Ohio Soil Health Initiative

The Ohio Soil Health Initiative (OSHI) is a coalition of farmers, organizations, soil scientists, and agency representatives committed to improving soil health. Farmers realize multiple positive outcomes from soil health investments. We can do more to provide resources and support to ensure their success in implementing validated soil health practices.

OSHI has worked to establish a healthy soils task force to continue the process of hearing directly from farmers about their current practices, additional measures they want to adopt, and barriers they face in doing so. The task force will also review legislation that has been implemented in states across the country to identify best practices for Ohio.

The Benefits of Soil Health are Clear

Healthy soils hold more water, reduce run-off, and protect water quality. Healthy soil practices build soil fertility, reducing the need for fertilizer and providing a positive return on investment for farmers. Additionally, as we see the impacts of ever-increasing extreme weather events, these practices also build on-farm resilience and sequester carbon to mitigate harmful greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

OSHI Members

Policy Grounded in Farmer Experiences and National Expertise

Our collective work on soil health is grounded in the experience and needs of Ohio farmers. OEFFA has held listening sessions to gather feedback on current soil health practices, additional practices farmers want to use, and the barriers and challenges they face in doing so. This, along with regular consultation with our member leaders and engagement from our caucus members, will help us to learn from their experience and to identify policies and programs that will best serve those needs.

OEFFA is also a member of the National Healthy Soils Policy Network, an incubator for state-level healthy soils policy across the country. We are also members of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the National Organic Coalition.

Contact us today to share your interest in soil health and be part of this work!