Oat planting in Ohio reached 18%, up from 10% the week prior, with 5% of the crop now emerged. That remains a bit behind the five-year average pace, but progress is continuing. Winter wheat condition across the state is rated 67% good to excellent, indicating the crop is holding in solid shape as it moves through spring.

An official 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork last week, but growers took advantage of available windows to push planting ahead.… Continue reading

The grass is green, and grazing season is upon us. That said, how do you evaluate your grazing program to know whether you are utilizing pasture forage efficiently? How does pasture use impact the cost of production, and are you capturing that in your budget and decision-making process?

For many years, different folks have said that livestock production in eastern and southern Ohio was a byproduct of land ownership. That is no longer the case as cattle, sheep, and goat prices have experienced record high prices this past spring season. As livestock continues to be a profit source for many farmers in the area, the case can be made that farm management, record keeping, and the cost of production are even more important to determine how profitable the farm truly is.

Calculating Pasture Value

Capturing the value of pasture isn’t always easy.… Continue reading

Plus, the Ottawa County Farm Bureau recently hosted their annual Legislative Lunch at the farm of Sheldon Miller. Ohio Ag Net’s Dusty Sonnenberg was there and caught up with some of the speakers from the event about some of the topics at hand, including property taxes, data centers and the upcoming planting season.

Then, Ty Higgins hops in the cab with Barry Rodeheffer in Darke County to talk about how far along he is after a week in the field and how the current economics of agriculture impacted his short and long-term plans.

Farmers are increasingly turning to digital platforms to gather news, learn from other farmers, see products and practices in action, and stay connected to what is happening both locally and nationally. Ohio Ag Net TV will build on those trends by creating more opportunities for viewers to engage with Ohio agriculture through stories, conversations, and on-the-farm perspectives.

“Ohio agriculture is changing, and the way farmers consume information is changing with it,” said Ty Higgins, general manager of Ag Net Communications. “Ohio Ag Net TV gives us the opportunity to take our audience beyond the radio report or written story and bring them directly into the field, the barn, the cab of the tractor and the conversations shaping agriculture today.… Continue reading

The funds will be invested to support the joint initiative of USSEC and ASA/WISHH to grow global demand for U.S. Soy by equipping international buyers with the tools, data, and technical support they need to prefer, procure, and promote soy of U.S. origin in their markets.  

“This AFTPP funding is a welcome and especially timely opportunity coming just as new trade agreements are opening doors, and diversifying demand for U.S. Soy in international markets,” said Mike McCranie, USSEC Board Chair and South Dakota farmer. “USSEC is eager to turn that momentum and this new investment into export sales and measurable returns for U.S. soybean farmers.”  

“For soybean farmers, demand is everything,” said Scott Metzger, ASA President and Ohio farmer. “This funding helps strengthen long-term market access and ensures U.S. Soy remains competitive in a global marketplace, keeping American farmers at the forefront of growing global demand.”… Continue reading

As farmers prepare for another growing season filled with tight margins and rising input costs, a welcome financial boost is arriving across rural communities. Farm Credit Mid-America is returning a record $280 million in net earnings to eligible customer-owners through its 2026 patronage program.

The annual distribution reflects the cooperative’s continued financial strength and its commitment to sharing success with the farmers and agribusinesses it serves. During the past decade, Farm Credit Mid-America has returned more than $1.75 billion to customer-owners, reinforcing the long-term value of its cooperative model.

Unlike traditional lenders, Farm Credit Mid-America is a farmer-owned cooperative. That means customers are also owners, and when the organization performs well, a portion of those earnings is returned to them based on their level of business.

This year’s patronage comes at a critical time. Producers across the region are navigating ongoing volatility, and the additional funds offer flexibility as they make key financial decisions heading into planting season.… Continue reading

“We know that there’s a real need in communities across the state,” said Nathan Schroeder, president of the Ohio Pork Council (OPC) and farmer from Leipsic, Ohio. “This long-standing partnership is one way Ohio pig farmers can step up for our neighbors and help make a difference for families who need it most.”

In 2025, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank provided food for more than 404,000 individuals across its six-county area where one in six people face food insecurity.

“We’re grateful to the Ohio Pork Council to provide this much needed protein that will help meet the needs of so many families, seniors and children in the Greater Cleveland community,” said Karen Pozna, Director of Communications & Events for the GCFB.… Continue reading

Climate Summary

With 4 to 8 inches of precipitation across northern Ohio over the last 30 days (March 13 – April 12), drought conditions have eased across northwest Ohio. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows that just 2% of the state remains in drought (D1-moderate drought or worse), down from about 17% three months ago and 74% at the beginning of October 2025 (Figure 1). The driest conditions remain across portions of Defiance, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, and Wood Counties, where signs of hydrologic drought remain (low reservoirs, farm ponds). Although the surface was very wet after the rain a couple of weeks ago, the past seven days have been fairly dry across Ohio (less than 0.25 inches for most locations). Combined with very warm temperatures for April (4-10°F above normal) and windy conditions, the surface has dried out significantly this week, with soil moisture and stream flows falling across the state.… Continue reading

In Episode 70, Dusty visits with Taylor Dill, Director of Research with the Ohio Soybean Council, to discuss soybean checkoff funded research findings from the Battle for the Belt, a research initiative looking at early season planting considerations for soybeans and corn. They talk about the various planting environments that Ohio growers encounter and tips for successful crop establishment and stress mitigation. They also share some new economic data generated by the Battle for the Belt.

During the last two growing seasons, margins have become uncomfortably tight amid an increasingly uncertain market. Global market scares with unrest in the Middle East and Ukraine have put pressure on essential nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Two nutrients that are critical for corn, soybean, and wheat production. Here in the United States (more specifically, Ohio), many are coming off two of the driest growing seasons in recent memory. The local weather challenges, coupled with market uncertainty and high interest rates, have many of us putting our production costs under the microscope. With that said. How should we handle this while still putting together a solid plan for 2026? The short answer is, it depends.

Controlling input costs to maximize nutrient use efficiency

Working through where to cut and how much is especially hard when we don’t have great metrics on what the impact might be.… Continue reading

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Conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation April 3-11, the survey shows 70% of respondents say fertilizer is so expensive that they will not be able to buy all the fertilizer they need.

More than 5,700 farmers, both Farm Bureau members and non-members, from every state and Puerto Rico took the survey. Farm Bureau economists analyzed the results in the latest Market Intel.

The analysis reveals that almost 8 in 10 farmers in the southern U.S. say they can’t afford all needed supplies this year, followed by the Northeast and West at 69% and 66%, respectively, compared to 48% of the farmers in the Midwest.

Just 19% of farmers in the South prebooked fertilizer purchases in advance of planting season.… Continue reading

What started in 1925 with R.F. Cook’s passion for lumber and buildings has grown into a fourth-generation family business celebrating 100 years of service in Attica.

Founded in the years following World War I, Attica Lumber has remained rooted in the same principles through generations of ownership and leadership. In 1954, after returning home from World War II, Fritz and Marjorie Miller, Cook’s daughter and son-in-law, continued the family business. In 1976, Marjorie retired and Steve Stanek, her son-in-law, guided the company through the challenging years of high inflation.

In 2008, Steve’s son, Josh Stanek, joined the business during another difficult economic period and has helped continue its growth. Today, Josh works alongside his father as the fourth generation to carry the family legacy forward.

“We’ve been blessed with a lot of smart people around us who know the lumber business,” Josh Stanek said.… Continue reading