Town Hall Ohio

From the continued growth of the H2Ohio water quality initiative to the recent soil test research from The Fertilizer Institute, data shows farmers are making progress in the ongoing efforts to protect clean water throughout Ohio. Two members of the Ohio Farm Bureau team are heavily involved in many of those efforts and on this Our Ohio Weekly, Ohio Farm Bureau's Dr. Larry Antosch, senior director of policy development and environmental policy and Jordan Hoewischer, director of water quality and research, share the results of the 2022 Ohio Water Quality Status Report. 00:00 - Antosch and Hoewischer give the details of the 2022 Water Quality Status Report. 23:50 - As we continue to feature Ohio Farm Bureau state trustees “To the Beat of Agriculture”, this week hear from the representative of District 12, Kyle Walls. He talks about how he came into agriculture as a first generation farmer and how taking a job all the way in South Dakota helped cement his future in the Buckeye State. 32:20 - With county fair

From conservation to disaster assistance, crop insurance to Farm Bill programs, the Farm Service Agency has many important tasks falling under its purview. They work with dairy farmers, livestock producers, row crop farmers, beginning farmers, specialty crop farmers, beekeepers and just about everyone who contributes to the front end of our food supply system. That means there is always something to talk about when it comes to FSA and we will have that discussion with the new executive director of Ohio FSA on this Our Ohio Weekly. 00:00 - Ohio FSA Director John Patterson talks about his new role and the goals he has set for himself and his team throughout the state. 16:50 - Director Patterson has been impressed with the early success of H2Ohio and shares his views are what farmers are doing and will need to do in order to maintain healthy soils on the farm and clean water for all Ohioans. 23:50 - On this “To the Beat of Agriculture”, meet Ohio Farm Bureau’s District 8 Trustee, Roger Baker. Hear about his l

Journalism is changing. With the consolidation of small newspapers and mergers of some of Ohio’s larger media outlets, small towns aren’t getting a whole lot of attention these days. But two journalists are looking to rural Ohio for stories and sharing what they find with the entire nation. Emma Davis and Céilí Doyle have covered agriculture, education, broadband, infrastructure and many other challenges and opportunities for Ohio less populated areas. On this Our Ohio Weekly, meet these off-the-beaten-path reporters and find out what they are learning about rural Ohio. 00:00 - Reporters Emma Davis and Céilí Doyle discuss the challenges of covering rural Ohio for their respective news outlets and how becoming entrenched in the people and the stories of those parts of the state have impacted their reporting. 23:50 - As we feature more Ohio Farm Bureau state trustees “To the Beat of Agriculture”, this week we meet the organization’s District 19 Representative. Learn about John Mossbarger’s background in the e

The goal of USDA Rural Development is to help improve the economy and quality of life in rural America by offering loans, grants and loan guarantees to help create jobs and support economic development and essential services such as housing; health care; first responder services and equipment; and water, electric and communications infrastructure. They also offer technical assistance and information to help agricultural producers and cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their operations. Ohio’s USDA Rural Development office has a new state director. Meet Jonathan McCracken on this Our Ohio Weekly. 00:00 - Director McCracken gives an overview of his agency and what his new role entails, as well as some of the challenges and opportunities facing USDA Rural Development in Ohio. 23:50 - On this “To the Beat of Agriculture”, hear from a Washington County farmer representing Ohio Farm Bureau’s District 17 as a state trustee. Learn about how Al Miller now owns his family farm and the importanc

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It is well known how big of a challenge mental health in the U.S. is, but very few realize how rural parts of our country are being impacted. A new nonprofit, Rural Minds, was launched last year to provide rural Americans with efficient access to existing mental health service organizations and address the importance of overcoming the stigma around mental health challenges. 00:00 - The Founder of Rural Minds, Jeff Winton, talks about why he started the non-profit organization to combat mental health challenges in rural America and if progress is being made in breaking down the stigmas that come along with the issue. 23:50 - On this week’s “To the Beat of Agriculture”, hear from a Zanesville resident whose family farm has operated since the 1800’s. Learn more about Ohio Farm Bureau State Trustee Matt Bell’s operation and his hopes for the next generation of farmers in his family. 32:20 - Farm Bureau has been working to encourage conversations about stress and mental hea

