USDA Closing Coshocton No-Till Research Lab

Facility has been key site for studying soil health and runoff since 1960s

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:57am

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A bold, abstract painting in muted greens, browns, and blues, featuring sweeping geometric shapes, concentric circles, and intricate botanical patterns, conveying the complex scientific principles behind sustainable farming practices.The closure of a pioneering no-till research lab signals a shift away from sustainable agriculture innovation.Coshocton Today

The USDA is shutting down its Agricultural Research Service North Appalachian Experimental Watershed Lab in Coshocton County, Ohio, as part of a broader closure of 259 domestic offices, facilities, and labs across the country. The Coshocton lab has been an important site for no-till farming research since the 1960s, testing practices to address issues like flooding, erosion, and pesticide/nutrient runoff.

Why it matters

The Coshocton lab has played a crucial role in advancing no-till farming techniques that help improve soil health and reduce environmental impacts from agriculture. Its closure is a significant loss for the no-till farming community, which relies on this kind of applied research to develop more sustainable practices.

The details

The Coshocton lab's original focus was on addressing flooding and erosion from farmland, but it later expanded to testing management practices for issues like pesticide and nutrient movement into groundwater. Consultant Bill Haddad, a longtime advocate for no-till farming, said the lab was instrumental in the nationwide adoption of no-till techniques.

  • The USDA is closing the Coshocton lab as part of a broader shutdown of 259 domestic offices, facilities, and labs across the country.
  • The Coshocton lab has been an important site for no-till research since the 1960s.

The players

USDA

The United States Department of Agriculture, the federal agency that oversees agricultural research and policy.

Bill Haddad

A consultant who has lobbied for no-till farming practices since 1969 and says the Coshocton lab was crucial to the nationwide adoption of no-till techniques.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not sure why on God's green Earth they chose that facility to close when there are other things that could have been closed that wouldn't be missed.”

— Bill Haddad, Consultant

The takeaway

The closure of the Coshocton no-till research lab is a significant loss for the sustainable agriculture community, which relied on its pioneering work to develop more environmentally-friendly farming practices. This decision raises concerns about the USDA's commitment to supporting research that can help address critical issues like soil health and water quality.