Frequently Asked Questions

Why is somebody from the Soil and Water Conservation District calling me to get involved in an assessment?

Trained representatives from the county Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) offices will be reaching out to farmers in their area when assessments are taking place. They will reach out via phone and explain why they are calling on behalf of OACI.

How do the confidential farm practices assessments work?

Each assessment is a survey of fields, not farmers, to identify current conservation practices on farm fields in a watershed. The goal is to first establish a baseline and then periodically survey again to gauge progress.

OACI is partnering with county Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) offices to conduct the surveys, and farmers can feel confident in providing information to their county SWCD offices. Confidentiality is very important, and all OACI partners are committed to collecting and reporting data in a way that protects the identity of every farmer.

Data is transferred from the OACI mobile app to The Ohio State University for aggregation and statistical analysis. OACI publicly shares aggregated results when available in a report.

Am I required to participate in the survey? What does this look like?

No, the survey is completely voluntary. However, farmer participation is highly encouraged as OACI aims to benchmark current best management practices adoption and track progress toward our goals. Ultimately, participation helps OACI offer the resources and education with the greatest impact so farmers can proactively employ modern, science-based practices on their farms to improve water quality over time and demonstrate these efforts to the public.

What information is OACI looking for in the assessments?

First, it's important to remember that all data is kept confidential, and the results are aggregated before they are published. Data collected is used to determine what practices are being used by farmers to manage water and nutrients in a specific crop year. Examples of data collected include farm acreage, use of soil testing and precision agriculture, type of tillage, types of nutrient sources and how they are applied, and what sort of programs the fields are currently enrolled in.

How will the information collected be used?

The information collected via the surveys is aggregated to keep farm confidentiality. It's then analyzed through a sampling strategy designed with The Ohio State University. Finally, the survey results are published by OACI and shared with public policy, agriculture and environmental leaders in Ohio to share the best practices being implemented across the state.

What assessments have been completed to date? What did we learn?

Since 2021, three watershed assessments have been completed throughout Ohio to determine what practices are being used by farmers to manage water and nutrients. Completed assessments include the Maumee watershed, Sandusky watershed and Upper Scioto watershed. OACI will continue to assess more watersheds in Ohio and revisit previously assessed watersheds to determine levels of change.

Who is the Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative (OACI)?

The Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative (OACI) is a partnership between agriculture, conservation, environmental and research communities to recognize farmers for their dedication to advancing methods that improve water quality in Ohio and increasing the number of best management practices being implemented on farms.

What are OACI’s priorities?

OACI was developed to:

• Assess and confidentially take inventory of farm practices to establish a baseline of current conservation and nutrient management practice adoption.
• Establish a certification program that recognizes those farms that demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement in the implementation of conservation and nutrient management practices.
• Identify and provide resources that encourage increased adoption of science-based practices that contribute toward healthier waterways.

Who governs OACI?

To provide governance, the Ohio Agriculture Conservation Council was established and represents 11 directors, including five farmer members, three leaders from agricultural organizations, and three leaders from non-government organizations.

How is OACI connected to H2Ohio?

OACI is working with the H2Ohio program to ensure funds get to farmers who demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement through implementation of science-based practices. For farmers earning certification, H2Ohio funds will be available for continuous improvement in the implementation of conservation and nutrient management practices.

How do I find out more about OACI?

To stay up-to-date with OACI, please join our mailing list for the latest news and resources from OACI, tailored for farmers committed to improving water quality.