Agriculture in Ohio is a thriving industry with close to $9 billion generated in agricultural cash receipts, and over half of our land used as farm ground. In Warren County, development is expanding, but we continue to utilize over 90,000 acres for agriculture. The agricultural items raised in Warren County and across Ohio include soybeans, corn, wheat, vegetables, and meat products such as beef, pork and poultry.

Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District (Warren Co SWCD) assists the agricultural community with soil and water quality practices. Warren Co SWCD is proud to serve the agricultural community. To celebrate agriculture in our community for National Ag Week – March 21-26, 2023- we decided to highlight the farmers we know best—our Supervisors. If you missed our social media posts throughout the week, never fear! Here's a recap:

With a passion and love for agriculture, Samantha Steiner has been involved in the agricultural community all her life. Growing up, Samantha spent most of her time as the fourth generation on her family’s dairy farm and when she wasn’t on the farm, she was active in 4-H showing beef cattle and pigs. She credits her parents for instilling the importance of land and water conservation.

Nearly 10 years ago, Samantha started her own business, Dogwood Farm, LLC, where she raises grass-fed beef cattle and pastured poultry. To show proper stewardship to our natural resources and keep true to her philosophy of leaving things better than she found them, Samantha actively participates in conservation activities such as rotational grazing, a practice that promotes soil health and pasture regrowth, and nutrient management planning. She properly stores and composts manure before spreading and keeps livestock fenced out of waterways to reduce erosion and nutrient overload in streams.
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Most recently, Samantha was named one of seven inaugural cohort members of the National Conservation Foundation’s Next Generation Leadership Institute. This program serves to build up future leaders in conservation with comprehensive training to help them meet the future needs of natural resource management, helping them to increase their capacity to navigate and manage complex conservation challenges, both current and future, at the local and national level. Samantha is currently the first vice president for the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts.
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If Bruce Goodwin thinks something is going to work, then he is going to do it. Farming roughly 2,000 acres of soybeans, corn, wheat, and hay in Warren County, as well as livestock, the Goodwins’ were one of the early innovators and users of cover crops in the county dating back to the 1980s. Bruce began incorporating more use of no-till onto his fields when an “experiment” of no-till beans created an impressive yield. Other conservation practices he participates in include  grassed waterways and crop rotation.
First on the Board of Supervisors in 1994, and later re-elected(?) in 1995, Bruce liked how State and Federal agencies worked together. In 2014, Bruce and Carole were awarded with the Ohio Conservation Farm Family Award, an honor that highlights farmers for the practices they are implementing to help water quality and keep nutrients on the land for future generations. Besides farming, Bruce is a member of Pleasant Plain Council.

​“Live according to the amount of ground you have” could be considered words to live by when it comes to Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District Board Supervisor, John Tkatschenko. Before becoming a Supervisor, John was the District Conservationist for Warren County from 1981 until his retirement in 2008. During this time, John and other NRCS staff rated 60,000 acres of cropland for 1985 Food Security Program, administered Ohio’s largest fly-on cover crop program of 3,500 acres, and surveyed and designed hundreds of waterways, ponds and WASCOBS for Warren County’s farm owners and operators.

Born in Germany, John was introduced to agriculture by way of a beef ranch in the plains of South Dakota. Later, his family moved to Salem, Ohio where they lived on a 60-acre farm. In 1992, John and his wife, Patty, bought 10 acres in Warren County where they have two cows, a handful of chickens, several fruit trees, multiple raised beds, and bail hay for their cows.

The saying, “you can take the boy off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the boy” is the perfect way to describe Chairman Jason Spellmire. While Jason grew up farming with his family, he left the farm to attend Dartmouth College and later joined the U.S. Army. While on leave from the military, and as he got older, Jason found himself enjoying being able to come home and help with the farm. Eventually, he found his way back to Warren County and has been helping on the farm since.
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The Spellmire farm has been in the family since 1936 and presently, alongside his dad, Jason farms 1500 acres consisting of corn, wheat, soybeans, and hay. To demonstrate conservation and to be a positive steward of the land for future generations, Jason has enrolled ground into conservation activities such as 15 acres into CRP (Conservation Reserve Program), grassed waterways and participates in EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) for honeysuckle removal. He is active in bee keeping and tree planting. Jason also grows a variety of blackberries and pears and enjoys woodworking. Besides farming, Jason is heavily involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters community in Middletown.

Roy Miller and F & R Miller Farms operate with a good conservation ethic, employing no-till on much of their acreage and cover crops. The Miller farm operation encompasses over 1000 acres with grain, hay, pasture, cattle, and hogs in and around Clearcreek Township. Almost all of the cattle and hogs are sold direct to consumers as freezer beef and pork. Roy and his family have been involved in many 4-H activities and have partnered with the Warren Co SWCD on many conservation practices including tile drainage, grassed waterways, pond management, animal waste storage and nutrient management. In 2012, Roy and F & R Miller Farms were recognized as Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District’s Conservation Farmers of the Year and Roy was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2014.