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has many divisions to assist the just as many important aspects of American agriculture. Conservation is one of the most valuable attributes of farming, as it keeps farms viable for the long term, which allows farm families to continue the tradition of raising products used for food, fuel and fiber generation after generation. This week, learn more about the agency that provides farmers with financial and technical assistance to use conservation to help the environment and agriculture succeed as we visit with Ohio’s Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. 00:00 - Newly appointed Ohio NRCS Chief John Wilson talks about stepping into his new role and some of the challenges and goals he has for his agency moving forward. 23:50 - On this week’s “To the Beat of Agriculture”, hear from the President of Ohio Farm Bureau, Bill Patterson, as he shares his story of diving into agritourism and how Farm Bureau truly begins in your community with the local farmer. 32:20 -

Throughout the U.S., there has been growing interest in alternative meat options, including plant-based and lab-grown meat. A team of researchers in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University recently surveyed 1,250 Ohio consumers and 130 Ohioans who identified themselves as members of the agricultural industry to better understand how consumers would like to learn about meat option, as well as industry perceptions regarding meat and plant-based alternatives. On this Our Ohio Weekly, we'll go over the results. 00:00 - Dr. Joy Rumble, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership at Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences highlights the findings of their meat options survey. 23:50 - On this “To the Beat of Agriculture, we’ll hear from the First Vice President of the Ohio Farm Bureau and learn how Cy Prettyman’s passion for livestock as a child turned into a 30-year (and counting) agricultu

Last week, The Biden Administration discussed how its strategy to spur the development of homegrown biofuels is critical to expanding Americans’ options for affordable fuel in the short-term and to building real energy independence in the long-term by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. The President announced new steps to achieve that goal by increasing fuel supplies, offering more consumer choices, and reducing gasoline prices for Americans. On this Our Ohio Weekly, we talk about the role of biofuels in the President's announcement and how the future of homegrown energy looks. 00:00 - Troy Bredenkamp, Senior VP for Government and Public Affairs with the Renewable Fuels Association and Donnell Rehagen, CEO, Clean Fuels Alliance America talk about what The Biden Administration’s biofuels announcement means for their industries and what the future of ethanol and biodiesel could look like. 16:50 - 23:50 - “To the Beat of Agriculture” as we meet more Ohio Farm Bureau board members, hear from the current

Recently, food and agriculture groups released the sixth annual Feeding the Economy report, a historic farm-to-fork economic analysis revealing how these sectors influence the local and broader United States economies. The report shows that 1.5 million jobs in Ohio are tied to food and agriculture and those industries add over $10 billion dollars to the state’s bottom line annually. As those numbers continue to grow, so does the need for improved and additional infrastructure and the recruitment of more workers into these career paths. JobsOhio is a major part of those efforts and on this Our Ohio Weekly, Ty visits with the organization’s Senior Director of Food & Agribusiness, Tim Derickson. 00:00 - Tim Derickson, Senior Director of Food & Agribusiness at JobsOhio shares the agency’s mission and a recent study about Innovation and Infrastructure in Ohio. 23:50 - On this “To the Beat of Agriculture”, hear from the Representative of the 13th District, Jerry Lahmers. He represents Ohio Farm Bureau members in

Each year, Ohio Farm Bureau hosts AgriPOWER, designed specifically for farmers and agribusiness professionals. This year-long program focuses on public policy issues confronting agriculture and the food industry such as consumer relations, regulations, energy, and trade policies. It helps individuals develop the skills necessary to become effective leaders and advocates for agriculture by learning from experts in these fields. On this Our Ohio Weekly, hear from some recent graduates of AgriPOWER and find out more about the program. 00:00 - Melinda Witten, Senior Director, Leadership Development with Ohio Farm Bureau, Christine Snowden from Franklin County and Greg Tholen from Highland County talk about the AgriPOWER program and some of the takeaways from being a part of Class XII. 23:50 - On this episode of “To the Beat of Agriculture”, meet Chris Weaver, Ohio Farm Bureau Board Trustee representing the 1st District of Defiance, Fulton, Henry and Williams Counties. He talks about his California roots and the

