Being so close to one of the Great Lakes – Lake Erie – and its tributaries, everyone should have a special interest and an ultimate appreciation for the fresh water source sitting in our backyards. Its health is important to our health and the health of the environment around us. Lake Erie has been and will continue to be in the news.
There are numerous causes of the serious issues that Lake Erie is facing.
From the forecasts of what future algal blooms in Lake Erie are expected, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to its frequent and regular updates, these continue to keep our Great Lake in the news – and rightly so.
The routine harmful algal blooms (HAB) forecasts from NOAA help members of the public make informed decisions when a bloom is temporarily affecting the area. The forecasts also aid people responsible for responding to bloom impacts.
University researchers from Heidelberg University, University of Toledo and its Lake Erie Center, and Ohio State University and its Stone Lab, are just a few local connections for replicated research, monitoring and sharing of research findings over years of data collection, which ultimately leads to the adoption of practices and efforts to improve the health of the lake.
As residents we may think that our footprint is small in comparison to the larger land mass of agriculture that surrounds us. The area of our lawn, landscape and gardens are often measured in square feet, compared to the acres of land managed by producers often in areas away from our urban centers. No matter the size of our footprint, we have an opportunity and obligation to care for the environment and be aware of the consequences of our actions.
Soil testing is an action we can implement and a task we can accomplish in a rather quick fashion, with a small cost that can sometimes result in a cost savings of fertilizer application recommendations that is specific to our garden, landscape, or lawn. If you have questions about soil testing, reach out to your local soil and water conservation office, or your county’s Extension office. Additionally, OSU Extension has a FactSheet that can help you dig a little deeper on the topic: ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1132.
Planting trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants can also be a tool in our good steward’s toolbox to help the environment that we are temporarily calling home. The establishments of rain gardens, the installation of rain barrels, recycling (and simply reducing) and composting are other tasks that can be benefit the environment.
For the remainder of this week’s column, I wanted to share with you, what some efforts that are occurring in our region, by my colleagues on a team called the Water Quality Extension Associates. This team’s mission is to engage farmers and their trusted advisors in new production strategies, technologies, and best management practices to improve fertilizer use efficiency and farm profitability while promoting soil health and reducing nutrient and sediment losses within the western Lake Erie Basin.
Through education, outreach, and demonstrations highlighting the benefits of practices we hope to encourage widespread practice adoption and sustained practice implementation.
There are six Extension Associates working in the Lake Erie Basin region. Each person is part of the team that collaborates with OSU faculty, extension specialists, county educators and local producers to bring current information, applied research, and resources to answer questions on conservation practices. To learn more about this team, check out their website at: waterqualityextension.osu.edu.
Additionally, another OSU research and outreach project is called eFields and releases an annual report featuring on-farm research trials from across the state of Ohio. This project began in 2017 with six years of reports online at: digitalag.osu.edu/efields.
Research for this year is currently underway, and summaries of the year’s projects will be available at the end of this year. An electronic copy will of course be online and linked to their website, and hard copies will be utilized for local training and available in your county Extension office.
I know this team is thankful for the opportunity to work with local producers to accomplish this on-farm research that not only benefits that farmer, but others who can implement practices that make a difference on the land they tend and care for.
We are all part of the solution to increase the health of Lake Erie.
Amy Stone is an extension educator with the Ohio State Extension – Lucas County, Agriculture and Natural Resources. Contact her at stone.91@osu.edu.
First Published September 19, 2023, 11:26 a.m.
