Oops! There was some missing information about our August 24th Flower Farm Tour in yesterday's newsletter. But this one has the correct info and we hope you are able to join!

Message from the Ag Specialist

In June I had the opportunity to visit with the Allegheny County Conservation District in Pittsburgh, PA. It was inspirational to learn about their work to support agriculture in a city which has many similarities to Cincinnati. Together with their nonprofit partners, the Allegheny Conservation District has established an urban soil remediation program to help restore urban soils, bringing them back to health (and life!) to support growing food for their community.

Soil health is the foundation of both agriculture and healthy communities. We use terms like "grassroots," "putting down roots," or "growing from the root up" when referencing the origins of a movement or initiative. But roots need healthy soil in order to be strong. At the Hamilton County Conservation District we support and protect soil health and healthy communities in many ways. Read on to find out about the important soil health benefits of cover crops and how you can get attend our free cover crop workshop on July 16th. We're also running a cover crop seed sale through the month of July, so you can source high-quality seeds for your growing needs.

Regenerative agriculture is all about soil health, and our field day on August 26th will help regional farmers learn how these production methods that support the soil can also support their bottom line. The upcoming Flower Farm Tour on August 24th will feature growing practices that build soil health, support biodiversity, and enhance our communities with beauty and connection.

May your summer growing season be a success from the soil up!

Nicole Gunderman

Agriculture Specialist

Hamilton County Conservation District

Nicole Gunderman, Agriculture Specialist, recently visited Pittsburgh PA to learn about the urban soil remediation program at Allegheny County Conservation District. She is pictured here with Hayly Hoch, Community Ag & Soils Program Manager at Allegheny County Conservation District, and Sophia Sanders, Youth Programs & Volunteer Manager at Hilltop Urban Farm

Upcoming District Events

Programs for Producers

Kent Sonnenberg

Sun Mountain Dairy

Partner Programs & Events

If you would like us to include your upcoming events in this bi-monthly newsletter, please email pertinent information and a link to: nicole.gunderman@hamilton-co.org

Education Programs:

July 9-12: 4-H Community Fair, Stricker's Grove

July 12: Farming with Draft Horses, Turner Farm

July 13: Chickens to Dinosaurs, Gorman Heritage Farm

July 17-19: Maple Bootcamp, OSU College of Food, Ag & Env. Science

July 19: Greenacres Farm Tour, Greenacres

July 21: Homegrown Cannabis, Civic Garden Center

July - Sept: HUB Garden Classes, Civic Garden Center

August 2: Summer Farm to Table, Greenacres

August 2: Petals & Pours, Gorman Heritage Farm

August 6: Incredible, Edible, Insects, Civic Garden Center

August 9: Family Discovery Time: Market Magic, Greenacres

August 16: Ohio Beef Field Day, Belmont County

August 21: Policy & Pints, OEFFA & Green Umbrella event at Turner Farm

August 23: Row by Row Dinner, Gorman Heritage Farm

Aug - Sept: Farm Encounters, Gorman Heritage Farm

Conferences/Webinars:

Getting Started with Value-Added Products for Profitability

July 22 Webinar

Penn State Extension

Learn how to turn a great idea into a successful value-added food product in this informative session designed for aspiring food entrepreneurs. Participants will gain practical insight into launching a profitable value-added business, from product development and packaging to marketing, distribution, and sales within the competitive food industry. Whether you're just starting out or refining an existing concept, this session offers essential tools to help you navigate the path from concept to market. Register HERE.

North American Manure Expo

July 30-31

Fulton County Fairgrounds, Wauseon, OH

Experience top-tier local tours, educational sessions, live solid, liquid and safety focused demonstrations, along with the vast trade-show and ample networking opportunities. Don’t miss the premier outdoor event dedicated to professionalism in nutrient management!

Learn more and register HERE.

Resources

OEFFA Heartland Farmlink

This is an unprecedented time in American agriculture. The average age of farmers is approaching 60, and more than half of aging farmers looking to downsize or retire don't have successors. By using this service, you can play an important role in keeping farmland in the hands of farmers. Whether you're a farmer looking for land or a landowner looking for a farmer, we're here to help. Heartland FarmLink is free, easy to use, and regularly updated. Start by creating a profile, which can be used to securely contact farmers or landowners. Find out more HERE.

