H2Ohio Reminders
We’ve met with all of our current participants in the H2Ohio program and have been gathering the necessary information to verify crop year 2024 practices.
- 2024 Nutrient Management Documentation: If you have any outstanding documentation needed to complete crop year 2024 nutrient management, please get it to us as soon as possible.
- DEADLINE: January 31 – Last day to turn in information for 2024 Cover Crops/2024 Small Grain maps/locations: We have set a strict deadline for gathering cover crop and small grain establishment locations – January 31, 2025. Please provide us with planting maps or field names/locations by this date. This includes new producers to the program for crop year 2025 who planted overwintering cover crops by November 1, 2024.
- DEADLINE: March 15 – 2024 Cover crop, 2024 Small Grains, and 2024 Forage documents: March 15, 2025 is the last day to turn in 2024 cover crop/2024 forage seed tags, bills, tests, and/or total weight, and double crop seed bills (if you planted a double crop behind your 2024 small grains).
Practice Specific Reminders
Cover Crops
- Cover crops must be maintained until March 15. No fall or winter full-width tillage is permitted.
- Strip-till and tilling are allowed, but producers may not work-down tile lines until after March 15.
- Crop can be harvested as a forage or grazed after March 15.
- Manure and/or fertilizer, based on voluntary nutrient management plans (VNMP) can resume after March 15.
Small Grains
- No full-width tillage or any Phosphorus-containing fertilizer and/or manure applications are allowed after the cover crop is planted or the double crop is harvested or until March 15. Exceptions apply for tile work and strip tillage fertilizer placement.
Forage Requirements
- Forage fields shall be maintained until March 15. This means no full-width tillage and no Phosphorus-containing fertilizer and/or manure applications during this period. Exceptions apply for tile work and strip tillage fertilizer placement.
- Payment will not be made if the overwintering forage residue is too close cut. The standard says that residue must be a minimum of 4 inches tall by October 15 each year.
- Payments for forages are to be made in the spring of the year following establishment and every spring it’s enrolled as a forage thereafter.
Soil Tests for Nutrient Management
- Soil tests cannot be older than 4 years. If you are not on a regular schedule, please make sure that you check which fields require updated soil tests this fall.
**As an H2Ohio participant, you are responsible for following the standards/guidelines for the above practices. If you need additional copies of the practice standards, we are happy to supply them. **
