Clermont County has seen much progress since last spring when the Ohio Department of Agriculture expanded H2Ohio funding statewide. H2Ohio is a voluntary, incentive-based program that assists farmers with planning and the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) to improve soil health and water quality. In the first round of statewide sign-ups, Clermont County enrolled 8,173 acres of cropland land. Through H2Ohio, producers receive nutrient management plans compliant with the Tri-State Fertilizer recommendations. These recommendations help producers strike the right balance – applying enough fertilizer to achieve expected yields without overapplying. Overapplication can increase the risk of excessive nutrient runoff into our shared waterways. At this point in the process, all Clermont County producers enrolled in H2Ohio have received their volunteer nutrient management plans for the 2025 and 2026 growing season – effectively helping to ensure our waterways stay cleaner!