Report on the 2025 Soil Health and Water Management Field Day

Event Overview and Contribution to Global Goals

The Ohio State University (OSU) at Lima is scheduled to host the 2025 Soil Health and Water Management Field Day. This event is an extension of the university’s regenerative farming initiative, established in 2020 to advance research and educational opportunities in sustainable agriculture. The field day will focus on regenerative agricultural practices that directly support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting environmental stewardship and resilient food systems.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The event’s agenda is strategically aligned with several key SDGs, demonstrating a commitment to global sustainability targets:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: By focusing on regenerative practices such as no-till farming and cover crops, the event promotes sustainable food production systems and resilient agricultural methods essential for ensuring long-term food security.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The emphasis on water management technology, drainage water recycling, and water quality monitoring directly addresses the sustainable management of water resources and the protection of aquatic ecosystems.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: Techniques like no-till farming enhance soil carbon sequestration, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The conservation practices highlighted at the event are crucial for combating land degradation, improving soil health, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The field day serves as a platform for collaboration, uniting farmers, academic experts, industry representatives, and government personnel to foster partnerships for achieving sustainable development.

Program Highlights and Educational Objectives

The program is designed to provide comprehensive educational opportunities through a combination of expert-led discussions and practical demonstrations. The primary objectives are to disseminate knowledge on sustainable practices and facilitate stakeholder engagement.

1. Expert Presentations: The agenda includes talks by leading academic experts, industry representatives, and testimonials from farmers actively implementing regenerative techniques.
2. In-Field Demonstrations: Participants will observe practical applications of sustainable technologies and methods. Key demonstrations include:
   • Various cover crop mixes and their impact on soil health.
   • Advanced center pivot irrigation systems for efficient water use.
   • Drainage water recycling technology.
   • Water quality assessment techniques.
3. Professional Development: Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) credits will be available to attendees.

Logistical Information

• Date: August 28, 2025
• Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Location: The Ohio State University at Lima, 4240 Campus Dr, Lima, OH 45804 (Galvin Hall)
• Registration Cost: $25.00
• Target Audience: The event is intended for a diverse group including farmers, drainage contractors, state and federal agency personnel, extension educators, students, and the general public.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article about the “Soil Health and Water Management Field Day” addresses several Sustainable Development Goals by focusing on regenerative agriculture, education, and collaborative efforts for sustainable natural resource management. The following SDGs are relevant:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The core theme of regenerative agriculture, soil health, and conservation practices directly supports sustainable food production.
• SDG 4: Quality Education – The event is explicitly an educational initiative (“Field Day,” “educational opportunities,” “talks by leading experts”) aimed at various stakeholders.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – The focus on “water management,” “water quality,” and “drainage water recycling” connects directly to the sustainable management of water resources.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Regenerative agriculture is a model for sustainable production patterns that emphasizes the efficient use of natural resources like soil and water.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – Agricultural practices promoted in the article, such as “no-till” and “cover crops,” are known to improve soil health and sequester carbon, which helps mitigate climate change.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – The emphasis on “soil health” and “conservation practices” is crucial for combating land degradation and preserving terrestrial ecosystems.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The event brings together a diverse group of participants, including a university, farmers, contractors, and government agencies, fostering partnerships for sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the practices and goals described in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.4: “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems… and that progressively improve land and soil quality.” The article’s focus on “regenerative agriculture,” “no-till,” “cover crops,” and “soil health” directly aligns with implementing resilient and sustainable agricultural practices to improve soil quality.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Target 4.7: “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development…” The field day is an “educational opportunity” designed to provide “farmers, drainage contractors, state and federal agency personnel, extension educators, students and the general public” with knowledge about sustainable practices.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.3: “By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution… and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.” The mention of improving “water quality” and demonstrating “drainage water recycling” directly supports this target.
• Target 6.4: “By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors…” The event features “water management technology” and “center pivot irrigation,” which are technologies aimed at increasing water-use efficiency in agriculture.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The entire initiative, focusing on “regenerative agriculture,” “soil health,” and “water management,” is about the sustainable and efficient use of land and water resources.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Target 15.3: “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.” The promotion of practices that improve “soil health” is a direct action towards restoring degraded land and soil.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The field day is a clear example of such a partnership, involving Ohio State University (public), “farmers,” “drainage contractors” (private), and “state and federal agency personnel” (public).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

While the article is an announcement and does not contain data, it mentions or implies several practices and outcomes that can serve as indicators for measuring progress towards the identified targets:

1. Adoption of Sustainable Agricultural Practices (Implied for Target 2.4): Progress can be measured by tracking the area of farmland where practices like “no-till” and “cover crops” are adopted. The article implies that the goal of the field day is to increase the adoption of these regenerative practices.
2. Improvement in Soil Health (Implied for Target 15.3): The focus on “soil health” implies that progress could be measured by monitoring soil quality indicators, such as organic matter content, nutrient levels, and water retention capacity in the fields where these practices are implemented.
3. Volume of Recycled Water (Implied for Target 6.3): The demonstration of “drainage water recycling” suggests that a key indicator would be the amount or percentage of agricultural drainage water that is captured and reused, reducing pollution and conserving water.
4. Water-Use Efficiency (Implied for Target 6.4): The use of “water management technology” and “center pivot irrigation” implies that progress can be measured by tracking the amount of water used per unit of crop yield, aiming for an increase in efficiency.
5. Number of People Trained in Sustainable Practices (Implied for Target 4.7): The article states the event is for “farmers, drainage contractors, state and federal agency personnel, extension educators, students and the general public.” An indicator of progress would be the number of participants attending such educational events and acquiring knowledge on sustainable development.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: blufftonicon.com