A new statewide initiative, the Ohio Farm Transition Network (OFTN), has officially launched operations to address one of the most pressing challenges facing Ohio agriculture: helping farm families successfully plan for the transition of their farms to the next generation.

“Whether it was an Ohio Farm Bureau event, an Ohio State University Extension meeting, Ag Credit, Farm Credit, Nationwide, Corn and Wheat, or the Soybean Council, everybody was focused on farm transitions and helping farmers navigate the legal and financial complexities, as well as some of the family challenges, that come with passing a farm from one generation to the next,” said David Marrison, OSU Farm Management Specialist and interim director of the Farm Financial Management and Policy Institute. “All of our organizations were working separately on the same issue. The genesis of the Ohio Farm Transition Network was really asking, as organizations, can we come together as one voice to surround our farmers and help them in this critical area of farm transition and estate planning?”… Continue reading

Did you notice the long list of scheduled events below? These events, and much more educational value, are on the way thanks to funding from Cargill’s “From the Ground Up” program and funds from The Nature Conservancy’s “Farmers for Soil Health” program.

The Ohio No-till Council has four farmers who are “planting green.” Corn yields and other measurements are being taken to compare the cover crop’s value when terminated early with that of spraying after planting.

Also, soil health quantifiers will be measured on about 15 no-till fields compared to nearby tilled ground. Another 15 no-till farmers will share financial information.  

On June 18, starting with supper at 6:00 p.m., the Hatfield family in Clermont County will host a field event (1174 SR 222, Felicity). The Hatfields intercrop soybeans into wheat on their silty clay soil. Roger Wenning, a no-till farmer in Southeast Indiana, will share how no-till, cover crops, and nutrient management helped him transform the same tough soils to increase soybean yields by more than 50 bu/acre.… Continue reading

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Since awarding its first scholarship in 1962, OABA has invested in the future of Ohio agriculture by supporting students preparing for careers across the industry. In the 1990s, the OABA Educational Trust was established to expand scholarship opportunities and strengthen workforce development efforts for Ohio agriculture.

Today, the Educational Trust has supported more than 944 Ohio students pursuing agriculture-related degrees and careers, helping develop the next generation of leaders in agribusiness, agronomy, communications, engineering, animal science, precision agriculture and other agricultural fields.

“This milestone represents decades of commitment from OABA members and industry partners who believe in investing in students and strengthening the future of Ohio agriculture,” said Melinda Witten, president and CEO of OABA. “While we are proud to celebrate this achievement, we’re focused on continuing to grow opportunities for future students and building toward the next million dollars in scholarship support.”… Continue reading

What is drainage water recycling (DWR)?

Two organizations, Transforming Drainage.org and the Environmental Defense Fund, provide practical descriptions for DWR. Drainage water recycling is the practice of capturing excess water drained from fields, storing it in a pond, reservoir, or drainage ditch, and using it to irrigate crops during periods of water deficit. These systems are typically comprised of three main components: pre-existing subsurface drainage, used to drain water from agricultural lands during times of excess water; a water storage system, used to capture and hold the excess water; and an irrigation system, used to resupply the stored water to agricultural lands during a water shortage. Since each component varies based on specific site characteristics and needs, drainage water recycling can take many different shapes and sizes.

What is the water supply for DWR, and how does water move about the system?… Continue reading

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) remains one of the most damaging soybean pathogens affecting soybean production in Ohio. Because significant yield losses can occur without visible symptoms, soil sampling remains the only reliable way to determine whether SCN is present and at what levels. Knowing your SCN numbers is critical for selecting effective management strategies and protecting soybean yield potential.

Spring, before planting, is an excellent time to sample fields for SCN. These samples can help identify fields with SCN, estimate population densities before the season begins, and guide management decisions for the current and following years. If soil samples are already being collected for fertility analysis, a subsample can also be used for SCN testing.

We recommend collecting 15 to 20 soil cores, 8 inches (20 cm) deep, using a cylindrical soil probe approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter for every 20-acre (8-ha) area.… Continue reading

The announcement includes accelerated permitting for a major ammonia plant in Louisiana, renewed efforts to move projects forward under the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program and the search for a full-time input economist focused on agricultural input costs and market transparency.

Rollins said the overall goal is to increase domestic fertilizer production by about 4.5 million tons per year, serving roughly 400,000 producers and 290 million acres of farmland. She did not provide a timeline for when the added fertilizer production would be online and available to farmers.

The first project highlighted was the Blue Point Project in Louisiana, a proposed $3.7 billion ammonia plant. Rollins said permitting for the project is expected to be completed within 45 days, and the facility is expected to become the world’s largest ammonia plant once completed.… Continue reading

Butter appears to be making a comeback. Earlier this year, the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, after years of promoting low-fat choices, recognized a place for full-fat dairy products. Growing up in the Mitchell household, there was always a plate of butter on the table, available around the clock. Then, after marriage, the dairy influence of the Detwiler family was, of course, strongly pro-butter.

