Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Agriculture announced $30 million in H2Ohio funding to be used to support farmers in minimizing phosphorus runoff into Ohio’s waterways, including Lake Erie. This runoff causes algal blooms in Lake Erie that can threaten drinking water and impact health.

For the first year of the state budget biennium, H2Ohio was granted $85 million in funding. The state is making $30 million in H2Ohio funding available this year to farmers in 14 northwest Ohio counties to decrease phosphorus runoff.

Ottawa County farmers are not eligible. Farmers in Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Lucas, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams and Wood counties are eligible to apply for the first round of H2Ohio funding starting on Feb. 1.