Current Warner Grant Projects
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 Paul C. and Edna H. Warner Grants for Sustainable Agriculture!
Benchmarking the Impact of Silvopasture-By-Addition on 3 Ohio Farms
University PIs: Emma Matcham (OSU Extension), Ryan Haden (OSU Agricultural Technical Institute), Doug Jackson-Smith (OSU-SENR), Sakthi Kumaran, Marcus Nagle, and Denise Natoli Brooks (Central State University)
Farmer PIs: Charlie Eselgroth, Matt Falb, and Wendall Miller.
Other participants include Molly Sowash and Andrea Miller from Rural Action
As Silvopasture gains acceptance in modern farming techniques, many farmers are asking good researchable questions on best practices and impacts on soil health and forage production. This project will collect baseline soil properties and pasture plant diversity on three farms who have recently planted trees into existing pastures. Collecting this baseline data now will allow comparison as the trees grow in over time and growing conditions for the soil and forage change.
Quantifying the Effect of Different Cover Crops on Soil Health and Nutrient Dynamics
University PI’s: Manbir Rakkar and Sumita Sen (OSU SENR) Farmer PI: Ron Synder and Randall Horst
Other Collaborator: Van Slack SWCD
Synchronizing cover crop bound nitrogen (N) release with a cash crop’s N demands could be a serious milestone in sustainable agriculture research. This study will look at different cover crop approaches on three farms and detail how the impacts on soil health and fertility and early growth for the cash crop that follows.
They hope that the project results will explain how nitrate-N changes over time due to the presence of different cover crop species and how soil health metrics affect the soil nutrient dynamics. The project outcome will enrich databases to optimize nitrogen management in cover cropping systems and provide a path forward for discussing how to optimize fertility when using cover crops.
Evaluation of Fish By-Product As Soil Conditioner: Plant Production
University PI: Herbert Quintero (Ohio State Aquaculture Extension) and Logan Minter (OSUE Specialty Crops), Farmer PI: Michael McGraw (Roothouse Aquaponics, Batavia)
Production of fish and plants in an integrated manner, known as aquaponics, have been growing in the last 15-years, particularly in Ohio. In a previous Warner Grant, fish sludge collected from aquaponics showed potential as a soil conditioner, with high biological activity and nutrient availability. However, vegetable producers are cautious to try it and have indicated a desire to see research station evaluations first.
The team will further quantify the value of fish sludge by-product as a soil conditioner and evaluate its use on vegetable plots at Ohio State South Centers. Project leaders will grow tomatoes, pickling cucumbers, bell peppers, and pumpkins in a randomized complete block design to compare the aquaponic by-product against other OMRI-approved amendments and a non-treated control.
This project is a continuation of a 2025 Warner grant. Read results summaries for this and other finished Warner projects here.
The 2025 projects listed below are still in progress.
Road Maintenance and its Impact on Local Agriculture
PI’s: Julie Wayman (OSU Extension Educator, Ashtabula County) and Jeff Hattey (Ohio State School of Environment and Natural Resources), and six anonymous Ohio farms.
Brine from the oil and gas industry is often used to reduce dust from unpaved roads in Ashtabula County. This study will examine if using brine on roads impacts soil salinity and sodicity, heavy metal, and radiation levels in surrounding land.
Managing Weeds and Reducing Herbicides with Warm Season Cover Crops in Strawberries
University PI’s: Logan Minter (Ohio State Specialty Crops Extension), Ryan Slaughter (OSU Extension Educator, Ross County), Amanda Perkins (OSU Extension Educator, Pike County), Thom Harker (Research Assistant, OSU South Centers) Farmer PIs: Cameron Way, Steve Hirsch, Fred Weaver, and Brad Babst
Strawberry production can be tedious due to weed growth, resulting in the frequent use of herbicides. Cover crops like annual rye have been used for weed control but have proven ineffective; and many farmers are deciding not to use cover crops at all. This study will demonstrate and document the use of warm season cover crops in strawberry production, so that farmers are aware of the management and economic benefits this practice holds.