Last month, the Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative released their findings of the 2021 Assessment Survey Report on practices being used by farmers in the Lower Maumee watershed to manage water and nutrients. The survey results establish a baseline of adoption for various farming practices in the Lower Maumee watershed. The information will allow for a more targeted approach to help increase some practices, while also displaying that some practices are already adopted at an adequate level. What do the results tell us? What are farmers doing right and what could be improved to protect soil and water? On this Our Ohio Weekly, learn about the entire report from Kris Swartz, farmer and Chair, Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative, Jordan Hoewischer, Director of Water Quality and Research, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and Dr. John Fulton, Professor and Extension Specialist, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University. 00:00 - Swartz, Fulton and Hoewischer talk abo

Some important deadlines are looming for farmers wanting to join the nearly 2,000 already signed up for the H2Ohio water quality program. To date, over 1 million acres have Voluntary Nutrient Management Plans, a key component of H2Ohio. This week, we visit with the Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Dorothy Pelanda, to find out more about the initiative, and other important items, like food security and their work with county fairs, that fall under the purview of ODA. 00:00 - Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dorothy Pelanda discusses the success of H2Ohio in northwest Ohio and how her agency has helped farmers through the recent challenges in Ohio’s food supply chain. 16:50 - The Ohio Dairy Action Group is taking what are have learned from industry experts and created policy to help dairy farmers across the state remain viable. Ohio Farm Bureau’s Brandon Kern has the details. 23:50 - In a new series of “To the Beat of Agriculture” segments, we highlight Ohio Farm Bureau state trustees.

From Waters of the U.S., to the Enlist herbicide ban, to the Renewable Fuels Standard, EPA has ruffled quite a few feathers in agriculture lately. As those challenges come, organizations like Farm Bureau jump in and join in the conversation to make sure the agency has all of the information needed when new ideas that may have an impact on farmers across the country are introduced. On this Our Ohio Weekly, find out about new policies being put forth by the EPA and what Farm Bureau is doing to help them make sure their rules make sense for everyone involved. 00:00 - Ryan Yates, Managing Director of Public Policy with American Farm Bureau and Brandon Kern, Senior Director of State and National Policy with Ohio Farm Bureau talk about the latest developments from the EPA in regards to Waters of the U.S. 16:50 - Yates and Kern discuss the diverse challenges that have come from the EPA over the past year. 23:50 - On this edition of “To the Beat of Agriculture'', we’ll hear from the winner of the Ohio Farm Bureau’

At Ohio Farm Bureau, we keep our eyes on many things that may impact our members and their way of life. Most of the time that would be proposed legislation or regulation, but we also keep tabs on litigation at the local, state and federal levels. At Farm Bureau’s recent Ag Day at the Capital, nearly 350 members traveled to Columbus to visit with lawmakers and were invited to a special panel to hear from some very important people, including Supreme Court Justices Pat DeWine and Patrick Fischer, for an inside look at the workings of the highest court in Ohio. 00:00 - Ohio Supreme Court Justices DeWine and Fischer talk about how their backgrounds molded their judicial philosophies. 16:50 - The Justices talk about how input from organizations like Ohio Farm Bureau impact their decisions from the bench. 23:50 - On this edition of To the Beat of Agriculture, meet the recipient of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association’s Young Cattleman of the Year Award. Learn about Zane Gross’ background, challenges the cattle indus

According to the USDA Economic Research Service, food-at-home prices increased 3.5 percent and food-away-from-home prices increased 4.5 percent in 2021. That trend looks to continue throughout this year with the food we eat at home predicted to increase between 1.5 and 2.5 percent, and food-away-from-home prices are predicted to increase between 3.5 and 4.5 percent. This, of course, has an impact on every American in a different way, but why are food prices so high and what types of food items are being affected the most? On this Our Ohio Weekly, we talk food prices and inflation. 00:00 - Dr. Zoë Plakias, Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics at Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences shares her latest findings about food prices and inflation 16:50 - As winter weather continues, farmers are quickly turning attention to 2022 farm planning. Factors like farm labor availability and supply chain disruptions potentially compli

