Meeting Recap: Water Quality & Newtrient LLC

Farmers from across the state gathered to hear detailed insights and participate in a conversation about water quality and nutrient management, the algal bloom on Lake Erie and the pressure we are receiving from concerned consumers. Attendees heard from the experts and key influencers who can help us be a part of the solution.

The keynote speaker was Steve Rowe, CEO of Newtrient LLC, who shared how his newly created company, which is owned by dairy farmers, is working on future alternatives for manure management and potentially generating new revenue from innovative harvesting of nutrients from manure. He also shared insights into the goals that they have set to benefit dairy farmers of all sizes.

Other speakers include:

• Karl Gebhardt, Ohio EPA, introduced the State of Ohio’s Western Lake Erie Basin Collaborative Implementation Plan to reduce phosphorus moving into Lake Erie by 40%.
  
  
• Libby Dayton, OSU, provided insights into how the Ohio Phosphorus Risk Index is being updated and details on the Edge of Field Monitoring Research currently underway in the Western Lake Erie Basin.
  
  
• Karen Scanlon, Innovation Center for US Dairy, provided insights into how dairy farmers are forming collaborative efforts that develop and advance resources to track the dairy community’s continuous improvement and that increase consumer awareness of dairy sustainability success.
  
  
• Scott Higgins, ODPA, shared how ODPA is addressing water quality and nutrient management issues on behalf of Ohio’s dairy farmers and an update on HB 297, legislation to secure financial support for livestock farms investing in more manure storage and field application equipment. He also provided details about ODPA’s business and advocacy plan, and a new statehouse communication and education effort to inform legislators and consumers about how farmers care for the environment.