with membership drives, programs that promote agriculture and engaging the public in agriculture and community policy development. Born, raised and living in Geauga County, Ty can also be seen playing music throughout northeast Ohio, running, hunting, fishing and helping his parents on their farm.