Description
How do we stop the rain from washing excess phosphorus into tributaries of Lake Erie? Farmers and conservationists have been working on this question for years, but with added urgency since last summer’s phosphorus-fed algal bloom shut off Toledo’s water supply for three days.
Experts from throughout the Lake Erie basin gathered on a Fulton County farm to demonstrate tools and techniques they hope will help reduce agriculture’s contribution to the algae problem.
The event, titled “Field to Lake – Soil, Science, and Water Working Together,” featured several examples of methods being used to keep nutrients like phosphorus on the fields and out of the waters of Lake Erie.
Joe Nester spoke at the event. Joe Nester is owner / consultant with Nester Ag. He has been involved in agricultural management for 35 years; managing a large retail fertilizer business until 1993 when he started Nester Ag. Joe is a past president of the Ohio Association of Independent Crop Consultants, past Board Chairman of the Ohio Certified Crop Advisers, and a Director with Brookside Laboratories, Inc. He received the National No-till Consultant Award from No-Till Farmer magazine, as well as the Ohio No-till Innovator Award from the Ohio No-till Council.
