Ohio Mixed Bag: CRP opens enrollment period

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced recently the 2026 enrollment periods for both the continuous and general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), marking 40 years since the program was first opened for enrollment. Offers will be accepted for Continuous CRP beginning Feb. 12, with the first batching period ending on March 20. The General CRP signup will run from March 9 through April 17.

“We’re still very close to the 27-million-acre statutory cap with 1.9 million acres available for all CRP enrollments this fiscal year, so enrollment is likely to be competitive,” USDA’s Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce said. “This isn’t about the total number of acres enrolled, it’s about producers and landowners offering and USDA accepting the acres that can best deliver real, lasting benefits to soil, water and wildlife.”

CRP has long been one of the nation’s most important tools for creating rural economic stability for farmers and ranchers, particularly for those managing less productive cropland. This enrollment opportunity is especially crucial for states with the highest number of acres expiring from CRP this year. Four states have over 100,000 acres expiring in 2026: Iowa, Washington, Illinois, and Kansas.

For help enrolling in CRP, landowners can locate one of the more than 400 Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever biologists throughout the United States.

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Ice Fisherman Suffers Heart Attack

Catawba Island, Ohio — A 52-year-old Upper Sandusky man suffered a heart attack and died while setting up ice fishing shanties on Lake Erie, authorities said.

Ben Eickholt worked for an ice guide service on the lake and was setting up shanties for a day of fishing on Sunday, Feb. 1, when he collapsed on the ice, according to the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office.

Other fishermen on the ice tried to perform CPR on the victim and a Coast Guard helicopter transported him to a nearby hospital where he later died, authorities said.

Authorities said finding the victim was difficult after a 911 call was fielded. Ottawa County has 320 square miles of Lake Erie to look out for, according to the sheriff, which is many more miles than the square miles of land the sheriff’s office covers.

Eickholt is survived by his wife, a son, and three daughters as well as other family, according to his obituary.

He graduated from Spencerville High School in 1992 and, according to his obituary, was an avid outdoorsman who truly loved nature.

RMEF Seeks Individual In Ohio, Indiana

Bozeman, Mont. — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is seeking a performance-motivated team player with strong interpersonal skills to engage and manage volunteer activities, event fundraising and mission-granting-program oversight in Ohio and Indiana.

Responsibilities include oversight of local volunteer chapters in organizing fundraising events, volunteer recruitment, retention and training, and oversight of the RMEF granting program in Ohio and Indiana to fund mission-related projects within these states.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s or equivalent degree in business, marketing, fundraising, communications, or related field among other items.

This position is remote however the successful candidate must be located in Ohio or Indiana.

To apply, go to www.rmef.org/careers.

Ohio Sea Grant Offering An Opportunity For Undergraduate Students

Gibraltar Island, Ohio — Stone Laboratory, Ohio State University’s island campus on Lake Erie, is seeking undergraduate students from across the country for its 2026 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Fellowship Program. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. Eastern time on Feb. 27.

The 2026 REU Fellowship is open to undergraduates from any U.S. college. The upcoming fellowship runs from June 8 through July 31. In addition to a $5,500 stipend, it includes free room and meals for the duration of the experience.

For the eight weeks of the fellowship, the REU students live on Gibraltar Island, where Stone Laboratory is located. There, they will work alongside top scientists to conduct research on aquatic ecology, environmental policy, coastal wetlands, and limnology. Through close work with research supervisors, students will use scientific equipment, collect data, and write about and present their research during the eight-week program.

Interested students applying for the REU program must submit their college transcripts, a resume, a cover letter, and two completed recommendation forms. Full application requirements and more information on the REU program can be found at go.osu.edu/reu.

— compiled from Staff, DNR, and Wire reports