Ohio Farmers Union

Serving Family Farmers and Consumers Since 1934



United to Grow Family Agriculture Since 1934

July 24 &25: Ohio Ag and Lake Erie Water Quality Issues Educational Program for Farmers

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Ohio’s family farmer organization is joining a respected environmental advocacy group to educate and hear from northwest Ohio farmers and others who are interested on the topic of a cleaner Lake Erie Water basin.

“A healthy Lake Erie is an invaluable economic and natural resource,” said Roger Wise, president of the Ohio Farmers Union.

“All of us know Lake Erie has experienced some incredibly large and harmful algal blooms over the past few years. OFU is joining with the Ohio Environmental Council to put together an event where farmers and others who are dependent upon agriculture can learn and share their views and experience. This is a controversial topic for some in agriculture, but it is one that we need to address as an industry and a local economy,” Wise added.

Specifically, Wise is talking about the blooms of cyanobacteria – often called blue-green algae – that have plagued Lake Erie in recent years. Increasing levels of dissolved phosphorous in the lake’s water have been tied to these pollution events which are not only smelly and unsightly, but can emit toxins dangerous to human and animal health. The Ohio Lake Erie Phosphorous Task Force has said that the sources of the dissolved phosphorous are numerous but list agricultural fertilizers and sewage treatment plants as chief sources. OFU has adopted as one of its public policy priorities this year the promotion of voluntary nutrient pollution measures on Ohio’s farms.

OFU and the OEC will hold two northwest Ohio Lake Erie education programs on Wednesday, July 24 at Terra State Community College, 2830 Napoleon Road, Fremont, Ohio and Thursday, July 25 at the Schnipke Inn, 202 W. Main Street, Ottawa. The program will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided at no cost, but RSVPs are required. To RSVP please contact Linda Borton at 800-321-3671 or lborton@ohfarmersunion.org.

Earlier this month, Research scientists from The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Ohio Sea Grant and Heidelberg University predicted that harmful Algae will Once again bloom in Lake Erie in 2013. They predicted that this year’s bloom will be significantly worse than 2012, when the drought reduced runoff and nutrient to the lake.

Please join with us (OFU, OEC, NRCS and SWCDs) to discuss the importance of nutrient management, soil quality and conservation practices.

 

Ohio Farmers Union offers comments on proposed water quality legislation

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Proposed bill has no sponsor, may be held in reserve if Lake Erie algae problems worsen

Lake Erie's 2011 algal bloom, satellite view.

Lake Erie’s 2011 algal bloom, satellite view.

With Grand Lake St. Mary’s essentially dead, increasingly frequent and enlarged algal blooms in the western basin of Lake Erie and problems of varying degrees in other Ohio bodies of water, the Kasich Administration has passed proposed nutrient management legislation around to several environmental and agricultural organizations in the state.

Comments were requested to be submitted to the directors of the Ohio Departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The Ohio Farmers Union submitted comments from President Roger Wise.

“We understand that historically state government has been reluctant to intervene in the business operations of Ohio’s agricultural producers. We are however dealing on another historic level regarding water quality in Ohio when one considers the devastating algal blooms in the western basin of Lake Erie and the de facto death of Grand Lake St. Mary’s,” wrote Wise.

Wise pointed out that OFU has entered into a strategic partnership with the Ohio Environmental Council and is providing high quality farmer education sessions throughout northwest Ohio regarding nutrient management and agriculture’s place in the problems of the Lake Erie Watershed.

“On the other hand, I am compelled to point out that the water quality issues taken up by the proposed legislation are also the responsibility of the several other stakeholders including the City of Detroit, other Lake Erie area municipal water treatment districts, homeowners and lawn treatment professionals,” Wise wrote.

[Read more…]

OFU & OEC Host First Lake Erie Water Basin Ag Stakeholder Meeting

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Ohio’s largest family farmer organization is joining a respected environmental advocacy group to educate and hear from northwest Ohio farmers and other agricultural stakeholders on the topic of a cleaner Lake Erie Water basin.

“A healthy Lake Erie is an invaluable economic and natural resource,” said Roger Wise, president of the Ohio Farmers Union.

“All of us know Lake Erie has experienced some incredibly large and harmful algal blooms over the past few years. OFU is joining with the Ohio Environmental Council to put together an event where farmers and others who are dependent upon agriculture can learn and share their views and experience. This is a controversial topic for some in agriculture, but it is one that we need to address as an industry and a local economy,” Wise added.

Specifically, Wise is talking about the blooms of cyanobacteria – often called blue-green algae – that have plagued Lake Erie in recent years. Increasing levels of dissolved phosphorous in the lake’s water have been tied to these pollution events which are not only smelly and unsightly, but can emit toxins dangerous to human and animal health. The Ohio Lake Erie Phosphorous Task Force has said that the sources of the dissolved phosphorous are numerous but list agricultural fertilizers and sewage treatment plants as chief sources. OFU has adopted as one of its public policy priorities this year the promotion of voluntary nutrient pollution measures on Ohio’s farms.

OFU and the OEC will hold a northwest Ohio stakeholder education program on Friday, February 22 at the Hancock County Agricultural Service Center, 7868 County Rd. 140 in Findlay. The program will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided at no cost, but RSVPs are required. To RSVP please contact Linda Borton at 800-321-3671 or lborton@ohfarmersunion.org.

Presenters at the event include:

  •  Joe Logan, Director of Agricultural Programs for the Ohio Environmental Council
  • Ed Crawford, WLEB Program Specialist with ODNR, Division of Soil and Water Resources
  • Dr. Yi Shi, Research Specialist from Michigan State University’s Institute of Water Research
  • Representatives from Natural Resources Conservation Services and Ohio Sea Grant

 

ODNR to Hold Seminar on Planning for a Changing Climate in Northern Ohio

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Although the Ohio Department of Natural Resources press release mentions land use planners, emergency preparedness and wildlife managers, I thought Ohio Farmers Union members – especially producers – would be interested to know ODNR is planning a workshop on planning for “climate impacts.” (Read: Climate Change) Information about the workshop:

The Planning for Climate Impacts workshop features the latest science research and forecast models regarding the impacts a changing climate could have on Great Lakes’ coastal communities and ecosystems. The workshop focuses on actions communities can take today to prepare and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate. Based on a successful national model, the workshop was tailored to the Great Lakes region with extensive input from a local planning team to ensure that the workshop will address regional needs and issues.

Experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center and NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, and ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability will provide an overview of the latest climate science, information about climate planning processes and strategies, and examples of available planning tools and resources.  The workshop will include an interactive session that offers an introduction to assessing climate vulnerabilities in Northern Ohio communities.

Participants will have the opportunity to tour the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s PNC SmartHome and visit the Museum’s climate change exhibition. Representatives from the Chagrin River Watershed Partners, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Cleveland State University, Ohio Balanced Growth Program, and the City of Cleveland Heights will share case studies of planning approaches and practices that support resilience to a changing climate. Planners can earn six American Planning Association Certification Maintenance credits for participating in the course.

The workshop will be held August 10 at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $20 per person and includes a continental breakfast, lunch and parking. For more information, contact Heather Elmer at (419) 433-4601 or heather.elmer@dnr.state.oh.us. Online registration and speaker information is found at http://nerrs.noaa.gov/CTPIndex.aspx?ID=663

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Ohio Farmers Union
P.O. Box 363
1011 N. Defiance Street
Ottawa, Ohio 45875
Phone: (419) 523-5300
Toll Free: (800) 321-3671