Though farm work often deals with contaminants, today’s farmers are making a concerted effort to assure
minimal runoff from their fields into public waterways.
According to Paul Herringshaw, an increasing number of producers are implementing the “4R” program on
their farms. For those not familiar, the 4R system stresses using the right fertilizer source at the
right rate, the right time and the right place.
Kirk Merritt, Ohio Soybean Council executive director, concurs, “Our organization is finding a lot of
receptivity to the program. There is a high level of awareness.”
Herringshaw, a Bowling Green farmer who has represented the Ohio Corn Marketing Program with national and
international contacts, also spoke about the investment of more than $2 million by a variety of Ohio
farm entities to assure the agriculture committee is doing its part to ensure there are healthy
watersheds in Ohio. The investment involves research conducted by Ohio State University and Ohio’s
agricultural organizations to determine how much fertilizer is making its way into the watersheds.
“We’re doing research now that will help answer some of those questions,” the soybean executive
elaborated about the $2 million project which will span three years. “We’re looking at such things as
how the dissolved phosphorus is leaving the land and getting into the water.”
He said this is similar to the time more than 30 years ago when erosion of the soil was a major problem.

“Farmers decided to be part of the solution. Today, erosion is a fraction of what it was in years past,”
Merritt said explaining both then and now farmers exemplify their willingness to step up.
While runoff has been known as a problem, the aspect of dissolved phosphorous is a “fairly recent” focus
on the problem.
The various Ohio agriculture groups have together contributed $1 million, while the U.S. Department of
Agriculture has contributed another $1 million.
“Nobody had previously monitored the dissolved phosphorous. We need to figure this out. We now have
monitoring equipment at the edge of the field.”
He said they are monitoring emissions at the surface and subsurface to develop quality scientific data.

“We will soon have specifics depending on each terrain, to determine what are the best management
practices to increase the likelihood phosphorous won’t leave the land.”
Herringshaw said he also has been assisted, in part, by funds from the Ohio Healthy Lake Erie Initiative
which was announced in March by State Senator Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green.
The local grower has installed special flow valve shut-offs along his fields which can block off or slow
down the runoff during the winter months.
“It is important to be able to shut that off as there is more nutrient loss in the winter because there
is nothing growing to use those nutrients,” Herringshaw said.
He was able to purchase and install those because of the cost share options through the initiative.
Herringshaw said, “It is a set dollar amount high enough so that the amount coming out of my pocket would
be minimal.”
Another aspect of minimizing extra nutrients involves the use of GPS and technical grid sampling.
Where once, growers would take maybe two to four soil samples across an 80-acre field, the modern method
is to take one sample every two acres, thus now taking dozens of samples in the same area.
With the modern equipment and the variable rate technology, a computer will adjust the applicator to
apply the fertilizer only as needed in the field.
“It applies the phosphorous where I need it and not where I don’t — It’s only the amount of phosphorous I
need for the crop, not a bit more,” he said.
“I know more and more farmers are taking advantage of the grid survey,” he said.
The Bowling Green farmer explained that while some large-scale growers may purchase their own equipment,
most will use or rent equipment through their fertilizer supplier.
Herringshaw believes most farmers are aware of this technology and use it for two reasons, first to be
good stewards of the land, and second to save money.
“His greatest expenditure is on fertilizer. If he can do something to save money that can still guarantee
him a good crop he’s going to make that effort,” Herringshaw added.
Merritt noted there are other major contributors to the pollution problems including municipal wastewater
treatment facilities.
“There are other sources and we hope that all of us work together to try to figure it out,” noting some
Ohio bodies of water have similar problems despite having no agriculture near them.
“It’s also fair to say that I have never come across a farmer that doesn’t want to leave the land better
than they found it,” Merritt said. “Farmers in Ohio want to do the right thing and be good stewards of
the land.”