The average Ohio farm real estate value, including land and buildings, averaged $6,600 per acre last year, according to the National Ag Statistics Service. That’s a 3.9 percent increase from 2020. Ohio’s cropland value was $6,800, an increase of 5.3 percent from the previous year and pasture values in the Buckeye State were up 2.1 percent from 2020 at $3,440 per acre. On this Our Ohio Weekly, find out what has caused this spike in land values and if the bubble will pop anytime soon. 00:00 - Randy Dickhut, senior vice president of real estate operations with Farmers National Company and Chip Carpenter, Auctioneer/Broker at United Country Real Estate & Auction Services discuss what they are seeing when it comes to farmland values across Ohio and the Corn Belt. 16:50 - Dickhut and Carpenter talk about how today’s land market compares to the 1980’s and if the land value bubble will pop. 23:50 - On this episode of “To the Beat of Agriculture”, hear from Katelyn Hall, National Junior Miss Agriculture USA, about

What started as an unprecedented meeting between members of American Farm Bureau and America’s cattle organizations has turned into meaningful legislation that is looking to dramatically change how cattle are marketed. These changes would give more transparency to the process and more income for the farmer. On this week’s Our Ohio Weekly, we talk about the issues involving cattle marketing and what is being done in Washington D.C. to give livestock producers a more fair market in the future. 00:00 - Scott Bennett, American Farm Bureau’s Director of Congressional Relations and Brandon Kern, senior director of state and national policy for Ohio Farm Bureau discuss the current challenges farmers are dealing with when it comes to cattle marketing across the country. 16:50 - Bennett and Kern talk about what possible changes to the Packers and Stockyards Act would mean for the livestock industry. 23:50 - “To the Beat of Agriculture”, hear from the outstanding winner of an important award from the National Associ

There is always a lot to take in at the Ohio Farm Bureau Young Agricultural Professionals Winter Leadership Experience. Plenty of educational seminars, resources for new and beginning farmers and an abundance of networking opportunities. At the event last weekend in Cincinnati, attendees also got some education and advice from a panel of more seasoned farmers, including Steve Hirsch, a fifth-generation owner of Hirsch Fruit Farm in Ross County, as well as a board member for Nationwide Insurance and Rose Hartschuh, an Ohio Farm Bureau board member who operates a dairy and raises grain crops, alfalfa and cover crops in Northwest Ohio. On this Our Ohio Weekly, hear some of their advice to younger farmers. 00:00 - Hirsch and Hartschuh talk about their current farming operations and the road from when they started their careers to where they are now. 16:50 - Hirsch and Hartschuh discuss some of the new ideas they brought to the farm when they first started and what a plan for the future looks like. 23:50 - On t

Earlier this month, the American Farm Bureau Federation hosted their 103rd Annual Convention. Members from across the country traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to celebrate successes of 2021 and set the organization’s priorities for 2022. Some VIPs also took part in the event, including AFBF President Zippy Duvall and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, to share their expectations for farmers for this year and further into the future. 00:00 - American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall shares his stories from his travels across the country’s diverse agricultural landscape and how he takes what he learns from those farm visits to lawmakers in Washington D.C. 16:50 - Tom Vilsack, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary, shares what his agency is doing to address some of the major issues impacting agriculture. 23:50 - On this edition of “To the Beat of Agriculture”, meet the recipient of the No Till Farmer of the Year award from the Ohio No-Till Council, Jeff Duling, and learn about

The first part of a new year is always a great time to reflect on the past 12 months and set goals for the next 12. What went right, what went wrong and what did we learn? On this Our Ohio Weekly, we ask those questions from an agricultural perspective and get the answers from an economist, an agronomist and an agribusiness leader. 00:00 - Dr. Roger Cryan, American Farm Bureau’s Chief Economist, Chris Henney, President and CEO of the Ohio Agribusiness Association and John Brien, Eastern Agronomy Manager for AgriGold talk about the good and the bad from 2021 and take a look at 2022. 23:50 - On this “To the Beat of Agriculture”, hear from Austin Troyer, a driven, first generation livestock farmer and learn about how his unique plot of land influenced him to switch from cattle to sheep. 32:20 - Dr. Jay Martin, Professor of Ecological Engineering, Department of Food, Agricultural & Biological Engineering at The Ohio State University talks about a couple innovative projects in the Western Lake Erie Basin dealin