Testimonials of Farmers

Dan Heitzman installed a filter strip on his farm in Continental, Ohio.

Filter Strips

When Dan Heitzman had difficulties farming an unstable riverbank, the best choice for him was to install filter strips. In recent years, he independently installed three filter strips on other farms.
"It reduces the amount of sediment going into the river. To me, it's very little land to lose for the benefits we gain from it."
"It keeps the giant ragweed from creeping into the fields. In the long run, it will save money."

Chuck Gates is Manager of Crop and Soil Service, a private business in Fostoria.

Efficient Farming

Agri-businessman Chuck Gates boasts, "We've noticed that where filter strips have been installed we are seeing much smoother fields as a result of the buffer strip program. From an industry standpoint, buffer strips keep soil particles, pesticides, and fertilizer from getting into streams and creeks."
"Buffer strips have helped square up some crop fields. This allows us as custom applicators to make quicker and accurate applications. The buffer strip program pays for voluntary compliance."
"The buffer strip program is a good partnership between farmers, agri-business, and conservation agencies. Buffer strips also help us control traffic on fields. Farmers can park their grain trucks on these areas during harvest."

Lyle and Phil Shaffer installed nearly 5 miles of windbreaks on their Wood County farm.

Windbreaks

"It is a very good product because it keeps trees on your land for wildlife and wind erosion control and different aspects of what trees can do for our ecology. They should be considered a must."
"As you drive up and down the road sometimes you see where they plow right up to the ditch bank and then that washes in. But if you use buffer strips, it keeps your ditch a lot cleaner and it's easy maintenance."
"You can't just look at it in terms of economics. There's a certain amount of stewardship that has to be considered," declares Wood County farmer Lyle Shaffer. 

John Duncan installed a 2-acre development on his Wapakoneta farm to provide habitat for ducks and geese.

Wetlands

John Duncan explains, "My whole vision was to improve the land overall. Any water that flows off the property has no chemicals and that's an advantage to the public."
"I enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to provide habitat for wildlife. In our area, the pheasants haven't had the opportunity to survive, and now it's working."
"Just (converting) the land into grassland would have been much easier. But the wetlands provide much more. I wanted something that would blend the layout of the land and provide a wildlife benefit."

Richard Boehr- Allen County

Windbreaks

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Boehr explain, “It got to blowing sand so bad we really got very discouraged. We actually had dust on our window sills inside. That really set it up for me. I said, ‘Enough of this!’.”
“We're absolutely more convinced each day about the benefits of the windbreak we planted. We used to have the roofer out here every year to repair shingles on the barn. Since we have had the windbreak we have not had to do that in 8 years. Don't’ put it off. Plant it now so you can get benefits from it.”