August 2023 | Volume 28 | Issue 4

 

The public is invited to attend Madison Soil and Water Conservation District’s (SWCD) 76th Annual Meeting and Supervisor Election on Thursday, September 14th at Der Dutchman, 445 S. Jefferson Ave., Plain City, Ohio.  Voting is from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., with dinner starting at 6:00 p.m.  Two board members will be elected to a three-year term of office. The Board of Supervisors consists of community leaders elected by county residents to give direction on soil and water conservation programs to address local natural resources concerns.  They volunteer their time for a three-year term.

This year’s banquet is catered by Der Dutchman.  The menu includes broasted chicken, roast beef, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, homemade bread and pie.

Following dinner will be a special program, “Wetlands: Dark Past, Bright Future.” Guest speaker, Mark Dilley, Wetland Scientist and Senior Ecologist, will discuss historic losses and the big push for wetland restoration in Ohio and globally. He and his wife, Christine, are co-owners of MAD Scientist Associates, a company specializing in ecological and wetland consulting. He will share some examples of projects they have completed.

Dilley earned a B.S. in Natural Resources in 1991 and a M.S. in Environmental Science in 2003, both from The Ohio State University School of Environment and Natural Resources. His company strives to Make A Difference – through Science, Service and Education. Dilley is also a lecturer at The Ohio State University, where he teaches Wetland Ecology & Restoration, and he currently serves as the President of the Ohio Wetlands Association.

 Mark Dilley, co-owner of MAD Scientist Associate

The other highlight of the meeting is the conservation awards.  Michael Hann will be awarded as Madison SWCD Cooperator of the Year.  Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails will be recognized as a Conservation Partner.  West Jefferson High School will be recognized for having the Top-ranked Envirothon Team at the Southwest Ohio Envirothon Competition.  Representing West Jefferson were Brent Gardner (Team Captain), Matthew Chmil, Charles Stephens and advisor, Mike Harkleroad.

Tickets to the dinner are $20 ($10 for children up to 10) and may be purchased from any board supervisor, at the district office located at 831 U.S. Highway 42 NE, London, or online here. Reservations are required by September 8th. No tickets will be available at the door. 

Candidates in this year’s election are JD Bethel, Steve Davis and David Junk.

JD Bethel, 9577 Roberts Rd., West Jefferson, has been an agronomist at Integrated Ag Services for 6 years.  Prior to that, he was at The Ohio State University researching soybeans for 4 years.  He received his master’s degree in Weed Sciences at Ohio State.  He helps his parents farm in Mechanicsburg.  He and his wife, Wendy, enjoy bicycling, traveling and gardening.

The most important resource concern Bethel sees on a day-to-day basis working with farmers is soil erosion.  He is interested in serving on the board because he supports the work of the Soil and Water Conservation District.  He has done a lot of tiling and waterways on his parents’ farm and has seen the value.  Anything we can do to promote keeping erosion under control is a good thing. 

Steve Davis, 1420 Linson Rd., is the current chairman of the SWCD board, which he has served for 3 years.  He raises registered Angus cattle and had a purebred hog business for 30 years.  He has cut back on his herd but still maintains about 15 cows. He is a member of the board of the Newport United Methodist Church.

Davis considers improving soil health as the biggest natural resource opportunity.  He has seen reduced soil tilth from when he was a teenager as a result of conventional farming practices today.  No till and cover crops could be a very big factor in saving our soil structure and health. 

Davis would like to continue serving on the board to support positive change and contribute his lifelong experiences in farming and raising livestock. 

David Junk, 6089 Junk Road, Mt. Sterling, is a member of the SWCD board, which he has served 9 years.  He is a life-long resident of Madison County and has been managing the family farm most of his life.  He is a Lieutenant in the Range Township Fire Department.  He retired from the State Department of Rehabilitations and Corrections.  He has an associate’s degree from Columbus State Community College and a bachelor’s degree in business from Urbana University.   

Junk would like to see farmland preserved and Madison County maintain its productive soils.   He has planted trees along his stream and warm season grasses through the Conservation Reserve Program.  He encourages interaction between different agencies and organizations when making decisions about our local natural resources. 
  

Join the Madison SWCD for the last ride of the Peak Bloom Bicycle Ride Series at the Prairie Grass Trailhead 262 W. High St, London, Ohio on  August 19th starting at 8 am. The 11-mile ride is a leisurely pace with pit stops along the trail to discuss local flora and fauna, history, and conservation practices.  No RSVP needed.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Broc Sehen, District Technician - Wildlife specialist, at 740-852-4004.  

H2Ohio is the initiative set forth by Governor Mike DeWine to ensure safe and clean water in Ohio. This program is a “comprehensive, data-driven water quality plan to reduce harmful algal blooms, improve wastewater infrastructure, and prevent lead contamination” launched in 2019 and first funded by the Ohio General Assembly in the 2020 – 2021 biennium.

