Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District Plans 2016 Budget

Representatives from the Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District met with the County Commissioners Monday to discuss the 2016 budget.

The district meets with the commissioners twice a year to give an update on expenses and plan what’s ahead for the upcoming year. This year, the district received a $5,000 grant from the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, in regards to nutrient management and water quality. District administrator, Lisa Crock, said they hope to extend that grant into 2016 to continue soil and water testing.

“We’re hoping to expand it also, this year we were only able to do about 25 fields with the $5,000, and we’re actually hoping to expand that to 40, so we’re hoping for more data, that way affecting more people,” Crock said.

Crock said they have been testing for nitrogen and phosphates, which are some of they key nutrients that have contributed to the recent algae bloom in the Ohio River.

“Our hope with this grant, is that we can give farmers here locally good, solid information for management decision, when they go to apply their fertilizer and sew their crops in the spring,” Crock said.

In the new year, Crock said the district also plans to partner with OSU Extension for grazing and nutrient management events.