Ohio Farmers Survive Drought with At-Risk Regenerative Ag Funds

TL/DR –

Ohio, which experienced its driest August on record after its eighth wettest spring, saw farmers using regenerative farming techniques have better crop yields than expected despite the drought. Regenerative farming practices, such as no-till and the use of cover crops, can help cultivate healthy, carbon-rich soil and retain moisture, but the costs can be prohibitive for farmers. Despite this, incentives for these practices were cut by Republican lawmakers in July, which could impact future crop yields, particularly in the state’s northwest where the majority of its farms are located.

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Ohio’s Recurring Drought-Flood-Drought Cycles Tamed by Regenerative Farming Amidst Budget Cuts

The unpredictable weather in Ohio this year, which included the eighth wettest spring and driest August on record, posed a severe challenge to crop yields across the state. One group of farmers in the northwest region, however, experienced better-than-expected yields, thanks to their regenerative agricultural practices. These practices involve cultivating carbon-rich soil, which can help crops withstand varying weather conditions.

Agroecologists across the drought-stricken region observed that farmers using regenerative techniques outperformed the initially dismal yield forecasts. Fulton County farmer, Les Seiler, who has been practicing regenerative agriculture for 39 years, said, “I know [regenerative farming] helped. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

Although these beneficial farming methods are expensive to implement, farmers previously enjoyed state and federal incentives to offset the costs. Unfortunately, these incentives were gutted by Republican lawmakers in July, placing the burden squarely on the farmers.

The drought was recorded as extreme at the farm owned by Dustin “Dusty” Sonnenberg, a corn, soybean, and hay farmer in Henry County. Despite the harsh conditions, Sonnenberg stated that regenerative practices, like no-till and the use of cover crops, were the “difference makers.” These methods helped retain moisture from the wet spring, aiding crops to survive the subsequent dry spell.

Healthy Soil is Key

Soil physicist, Rattan Lal, from Ohio State University revealed that for every one percent increase in organic matter content, fields can hold around 4,000 additional gallons of water per acre. Lal emphasized the importance of healthy soil, stating, “Soil is a living entity … we must make sure that they are not starved, that they are given food to eat.”

However, non-regenerative farming practices, such as excessive tillage and over-reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, can deplete the soil of nutrients and disrupt its natural cycle. This leads to lower crop yields, reduced carbon sequestration, and increased pollution.

Despite these challenges, Laura Lindsey, a soybean agronomist at Ohio State University, noted that soybeans performed better than expected statewide this year. However, northwest Ohio saw decreased yields for both corn and soybeans compared to the rest of the state.

Regenerative Farming and Politics

Northwest Ohio is both the state’s primary agrarian region and the main recipient of funds from H2Ohio, a program that incentivizes regenerative farming to reduce runoff pollution into Lake Erie. In July, however, Republican lawmakers slashed H2Ohio’s budget by over $100 million, prompting serious concerns about the future of regenerative farming in the state.

Concurrently, lawmakers at the federal level removed the mandate to prioritize agricultural practices that sequester carbon. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Donald Trump, shifted the focus from regenerative practices to broader agricultural conservation funds and tax incentives for buying heavy machinery and fertilizers.

While farmers can still receive subsidies for regenerative practices, they now compete with cheaper, less impactful alternatives. This makes it more difficult for them to cover the economic costs associated with implementing regenerative farming practices.

Seiler and Lal both stress the importance of finding creative funding solutions to support soil health. Seiler believes in a combination of cash incentives and tax benefits for landowners who adopt regenerative farming. Lal endorses a “Soil Health Act,” which would pay farmers $50 per metric tonne of carbon sequestered through regenerative practices.

The changing climate has been making weather patterns unpredictable, causing hardship for Ohio farmers. The use of regenerative farming practices has proven to be a viable solution to these challenges. However, the recent withdrawal of financial incentives for sustainable farming has cast a shadow over their future use.

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