Partnership helps Ottawa County farmers shift to no-till, clean watersheds

ZEELAND, Mich. (WOOD) — Ottawa Conservation District is partnering with local farmers to restore watersheds through practical solutions with its Watershed Restoration Programs. The Conservation District is separate from Ottawa County government.

The programs provide technical and financial assistance to farmers looking to make changes to their property to help restore the watershed.

Like most of the country, Ottawa County’s watersheds are currently impaired due to nonpoint source pollutants . This has led to high concentrations of contaminants like sediment, nutrients and E. coli.

Farmers partnering with the Ottawa Conservation District are working to make helpful changes to their property to improve the watersheds. The Conservation District provides technical assistance to farmers and access to grant money to pay for improvements.

“What I always like to tell people is if this practice is going to reduce nonpoint source pollutants into the water, we can probably find a way to fund it,” said Ben Jordan, watershed programs coordinator with Ottawa Conservation District.

So far, around $900,000 of grant money has been awarded to more than 40 farmers in the Ottawa County area. Money can be used for anything that will reduce nutrient-rich runoff into watersheds. Examples include the addition of cover crops, the conversion of fields to no-till farming and the installation of fencing to keep cattle — and subsequent manure — away from rivers, creeks and streams.

“Nonpoint source pollution is never going to stop, but there are things we can do to mitigate it’s effects on local water quality, like implementing agricultural practices that filter out pollutants or help keep pollutants in place rather than being carried away by surface water,” said Sarah Bowman, Ottawa Conservation District watershed and conservation specialist.

Many farmers have requested help transitioning fields and equipment to no-till farming. As the name suggests, this kind of farming allows farmers to plant directly into the ground and remnants of the previous crop without tilling. Saving the farmer time, and preserving good nutrients for the plants in the farm soil.

“We have noticed a lot of the farmers that do no-till end up having a nicer looking crop because they’re able to hold on to the water a lot easier,” said Bowman.

No-till is not a realistic solution for every farmer. It takes special equipment and years for the field to reach full efficiency. However, once converted, a no-till field saves the farmer time, money and work. The farmer doesn’t need to spend time tilling before planting each season. Water and nutrient retention is higher, which means the farmer doesn’t need to spend as much money watering or fertilizing.

“The nutrients, the soil organic matter, all the good stuff you want in the field stays in the field,” Jordan said.

The choice to partner with Ottawa Conservation District is completely voluntary, but organizers say the program has been very successful so far.

“Farmers are great at, you know, if something is working for them and they are seeing the benefits, they talk to neighbors and other farmers. And it’s great having them on our side too,” Jordan said.

Since 2015, around 25,000 acres of land have benefited from best management practices provided by the partnership with Ottawa Conservation District.

Farmers interested in partnering with Ottawa Conservation District can reach out directly.

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