The Ohio Department of Agriculture Announces H2Ohio Open Enrollment in the Western Lake Erie Basin

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (September 12, 2025) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Brian Baldridge announced that farmers in 14 counties of the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) are eligible to enroll in Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative beginning September 15, 2025.  

Producers in the following northwest Ohio counties are eligible to enroll or re-enroll acreage into proven, science-based, best management practices (BMPs) that contribute toward improving water quality:

• Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Lucas, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams, and Wood.

Farmers must have an up-to-date soil test and develop an approved Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan (VNMP) to enroll into other best management practices being offered in 2026 and 2027. Available BMPs include overwintering cover, subsurface phosphorus placement and manure incorporation and utilization.

“Through H2Ohio, farmers across the state have made incredible progress doing their part in protecting water quality,” said ODA Director Brian Baldridge. “Their work shows what can be achieved when agriculture and conservation move forward together. By keeping this momentum going, farmers are not only strengthening their own operations but also building a healthier environment for the next generation of Ohioans.”

To apply, farmers should contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and provide up-to-date soil tests. Producers who enroll will receive support to develop and implement VNMPs, which encourage better utilization of applied nutrients.

To date, more than 3,200 producers have enrolled 2.2 million acres in H2Ohio across the state. In previous enrollments, producers in the 14-county project area have enrolled 1.2 million acres or more than 46% of cropland acreage in the area.

H2Ohio is Governor DeWine’s statewide water quality initiative designed to address complex issues impacting Ohio’s waters. Launched in 2019, H2Ohio uses a comprehensive approach guided by science and data to reduce algal blooms, stop pollution, and improve access to clean drinking water. H2Ohio’s agricultural program focuses on incentivizing farmers to implement science-based, proven best management practices to prevent nutrient runoff and improve water quality.