Grand Lake St. Mary’s in Ohio not only serves recreational and agricultural uses, it’s also part of the drinking water for many western Ohio residents. The lake in recent decades has been degraded, in part due to agricultural runoff.
This week, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency announced a cooperative plan to help curb the excessive nutrient load that has contributed to declining water quality in the lake.
Scientists and researchers at Ohio State University have also , in recent years, contributed to the new use of cover crops in Ohio and the part they play in improvement of water quality. OSU researchers Jim Hoorman and Kent Harrison have worked with farmers to experiment with various cover crops including annual ryegrass, which prevents erosion and nutrient runoff from adjacent fields.
In today’s online issue of Fishing News, the reporter detailed specific changes to agricultural management being sought in conjunction with the lake’s rescue. Here’s an excerpt, below:
Some of the recommended initiatives are already being implemented within the Grand Lake St. Marys watershed. Brothers Lou and Alan Brown who operate Brownhaven Dairy Farm near New Bremen have implemented nutrient management practices to address concerns regarding agricultural pollution. The Browns milk 165 cows and raise 180 replacement heifers. Their 250-acre farm produces hay, corn silage and wheat. They utilize a variety of agricultural best management practices on their farm including filter strips, no-till, manure storage facilities and cover crops. The Browns have also developed a comprehensive nutrient management plan to enhance soil and water conservation efforts on their farm.
http://www.fishingrssfeeds.com/node/8036
Tags: Ag Conservation Solutions, all cover crops, Annual ryegrass, annual ryegrass as a cover crop, Grand Lake St. Mary, lake pollution, No-Till, No-Till farming, Ohio State University, water quality
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