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Water quality

Water is a critical resource for life on earth!

We use water for many purposes, not just drinking and washing. The stewardship of water rests on all of us, but especially those who grow our food. Inputs to food production systems may not always stay put. Growers are continuously addressing concerns of fertilizer run-off and soil erosion. This set of materials helps illustrate how water is affected by human activities, one of which is food production.

A global pandemic doesn't stop water quality research
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A global pandemic doesn't stop water quality research‍

Every state that touches the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico or one of the Great Lakes has a Sea Grant Program. Sea Grant Programs are modeled after Land Grant Institutions, and take the research results and disseminate the information…
Aquaculture
e-learning

Aquaculture

How are fish benefiting from soy feed? The global demand for protein is rising due to increasing urbanization, rising incomes and the growth of the middle class. Seafood consumption is increasing, as seafood is a comparatively inexpensive source of protein. Learn how a new type of soy-based feed decreases the environmental impact of aquaculture, making it more sustainable.
Barry McGraw
leader

Barry McGraw

Director, Product Development and Commercialization at the Ohio Soybean Council
Knows about: stem, aquaculture, engineering, research and development, soy-based products, soybeans.
Bill Bayliss
leader

Bill Bayliss

Member, Ohio Soybean Council Board of Trustees
Knows about: farming, soybeans, aquaculture, Logan County.
Cover crops and water quality
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Cover crops and water quality‍

Cover crops can directly impact water quality. With all the attention being given to improving water quality and reducing nutrient loads going into Ohio’s waterways, farmers are encouraged to consider a multifaceted approach of best management…
Elizabeth Toot-Levy
leader

Elizabeth Toot-Levy

Project Scientist at Geosyntec Consultants
Knows about: clean water act, environment, geosyntec consultants, water quality.
G. Keymah Durden
leader

G. Keymah Durden

Co-founder, Rid-All Green Partnership
Knows about: agriculture education, aquaculture, elementary, urban farming, soil science.
Greg LaBarge
leader

Greg LaBarge

Field Specialist, Agronomic Systems at The Ohio State University Extension
Knows about: ohio state university, agronomist, extension, nutrients, plant science, water quality.
H2Know digital case study
unit 1 lesson

H2Know digital case study

How might water quality be improved? The H2Know case study invites students to investigate water quality in Lake Erie. Students will gather information about the problem, consider potential contributors and environmental factors, review…
Harold Watters
leader

Harold Watters

Retired Associate Professor, Field Specialist for Agronomic Systems
Knows about: ohio state university, extension, farming, nutrients, soybeans, water quality.
Here, fishy fishy: aquaculture systems
unit 5 lessons

Here, fishy fishy: aquaculture systems

How does soymeal feed compare to fishmeal feed when raising Tilapia in an aquaculture system? Take on multiple roles within an aquaculture farm including set-up and maintenance of tanks, test water quality, investigate possible feed sources and monitor fish health and growth.
Libby Dayton
leader

Libby Dayton

Soil Scientist at the Ohio State University
Knows about: ohio state university, nutrients, plant science, water quality, soil science.
More initiatives to improve water quality
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More initiatives to improve water quality‍

Ohio is thirsty for some quality H2O, but the legislature has recently struggled with how to get it. After debating two separate water quality bills for over a year, the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate finally passed H.B. 7 in…
Ohio 2022 water quality status report released
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Ohio 2022 water quality status report released‍

From trends in soil tests that show marked improvement in water quality over the last 20 years, to the ongoing on-farm best practices research being done in northwest Ohio to help farmers find the best nutrient management solutions for them, water…
Phosphorus dynamics in water and soil
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Phosphorus dynamics in water and soil‍

Largely blamed for many of the water quality issues we hear about today, phosphorus is one of the primary nutrients in crop production.
Reducing nitrogen runoff
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Reducing nitrogen runoff‍

Healthy soils keep our nutrients recycling, plant available, and result in less nitrogen pollutions (less N runoff or N lost as atmospheric gases).
Solving water quality problems
article

Solving water quality problems

Too much phosphorus in water can harm plant and aquatic animal life or cause phytoplankton ‘blooms’. The higher levels of phosphorus are usually caused by sewage, industrial, and agricultural run-off. Fertilizers on residential lawns also contribute…
The OG of water quality
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The OG of water quality‍

The positive impact to water quality as a result of farmers taking ownership and taking action should not be understated.
two-stage ditch and sod waterways pulling a farm together
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two-stage ditch and sod waterways pulling a farm together‍

“Using conservation practices allows us to mitigate some of the variability. We now use cover crops to try to keep something living in the soil all year around.”
Water quality
unit 3 lessons

Water quality

What affects water quality in your area? Access to clean water is a critical issue in many countries. In the United States there are few places where we cannot find clean water to drink or swim in. This unit explores some of the potential…
Water quality
e-learning

Water quality

What factors are used to judge water quality? What human activities might lead to cultural eutrophication and harmful algal blooms? Students will learn about the process and effects of cultural eutrophication and describe ways to reduce risk.
Water quality, a statewide issue
article

Water quality, a statewide issue

Cameron Spencer’s 7th grade science class at West Liberty Salem Middle School completed water quality tests as part of their Water, Air & Space unit. The class discussed the concepts of non-point source pollution, water quality issues, and basic…
Water quality and human impacts
unit 3 lessons

Water quality and human impacts

Why is water quality important? How is water quality measured? The US EPA has set water quality standards in accordance with the Clean Water Act: Water quality standards are important because they help to protect and restore the quality of the Nation’s…
Water quality e-learning increases understanding
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Water quality e-learning increases understanding

What do your students know about algal blooms? Our free e-learning course will help them understand what causes the problem and how farmers are working to help the environment. Melissa Abrams, a teacher at Hillsdale High School, attended the Ohio…
Watersheds, wetlands and water quality data analysis
unit 4 lessons

Watersheds, wetlands and water quality data analysis

Why is water quality important? What factors impact water quality? This unit will discuss the importance of water quality, describe several impacts to water quality, and include a data analysis activity that students complete to determine how wetlands play a role in…