Fall is here and with it comes Halloween decorations—bats being a common sight! Bats have a spooky and somewhat sinister reputation, but they play critical roles within our economies and our ecosystems.  

Bats are from the order Chiroptera, stemming from Greek origin meaning “hand-wing” to describe the mammal’s wings. Chiroptera has two suborders: the Megabats (Megachiroptera) and the Microbats (Microchiropetera). Megabats consist of a single family: the flying foxes and their fruit and flower-eating relatives. The megabats live in the tropics. Meanwhile, the microbats are composed of the rest of the 17 bat families. Unlike their megabat cousins, microbats dine on insects.

Bats’ social structures are very fascinating as most live in large groups called colonies which can reach to over a million bats. Bats are the only mammals that fly. Many use echolocation, a method of making sounds that bounce back from objects to help with navigation and hunting. Bats tend to fly under the radar since they are creatures of the night, and in most cases provide many benefits:

• Bats eat insects. The United States is home to microbats. In Ohio, there are 10 species of Microbats that dine on harmful insects such as mosquitoes, flies, and beetles. Researchers have found that one bat can consume their body weight in insects in a single night—easily totaling several thousand!  It is estimated that bats save agriculture producers more than $1 billion per year in crop damage and pesticide costs.
• Bats pollinate. Over 500 different types of tropical plants are pollinated by bats every year. A pollination example is the Agave tequilana, which is used to make tequila. Nectar loving bats use their tongues to lap up the nectar within the Agave flowers, brushing their fur up against pollen, which is then taken to other plants, subsequently pollinating other flowers. 
• Bats help maintain natural areas. Bats can live over 20 years in the wild and thus are considered indicators for ecosystem health due to their longevity and sensitivity to changes in their environment.
• Bats help with seed dispersal. Fruit eating bats in the tropics and subtropics are important seed dispersers. These bats eat and then defecate as they fly which in turn helps to regenerate forests and rainforests.
• Bats also help with human medical treatments. Compounds from bats are being used to aid in new medical treatments. An example of this is the saliva from vampire bats that contain anticoagulants. These anticoagulant compounds are being studied to help with treatments for stroke victims. 

In Warren County, Ohio storm drains and yard drains lead directly to creeks and drinking water reservoirs with no treatment. Water conditioners, chlorine, bromine, algaecides, biocides, stabilizers, salts, and other chemicals used in pool and spa water are toxic to fish and other aquatic life and disrupt the natural balance within waterways.

Pool chemicals are prohibited by law from being discharged into storm drains or waterways. Allowable discharges include dechlorinated pool water that has no trace of chemicals. Pool filter backwash or saltwater pool discharges are prohibited in storm drains and drainage channels leading to streams.

How to Properly Drain Pool/Spa Water

• Before draining, let pool water sit for a week (7-10 days) with no addition of chemicals. The pH range should be between 6.5 and 8.0 and total residual chlorine or bromine needs to be less than 1.0mg/l (ppm) before discharging. Use a testing kit to verify levels.
• When pool water is free of all chemicals, drain pool water to landscaped areas, lawns or woods. Control the flow of the draining pool water to prevent soil erosion. Drain the pool slowly over a period of a few days to allow vegetation to absorb most of the water. You can also devise a pool drain “fountain” to spread water in your yard and avoid erosion.
• Consider using sanitary sewer connections in or around the home.
• Drain pool water slowly enough to avoid flooding of your neighbor’s property or any other property nearby.
• DO NOT drain swimming pool or spa water to your septic system as system failures may occur!
• If draining a saltwater pool, water needs to be hauled away, drained through the sanitary or must be desalinated prior to discharge. Freshwater is less than 1,000 ppm while saltwater pools are around 3,200 ppm. Dilute with freshwater to an acceptable concentration (less than 1000 ppm) or use a commercial treatment process.
  
  

The community you live in may have more stringent requirements under local laws for swimming pool discharges. Therefore, it is important that you also check with your community (Wastewater treatments plant, municipalities, villages, and/or county) to determine what requirements they may have in place. Also consider consulting with your pool manufacturer for recommendations.

For questions regarding Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District programs and/or technical assistance on water or soil questions,  call our offices at 513-695-1337.

Additional Resources:
Ohio EPA: https://ohioepa.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2295/~/discharging-swimming-pool-water-into-storm-sewers

Most sucker species are very intolerant of pollution and sedimentation and as such are good indicator species for river and stream quality. Because of their sensitivity to water degradation, they have declined or even been extirpated from watersheds across the country. The longnose sucker is listed as endangered in Ohio, and the river redhorse and quillback carp-sucker are threatened in parts of their range. Despite this, many individuals see them as invasive and detrimental to the waterways. This is likely due to their resemblance of non-native carp species, such as the bighead carp and grass carp, which are considered invasive in Ohio. Because of this negative perception, many native suckers are killed by fishermen aiming to improve stream health by removing destructive species.

