H2Ohio Agricultural Incentive Program

H2Ohio is Ohio's water quality initiative. Through its agricultural program, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) pays farmers per acre to adopt best management practices (BMPs) that reduce the nutrient runoff behind harmful algal blooms. Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) help deliver it. Once offered only in the 24 Western Lake Erie Basin counties, the program now covers farmers in 75 counties.

• Ohio farmers with cropland in the H2Ohio program area (75 counties).

• Every participant must have a Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan (VNMP), reviewed and approved by the local SWCD. Livestock operations producing more than 350 tons, or 100,000 gallons of liquid manure, a year need a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) instead.

• Acres already receiving payment for the same practice under another county, state or federal program (such as EQIP, a separate H2Ohio contract or MWCD) are not eligible.

Payments are per acre per year, made after practice requirements are verified:

• Basic VNMP/CNMP implementation: $10/acre/year.

• Precision VNMP/CNMP implementation: $15/acre/year.

• Subsurface phosphorus placement: $20/acre/year on eligible acres, for up to two years.

• Manure utilization: $35/acre/year for dry manure and $60/acre/year for all other manure, plus a $15/acre/year bonus for fields averaging under 25 ppm Mehlich-III phosphorus.

• Overwintering cover: $40/acre/year.

Rates are from ODA's practice standards dated April 10, 2025, linked from H2Ohio's farming practices page.

Enrollment runs through your county Soil and Water Conservation District, which reviews and approves your nutrient management plan and verifies practices. Plans are built in ODA's MyFarms application. For current sign-up periods, contact your county SWCD or H2Ohio at H2Ohio@agri.ohio.gov or 614.752.9817.