COLUMBUS — Farmers in Northwest Ohio can receive reduced-rate financing to help offset the costs of containing and handling livestock manure.
The program, Ag-LINK Northwestern Ohio Watersheds (“Ag-LINK N.O.W.”), offers up to a 3-percent reduced interest rate on loans up to $500,000. To assist small and medium-sized livestock operations, the program seeks to reduce the cost of designing and installing structures and equipment to properly store and utilize manure in compliance with the law.
”This reduced-rate loan program can provide helpful assistance to area livestock farmers in meeting the law’s requirements,” said state Rep. Bob Cupp, R-Lima.
The program was created in response to recent legislation that was passed regarding the toxic algae blooms in Lake Erie, Cupp said. He noted Senate Bill 1 prohibits the application of manure in the Western Lake Erie Basin on frozen ground, saturated soil, or under certain weather conditions. It went into effect in July. The manure runoff that often results from its application in these conditions is believed to contribute to the toxic algae in Lake Erie and the surrounding watersheds.
Applications for the program can be submitted to the Ohio Treasurer’s office for consideration, and can be obtained on the Ohio Treasurer’s website (www.ohiotreasurer.gov/AgLinkNow), by emailing [email protected], or by calling 800-228-1102.
