WOOSTER, Ohio — Pipeline projects are crossing the state of Ohio, leaving landowners with questions about the impact these projects will have on their farms, according to Rory Lewandowski, extension educator with Agriculture and Natural Resources in Wayne County.

 

He said many farmers across the state have easements related to current pipeline construction projects on their properties. And, they have questions about how those projects will impact the productivity on their farms and how they can ensure that the soil is put back in a way that it will continue to produce good crops.

To answer those questions and offer solutions, the Wayne County extension office has teamed up with the county’s Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Bureau to sponsor a meeting on Pipeline Easement Soil Restoration. It’s set for August 28 at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute’s Skou Hall, Room 100, 6:30-8 p.m.

“For anyone involved in agriculture, soil productivity and health is directly related to output and, ultimately, economic viability and sustainability,” said Lewandowski. “As oil and gas pipeline construction takes place across Wayne County farmland, many landowners have questions about the impact of that construction on the productivity of the pipeline easement land.”

He said the meeting will address management practices the landowner can implement to restore the construction easement to a productive soil, and what kind of a timeline may be necessary. The program will include presentations from Steve Culman, extension soil fertility specialist, who will cover what is known about pipeline construction impacts upon soil productivity, recovery times, construction practice effects on soil physical properties and possible steps to restore land productivity.

Adam Liston, Wayne County SWCD and John Knapp, Wayne County NRCS, will discuss some of the concerns and issues with the pipeline easements related to soil quality, and recommendations for protecting the soil after construction, including planting recommendations.

There will be time for questions, comments and  “lessons learned” from participants to close the meeting. Skou Hall is located on Garrison Drive off of State Road 250 (1328 Dover Road) on the ATI Wooster campus. There is no charge to attend the meeting but pre-registration is requested so that adequate copies of handout materials are available. For more information about the meeting, call the Wayne County extension office at 330-264-8722.