One of the main strategies funded through this initiative, the creation of wetlands across the state, with an emphasis in the Maumee River Watershed, has created 14,521 acres of wetland and ecosystem restoration to date. Wetlands not only reduce phosphorus runoff, but also have additional environmental benefits including: absorbing pollutants; creating a natural filter for nutrients, pollutants, and more; slowing down water; and preventing the further movement of contaminated matter. The H2Ohio program creates, restores, and enhances wetlands through a competitive grant process outside of the Maumee River Watershed. These wetlands currently and will reduce phosphorus and nitrogen runoff, help with flooding, store carbon, create habitat, and create recreational opportunities. The wetlands already in place are monitored and managed but are mostly self-sustaining once established making a long-lasting positive impact.

The H2Ohio Statewide Wetland Grant Program is a reimbursement grant program that provides up-to-100 percent project funding for high quality natural-infrastructure projects focused on nutrient reduction and water quality improvement across the State of Ohio. This grant program is state-funded through Ohio’s H2Ohio program and is administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (“ODNR”).  Per-project budget must be justified in the application with a minimum funding request of approximately $50,000 with no maximum funding cap. 

This funding is available to:

 • Municipal governments such as cities, villages, counties, and townships

 • Special districts like park districts, joint recreation boards, or conservancy districts

• Non-profit organizations

• Private Landowners will need to work through a third party (listed above)

If you are interested in creating a wetland, or restoring a streambank, or flood zone, we would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you about your goals for the property and about this grant. 

Grant applications must be submitted to ODNR's H2Ohio Program by August 25th, 2023. You can find more information here.  

By Megan Sweeney - District Technician 

According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, the average age of American farmers is 57.5 years old. This has been a long-term trend with the average age of farmers steadily increasing over time.

The number one barrier for young and beginning farmers in the United States is access to land, due to a variety of reasons including lack of capital and cost of production. To help alleviate this problem, a bill was signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine with the idea to use income tax incentives to help Ohio’s beginning farmers to purchase or rent agricultural assets. The law created the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program run by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). As of January 1, 2023, qualifying beginning farmers can begin applying for the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit.

Two possible income tax credits beginning in tax year 2023 are beginning farmers who attend a financial management program and individuals/businesses that sell or rent farmland, livestock, buildings, or equipment to beginning farmers.

Category 1: Beginning Farmers who attend a financial management program.

• To qualify as a beginning farmer, you must:

• Be a resident of Ohio.

• Be either seeking entry into farming or have less than 10 years’ experience as a farm owner/operator.

• Farm or intend to farm on land in Ohio.

• Not be a partner, member, shareholder, or trustee of the assets the individual is seeking to purchase or rent.

• Have a total net worth of less than $800,000, including spouse and dependent assets, as adjusted for inflation each year.

• Provide the majority of daily physical labor and management of the farm.

• Have adequate farming experience or knowledge in the type of farming for which you are seeking assistance.

• Submit projected earnings statements and demonstrate profit potential.

• Demonstrate farming will be a significant source of income for the individual.

• Participate in a financial management program approved by ODA.

• The benefit of the tax credit for those who attend a financial management program will be receiving a tax credit for the cost of the financial management program.

You can learn more about the application process, qualifying financial management programs, and more at ODA’s Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program Webpage.

Category 2: Individuals/businesses that sell or rent farmland, livestock, buildings, or equipment to qualifying beginning farmers.

To qualify as an agricultural asset owner, you must:

• Be an individual or business that sells or rents “agricultural assets” to a qualifying beginning farmer.

• Agricultural assets include land, livestock, facilities, buildings, and machinery used in farming.

• For land to qualify as an agricultural asset, it must be at least 10 acres or produce an average annual income of at least $2,500 from farming.

• Equipment dealers and similar businesses that sell agricultural assets for profit are not eligible for the credit.

The benefits for this category include a 3.99% tax credit for both the case of sales and rental agreements. You can learn more about the application process, information about specifics related to the tax credit process for both sales and rentals, and more details at ODA’s Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program Webpage.

There will also be an online workshop about how the Ohio Beginning Farmer Tax Credit works and how it can benefit your farm by the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) on Friday September 8th at noon. 

Contact: OEFFA / (614) 421-2022 / oeffa@oeffa.org

http://www.oeffa.org/farmtours 

SWCD Staff

 

Julia Cumming, Program Administrator

Broc Sehen, District Technician

Megan Sweeney, District Technician

Gail Wilson, Operations Coordinator

Emma Ryan, Urban Conservationist

 

NRCS Staff

 

James Tillman, District Conservationist Zach Rusk, Soil Conservationist

 

Board of Supervisors

 

Steve Davis, Chairman

Jonathan Francis, Vice Chairman

Bob Hunter, Treasurer

David Junk

Nancy Denes-Sparks

08/19 - August Bloom Ride

09/13 - Madison SWCD Board Meeting

09/14 - Annual Banquet - Der Dutchman-voting 5:30 - 6:30 & dinner at 6

09/19 - 09/21 - Farm Science Review

 

 

 

Madison Soil & Water Conservation District

831 U.S. Highway 42 NE

London, Ohio 43140

Phone: (740) 852-4003 opt. 3

www.madisonsoilandwater.com www.facebook.com/madisonswcdohio

All NRCS/MSWCD programs and services are offered on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, or handicap. Please contact Gail Wilson at gail.wilson@oh.nacdnet.net if you wish to be put on or removed from our email list.