I will confess that in the early years after completing my dietetic internship and entering the workforce, I moved butter to the shelf in favor of other options. In the 2010s, however, I had to channel my mother’s sleuthing skills, something akin to Jessica Fletcher. Not to solve a murder, but to uncover the mystery of the teeth marks appearing on butter sticks in the refrigerator. Lo and behold, the culprit was Luke, our second son, skinny as a toothpick, secretly eating butter straight from the stick.… Continue reading

In 2017, Farm Credit Mid-America recognized a growing gap in the lending marketplace. More people wanted to live in the country, but rural properties with acreage, outbuildings, and unique land values do not always fit neatly into traditional residential lending models. Recognizing this challenge led to a unified approach between Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1^{st ®}, designed to serve rural families through every stage of life, both on and off the farm.

As part of the Farm Credit System, Farm Credit Mid-America has been a reliable source of credit for more than a century. In addition to traditional ag lending for land, operating expenses, equipment, livestock and on-farm improvements, the cooperative specializes in financing for rural living – such as purchasing land, buying a home in the country, or building on rural property. However, many rural residents who were not actively farming did not realize these options were available to them.… Continue reading

“By establishing a clear baseline for conservation practice adoption in the Auglaize River watershed, this assessment gives us a stronger understanding of where progress is being made and allows for a more targeted approach to increase adoption of best management practices,” said Jeff Duling, Chair of the Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative. “We encourage farmers to engage with programs like OACI’s Farmer Certification program, H2Ohio and other conservation-focused initiatives to learn from one another, adopt new practices, and continue strengthening stewardship of Ohio’s land and water resources.”

The survey results establish a baseline of adoption for various farming practices in the Auglaize River watershed.… Continue reading

Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch 2026 quotas were announced by the Lake Erie Committee; however, angler daily harvest limits remain unchanged in Ohio for 2026 and will be in effect through April 30, 2027.

Yellow perch populations continue to struggle in most of Lake Erie, however a stable yellow perch population in Lake Erie’s west zone should provide good fishing in 2026.

Ohio’s Lake Erie Angler Daily Limits (May 1, 2026 – April 30, 2027)

* Walleye: 6 fish per day, 15-inch minimum length requirement

* Yellow perch, west zone (approximately Toledo to Huron): 30 fish per day

* Yellow Perch, central zone (approximately Huron to Fairport Harbor): 10 fish per day

* Yellow Perch, east zone (approximately Fairport Harbor to Conneaut): 20 fish per day

Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch fisheries are managed through an interagency quota system.… Continue reading

I am in a reflection mode. Even though Mother’s Day has just passed, the significance of mothers remains long after a date on the calendar. Individuals interested in animal behavior recognize the unique attachment that a newborn calf, foal, puppy, or kitten shares with its mother. Just as we recognize the bond between animals and their young, we also celebrate our own mothers throughout our lives

I am also mindful that not everyone’s story looks the same. For some, it was a grandmother, foster mother, aunt, or another caring woman who filled that role. They, too, deserve to be honored and remembered.

As we recognized Mother’s Day, many of you likely thought of special memories with your mother or grandmother, moments at home and milestones in life that remain close to your heart. I hope many of those memories bring joy. At the same time, I know for some there may be pain, loss, or unresolved emotions tied to those relationships.… Continue reading

In Episode 72, Dusty visits with Taylor Dill, Director of Research at the Ohio Soybean Council, to discuss the current planting season and conditions. They also cover important management decisions farmers need to make along the way and useful tools available to growers. Links to management tools and calculators:

https://fieldvision-app-d3b82e6fec5d.herokuapp.com

https://www.pioneer.com/us/tools-services/growing-degree-unit.html

https://www.greencastonline.com/growing-degree-days/home

https://weather.cfaes.osu.edu/gdd

… Continue reading

Most people see the jacket, with all the pins and medals, but they don’t always see the journey behind it. For me, the jacket holds so much more than my name and pins. It holds countless early mornings, late nights, tears, tight hugs, laughter, lessons, and proud moments. As I unzip my jacket for one of the final times, I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the memories, growth, and purpose these past four years have brought me.

When I first walked into my agricultural education class, I was a shy freshman who decided to join FFA because I saw the impact it left on my brother. Though initially nervous, I began saying “yes” to opportunities. Soon, I found myself on the Agricultural Soils CDE Team and navigating my way through Indianapolis for my first National FFA Convention. With each new experience, my confidence began to grow.… Continue reading

Some areas of the state are wet and have yet to make much progress with burndown applications or planting, and others are rapidly approaching the finish line thanks to a stretch of nice weather. In addition to fluctuating precipitation, weather patterns lately have brought about both very warm and freezing temperatures. In some areas with conditions that have been adequate for planting, wind has also complicated the timing of herbicide applications. Questions have come up related to herbicide efficacy across this range of scenarios, and the following are some considerations for each:

Areas that are waiting to dry out to make burndown applications

• Cold weather (nighttime temps below 40 and daytime temps below 50) can slow the rate of kill for systemic products like glyphosate, dicamba, and 2,4-D. Contact products like paraquat and glufosinate work best in sunny, warm conditions, and control can be reduced in cool, cloudy weather.