APOhio News

Report: Farmers doing too little to stop Lake Erie algae

(Source: https://goo.gl/XKYnSE Licesne: https://goo.gl/sZ7V7x)

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP): A scientific report says reducing phosphorus runoff into Lake Erie enough to prevent harmful algae outbreaks will require big changes on the region’s farms.

The University of Michigan Water Center study says current efforts are falling short of what’s needed to achieve a 40 percent drop in runoff. The U.S. and Canada agreed on that target in February.

Excessive phosphorus is causing massive algae blooms, one of which forced a two-day tap water shutdown in Toledo, Ohio, in 2014.

The report says too few farmers are using voluntary best-management practices to stop runoff and stronger measures are needed, such as converting thousands of acres of cropland into grasslands.

The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation says that could put some farmers out of business.

Related posts

Benefit set for firefighters who saved Indiana storefront

AP News

Fort Wayne man gets 170 years for Prada purse-linked murders

AP News

Indiana health official: Needle exchanges save lives and money

AP News

Leave a Comment