Cost-share
H2Ohio Agriculture Incentive Program
Ohio Department of Agriculture
What you can get
2026 nutrient management payments of $10/acre for a composite Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan or $15/acre using grid/zone variable-rate technology, plus per-acre incentives for overwintering cover and other BMPs • ODA and local SWCDs implement H2Ohio practices on more than 2.2 million acres of Ohio farmland.
- Readiness
- Local office first
- Who can apply
- producer, crop producers in eligible counties (Western Lake Erie Basin focus, expanding statewide) with current soil tests and an approved nutrient management plan
- Coverage
- OH
- Deadline & timing
- Enrollment availability is county- and cycle-specific; a currently open statewide new-producer window was not verified. Existing participants are implementing contracted practices, while some 2026 opportunities were extensions for already-enrolled producers. Contact your county SWCD before applying to confirm whether new enrollment or a waitlist is available. An approved nutrient management plan and current soil tests are required.
- Eligibility
- Ohio cropland producers work through their local SWCD and must have an approved VNMP or CNMP, with soil tests no older than four years. Nutrient-management acres paid by another county, state or federal program, including CSP practice 590, are ineligible for duplicate payment. Livestock operations may require a CNMP; confirm with the SWCD.
Optional expert service · $249
Turn program research into an application package.
An eligibility screen for one farm, a shortlist of up to three relevant programs, and draft practice justifications and a document checklist for one selected application. Delivered within 7 business days after intake.
Last verified Sep 27, 2026. Always confirm current terms and deadlines on the official site before applying.
Plan your next step
Run a quick soil assessment or ask an agronomist how this program fits your fields.