USDA Farmers.gov Dashboard

USDA has unveiled a new county-specific dashboard where you can view local farming news, cattle and commodity prices, weather data, and more. Find the Hamilton County Dashboard HERE.

GAP Certification Producer Cost Share Program

Open to farmers and food producers in Ohio, this pilot cost-share program allows Feed Our Future to support growers and food producers in readying their operations for third party audits. Third party audits are often required to enter the school supply chain via a distribution partner. This cost-share program provides support to producers that have been historically underinvested in, with a specific focus on those new, small/medium, BIPOC and businesses with owners that identified as a socially disadvantaged group. Find out more HERE.

Grant Opportunities:

Growing Tomorrow Grant - Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation

Deadline: July 31, 2025

Up to $100,000

The Growing Tomorrow Grant program provides grants to new or early-stage agricultural businesses. Grants will focus on supporting, among other activities:

• The creation of long-term sustainable employment opportunities within Ohio farming communities.
• Educational opportunities to enable better public understanding of agriculture, help farmers learn from each other, and teach new and different agricultural methodologies.
• Businesses that use or demonstrate the viability of agricultural techniques that center on environmental stewardship.
• Farmers actively working to support and sustain the communities in which they live.

Find out more and apply HERE

Regenerate Ohio Farms Grant - Elevar Fund

Deadline: Rolling applications

Up to $15,000

In response to the cancellation and ongoing uncertainty of federal funding, the Elevar Fund, in partnership with Healing Soils Foundation (HSF), is forming the Regenerate Ohio Farms Grant to offset financial disruptions and provide critical relief to Ohio farmers affected by these disruptions.

Find out more and apply HERE

Education Corner

Cover Crops

A cover crop is a plant used to enhance and protect soil health and not intended for harvest. It is planted to literally "cover the soil" over a season or time period when a harvestable crop is not growing. The most common time to use cover crops is over winter when fields and gardens are not producing a harvest. Cover crop plants typically fall into the categories of grasses, legumes (beans/peas), and brassicas (radishes/mustards). Each type of plant provides different benefits, but using cover crops in general helps to:



• Build healthy soil by boosting microbial life and nutrients
• Prevent soil erosion
• Increase water infiltration and retention
• Suppress weeds and pests
• Sequester carbon
• Promote biodiversity by attracting pollinators
• Increase crop yield over time

Some common cover crop plants are buckwheat, crimson clover, hairy vetch, cereal rye, annual ryegrass, sorghum Sudangrass, oats, Austrian winter pea, black eyed pea, and daikon radish. Some cover crop plants die off when the temperature drops below freezing, forming a protective mat of vegetation over the soil. Other cover crop plants begin to grow in the fall, become dormant over the cold winter, and then start growing again when the days get longer and the soil begins to warm. The type of cover crop you choose to plant will depend on when, what, and how you want to plant your harvestable crop that follows it.

Cover crops can be used in any size garden or farm field! Whether you are managing large acreage or a 4'x8' raised bed, cover crops are a good management practice that will enhance your soil health and your yield over time! Learn more about utilizing cover crops in small gardens and raised beds at our upcoming free workshop on July 16th!

Hamilton County Conservation District

Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) like us were established in response to the environmental devastation of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, with the mission of promoting sustainable land management practices. These districts, which exist in almost every U.S. county, work to conserve and protect local soil, water, and natural resources through education, technical assistance, and community collaboration. In agriculture, SWCDs help farmers and landowners implement practices that prevent erosion, improve water quality, and enhance soil health, supporting long-term sustainability and resilience. Hamilton County presents unique challenges as a mostly urban county, but it also has a rich and vibrant agriculture community.

Board of Supervisors

Laura Boyd - Chairperson

Steven R. Korte - Vice Chairperson

Lisa Soper - Treasurer

Ken Petren - Secretary

Jane Wittke - Program Chairperson

NRCS

John Williams, District Conservationist

Michaela Werling, Soil Conservationist

Jordan McMahon, Natural Resource Specialist

Conservation Spotlight

(513) 946-8020

www.hcswcd.org

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