Air Quality Alert issued July 17 at 12:43AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued a statewide Air Quality Advisory for the entire state of Ohio as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to adversely impact air quality.
Pollutants across the state are expected to range from the 'Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups' category in the southwest part of the state to the 'Unhealthy' category in the rest of the state. Hourly concentrations at times may reach the 'Very Unhealthy' to 'Hazardous' categories.
It is recommended, when possible, to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory conditions like asthma. Watch for symptoms including wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in the nose, throat, and eyes.
For additional information, please visit the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's website at epa.ohio.gov.
72° 72° chance Sat 88° Sat 88° chance 66° 66° Sun 80° Sun 80°
Tuesday, July 25th, 2006
Gauging soil moisture
Photo by Nancy Allen/The Daily Standard

Larry Antosch, director of environmental programs at the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, crumbles some soil in his hand during a program last week in Celina. Looking on is Doug Foxx, organizational director of the Mercer, Auglaize, Shelby and Allen counties Farm Bureau. The program, sponsored by the Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District, focused on manure management practices and government funds available to install and/or practice conservation methods that keep manure out of ditches, creeks, rivers and other water bodies. The soil exercise was designed to help farmers determine on their own the moisture content of their soil, so they know whether or not it is safe to apply manure. About a dozen livestock producers from the area attended the program.

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