Although they are shunned by most of the fishing community, some fishermen are beginning to embrace the sucker and other “rough-fish” by fishing for them. A popular fishing method for suckers is to use a small hook baited with a live worm resting on the bottom of the stream and waiting for the school to pass overhead (Unionsportsmen.org).

Despite their reputation, suckers are a beneficial native fish and even help fight invasive species in some parts of their range. In Lake Erie, sucker species such as the bigmouth buffalo and redhorse are some of the only species to prey on the highly invasive zebra mussel, which clog pipes and push out native species (biokids.umich.edu). The river redhorse in Missouri is also noted to readily prey upon the Asiatic clam, which outcompetes native bivalves in the region (mdc.gov). Suckers are also very important prey species in their ecosystems, providing food for species such as largemouth bass, northern pike, herons, and bald eagles.

North American suckerfish are often misunderstood and sometimes vilified for their resemblance to some less-desirable fish species. Despite this negative reputation, they are very beneficial and add to the biodiversity of our pristine rivers and streams in Ohio.

For more information regarding aquatic wildlife, Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District programs, and/or technical assistance with water or soil questions,  call 513-695-1337. 
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Written By Harrison Shupe, Warren Co SWCD Intern
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Sources:
https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/river-redhorse
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Dreissena_polymorpha/#:~:text=Besides%20pumpkinseeds%2C%20the%20several%20other,These%20are%20mostly%20diving%20ducks.
https://unionsportsmen.org/spring-sucker-fishing-tips/
 
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Incorporating green infrastructure provides many benefits such as improving water quality by removing pollutants, habitat preservation for native plants and animals, decreasing urbanization stream impacts, and overall enhancement of neighborhood aesthetics. The following is a list of management practices that landowners can incorporate on their own property to help control and keep stormwater clean. (Sources: Penn State Extension, United States Environmental Protection Agency)

• Downspout Disconnect/Redirect - If your downspouts are directed onto a paved or concrete surface or are directly connected to the storm drain system, look for opportunities to redirect them to lawn and garden areas if community ordinances allow. Just be sure that all downspouts are directed away from foundations to avoid basement flooding.
  
  
• Rain Barrels - Rain barrels capture and hold water until it can be used or slowly released into planted areas. For rain barrels to be effective at controlling stormwater, it is important to have a plan for using the water before installing one.
  
  
• Planting A Stream Buffer - Planting water loving trees, shrubs and/or other native plants is a great way to reduce stormwater runoff. If you have a stream on your property, planting along the stream will help prevent the stream from eroding away your property. The more plants the better! At the very least don't mow your lawn directly up to the edge of the streambank.
  
  
• Meadows Plantings or Turf Alternatives - If trees aren't an option on your property, adding other types of plants is a good substitute. Any areas where lawn can be replaced with native ornamental grasses, flowers, and/or shrubs will have a positive impact on controlling stormwater on your property. Whether large or small, these purposefully planted areas will increase the ability of the land to absorb water. Meadows/turf alternative areas can be a great way to reduce the amount of time you spend mowing the grass and can be placed in the areas that are the most difficult to mow.
  
  
• Rain Gardens - One of the best options for managing stormwater on your property is to install a rain garden. A rain garden is a depressed area in the landscape that collects rainwater from a roof, driveway or street and allows it to soak into the ground. Planted with grasses and flowering perennials, rain gardens can be a cost effective and beautiful way to reduce runoff from your property. Rain gardens can also help filter out pollutants in runoff and provide food and shelter for butterflies, songbirds, and other wildlife.
  
  
• Pervious Pavers - Pervious pavers can look very similar to a traditional brick or stone patio, sidewalk, or driveway. The difference is that they are installed with a thick stone base that provides space for water to be stored until it soaks into the ground. They are great for converting hard surfaces that usually make a lot of stormwater runoff, into a surface that absorbs, manages, and reduces that runoff. If you're interested in this, you should probably contact a professional landscaper.
  
  

These are just a few of the many options available for controlling and cleaning stormwater. Many projects can be tackled on your own, but if you have complicated stormwater issues on your property, consider getting help from an engineer, Soil and Water District professional, OSU Extension professional, and/or landscape professional. Also, be sure to check local ordinances to ensure that different management practices are allowed in your area.
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For more information regarding green infrastructure for the home, Warren Co SWCD programs, and/or technical assistance with water or soil questions, visit http://warrenswcd.com or call our offices at 513-695-1337. 

Resources: 

• Penn State Extension - https://extension.psu.edu/how-can-i-control-stormwater-on-my-property
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• United States Environmental Protection Agency - https://www.epa.gov/soakuptherain/soak-rain-rain-gardens