Northwest Ohio farmer Dan Singer has been promoting conservation practices to develop wildlife habitats, improve soil drainage, decrease erosion, and increase crop production for over 25 years. He has been an active participant in the Farm Service Agency's (FSA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) since 1997, enrolling over 100 acres in seven different conservation practices.

Dan, a corn and soybean producer in Defiance County, has over 44 acres of filter strips and grassed waterways seeded on his farms. He is enrolled in CRP and in the Ohio Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The filter strips have dramatically decreased the need for ditch cleanings and have proven to be very effective for erosion control. According to Michael Weaver, Defiance County NRCS District Conservationist, Dan's primary soil type is Paulding Clay, which has the highest clay content in the world. This heavy clay stays suspended in runoff water during the sheet erosion process and the filter strips trap 70 to 90 percent of the sediment before it can enter any water bodies.

"Mr. Singer is to be commended on seeding such a large number of filter strips," said Michael. "This soil type requires extra effort to establish a good stand and he has been very successful in doing so."

Dan also actively promotes wildlife conservation efforts. Through CRP and the Ohio CREP, he has established wetlands, food plots, permanent native grasses, and wildlife habitats on more than 60 acres. "The food plots really help our wildlife get through the winter months," said Dan. "We are hoping to get the pheasant population built back up with our warm season grass seedings."

Since 1985, Dan has been planting with no-till equipment to reduce soil erosion. He believes it has improved the drainage and crop production in the heavy clay soils. "We also plant trees every year," said Dan. "We figure we'll never go wrong with planting trees." He transplants trees each year to areas in need of windbreaks or wildlife habitats and uses tree seedlings to replace them. Dan's tree plantings and filter strips are popular attractions for local conservation tours and presentations. His seedings are used as examples of what a good filter strip should look like. And the success of the filter strips' erosion control is pointed out to show the lack of eroded sediment in the ditches and creeks they filter.

Dan is one of the first agricultural producers to sign up when new conservation practices are available. He received the first check issued for the Defiance County CREP. Recently, Defiance County was one of four northern Ohio counties approved for establishing Bobwhite Quail habitats. The Bobwhite Quail disappeared from the area as their suitable habitats were converted to row crop farming and they had no place to go to survive the winter months. He eagerly enrolled to establish the special habitat buffer strips of warm season grasses to encourage the Bobwhite Quail to return to the area.

CRP has been ideal for helping Dan find maximum crop production using good land conservation practices. It also provides him with help establishing and maintaining wildlife habitat instead of destroying it as has been the trend for so long by so many. Dan is a lifetime member of the Fish and Game Club of Defiance County, and is a past supervisor for the Defiance County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). He is a past recipient of the Goodyear Conservation Award given annually by the SWCD to a county producer who displays outstanding conservation efforts.

Fall season grass.

Dan Singer eagerly enrolled acreage in new bobwhite quail practice to encourage the birds to return to the area.

Through CRP and CREP, Dan Singer has established wetlands and other CRP practices.

CRP filter strips installed by Dan Singer have reduced the need for ditch cleaning in Defiance County. The grass traps 70 to 90 percent of sediment runoff.