Farmers honored for conservation

CELINA - Three farmers were recognized for their conservation and best management practices during the Soil and Water Conservation District annual meeting on Thursday evening.

Mike Harner and his son Austin were presented with the CRP/CREP Award, and Jason Gallman accepted Cooperator of the Year on behalf of Gallman Farms LLC.

The Harners were commended for their participation in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the nation's largest private-land conservation program, and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

Administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), CREP leverages federal and non-federal funds to target specific state, regional or nationally significant conservation concerns, according to the FSA's website.

In exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from production and establishing permanent resource conserving plant species, farmers and ranchers are paid an annual rental rate along with other federal and non-federal incentives as specified in each CREP agreement. Participation is voluntary, and the contract period is typically 10-15 years.

Mike and Austin Harner mostly farm corn on 3,000 acres with a corn, soybean and wheat crop rotation. The Harners have reduced their tillage and incorporate rye as a cover crop. They also manage about 40 steers and brood cows.

Additionally, the family is part of the H2Ohio program by implementing manure incorporation, small grain and cover crop practices.

"Over the years, Mike and Austin have implemented numerous conservation practices, including eight filter strips, five wetlands, one riparian buffer and one waterway," said SWCD board member Garrett Hellwarth as he presented the award. "The reason they have chosen to implement conservation practices is (because of) the benefits they provide for the land and the wildlife."

The Gallman family has been farming for more than 125 years, and Jason Gallman is part of the fourth generation. He owns and operates roughly 425 acres located in the Western Lake Erie Basin. These acres follow a corn, soybean and wheat crop rotation while also incorporating cover crops on about 120 acres per year. Gallman uses minimal or no-till practices on his corn, soybeans and wheat.

"Jason has implemented a comprehensive nutrient management plan for all acres and the manure he manages. He has participated in the Environmental Quality Incentive Program to provide adequate manure storage ... on his farm," Hellwarth said. "Jason has installed waterways, filter strips, riparian buffers and wetlands."

In other business, SWCD officials recapped their services and successes from 2022 and collected ballots for the supervisor election.

Voting began at the banquet and will continue until Sept. 1 at the SWCD office, located on the first floor of the Central Services Building in Celina. Voting is available from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the office.

Hellwarth and board member Scott Tobin are up for reelection for a three-year term. Both are running unopposed.

Included in the annual SWCD report was an 2022 Mercer County H2Ohio update. H2Ohio coordinator/technician Abby Schritz leads the program for Mercer County, which has the highest implementation rate out of all 24 counties in the program.

In total, the SWCD received 123 applications and distributed more than $1.026 million in payouts to producers for implementing best management practices in 2022.

The most used practice was Voluntary Nutrient Management Plans (VNMPs)/Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) with 42,742.49 acres enrolled in the program totaling $85,496.98 in payouts.

Cover crops were the second most used practice with 15,949.72 acres and had the highest total payout of $399,085.50. Variable rate phosphorus application yielded 7,783.51 acres enrolled and $62,268.08 in payouts.

"Abby's brought in some of those producers who'd gotten a little leery (of the program) at the beginning," said SWCD administrator/educator Ariel Hein. "She's very easy to talk to and willing to work with (producers)."

The next SWCD board of supervisors meeting is 8:30 a.m. Aug. 11 in the first floor conference room of the Central Services Building, Celina.