OHIO AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Program Goals: • Soil health education The overall goal of the program Healthy is to “Improve Ohio’s Soil Health”. • Soil health workshops Following specific goals are • Youth education Field Days identified: Soil– Healthy • Soil health newsletter (1) To bring together researchers, Environment educators, farmers, 4-H youth, • Webinars private and public agencies, Building Ohio’s soil health and the general public through a multi-channel network (2) To assimilate research-based knowledge related to soil health using short and long-term studies in Ohio and other neighboring states The Ohio State University Extension (3) To develop educational Signature Program material, and design curricula Healthy Soil, Healthy Environment for dissemination of knowledge Agricultural Administration Building 2120 Fyffe Road (4) To organize and facilitate Columbus, OH 43210 educational and outreach Program Contacts: activities related to soil health Alan Sundermeier (5) To offer comprehensive soil Extension Educator – Wood County health assessment services 419-354-9050 [email protected] through OSU’s research lab framework Vinayak Shedekar Research Associate (6) To build partnerships and The Ohio State University South Centers collaborations for seeking 203-321-5568 grants for innovative research, [email protected] Extension and education projects related to soil health Visit us online at: and sustainable agriculture soilhealth.osu.edu

CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information: go.osu.edu/cfaesdiversity. Ohio’s Soil Health: Program Healthy soils provide the essential framework for healthy food production. The quality and quantity Overview: of our food supply depends on a reliable source of essential nutrients, water, oxygen, and root The Healthy Soils – Healthy Environment support to plants from the soil. A healthy soil is an Ohio State University Extension can increase farm productivity while reducing Signature Program that will create a environmental impacts. Soil Health Education and Outreach If the soil is exploited for intensive food Network comprised of OSU researchers, Soil Health for: Extension educators and 4-H educators. production without considering soil health, then The program’s long-term goal is to long-term productivity will be destroyed. Soils CONVENTIONAL AGRICULTURE and the ecosystem services they provide (clean help Improve Ohio’s Soil Health and HEALTHY FARMS that are Environment by educating farmers, youth air and water) will be critical in supplying food and the general public. for an expanding world population. • More Profitable due to less chemical and fertilizer inputs and higher quality The signature program will provide tools, food and curricula related to soil health, its HEALTHY SOILS that are: assessment, and management under • More Sustainable due to less water and • High in organic matter and nutrients different agricultural settings. The nutrient loss program will develop factsheets and • Have greater water infiltration and higher URBAN AGRICULTURE other educational materials for continued water holding capacity. education on soil health. Trainings, • Promoting cover crops, testing soils • Have improved soil structure and less soil workshops and field days focused for toxic contaminants, techniques for compaction on practical ways of sustainable soil sustainable food production management will be organized. The • Have greater soil nutrient efficiency with less YOUTH team of soil sicentists, and educators will nutrient runoff • Aware of soil health concepts develop curriculum for state-wide 4-H • More Productive and produce higher crop and youth-education programs. yields. • Increased knowledge of soil management and how manure can be • Resilient to drought and environmental managed through Quality Assurance stresses training. • Improve ecosystems services • Trained to understand the relationship (clean air, soil, and water) between soil health, water quality, and healthy food production. 4-H students will be trained to demonstrate soil health tools at county fair.

Healthy Soil — Healthy Water — Healthy Food — Healthy People