Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast

While the Midwest is often called the world’s breadbasket, Ukraine is often called the breadbasket of Europe. But as a relatively newly independent nation, there’s a desire to learn more about the important task of producing food. To that end, a group of economists from Ukraine are in the U.S. to do some learning. They recently spent the better part of a day here at the Ohio Farm Bureau, and sever...

If you work for a company or organization, you want to believe you have a pretty good idea of what the company or organization does. While you have a firm understanding of your area, there may be other areas that aren’t familiar at all. Ohio Farm Bureau employees had an opportunity to learn more about food at an employee event. Today we will talk food safety, food insecurity, and food trends.

The horticulture industry is big business, nationally and in Ohio. The organizations that represents the many facets of the industry from growers to retailers, suppliers to innovators, students to researchers, calls Columbus home. Today we’re going to learn more about AmericanHort when we talk with the President and CEO Ken Fisher. Going green, on this episode of Town Hall Ohio.

You’d be hard pressed to find a community, industry or social cause in Ohio that does not have some sort of connection to the Ohio State University. One of the gentlemen charged with helping the university meet its mission to serve Ohio is Dr. Bruce McPheron, Executive Vice President and Provost. On this episode of Town Hall Ohio, he’s in to chat with Ohio Farm Bureau’s Chief Exec, Adam Sharp, abo...

What do the following cities have in common? Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton, Newark, Cincinnati, Sandusky, Zanesville, Toledo, Springfield and Mansfield. Those are the ten towns that at one time or another since 1850 have played host to the great Ohio State Fair. To help us look ahead to this year, Fair General Manager Virgil Strickler, and Marketing and PR director Alicia Shoults join us to talk abo...

The United States is the second largest consumer of seafood, yet we import 85% of the seafood we consume. So what are the opportunities? What are the challenges? To help us answer those questions, and more we have representatives of the Soy Aquaculture Alliance on this episode of Town Hall Ohio.

Over the years, I’ve had the chance to ask folks if they knew which state is our nation’s biggest farming state. Common guesses I got were Iowa or Texas. Most folks are surprised to learn that the nation’s biggest farming state is better known for Hollywood or the Golden Gate Bridge. Yes, California. Today, the presidents of California and Ohio’s state Farm Bureaus are in to compare and contrast f...

Summer time is dairy time! We’re just coming out of national dairy month and just starting national ice cream month. Here in Ohio, dairy is big: billions of dollars of economic activity that is driven by dairy farmers, milk processors, and dairy food manufacturers. Today, we’re going to talk all things dairy, including learning what it takes to run a modern dairy farm, and have lots of information...

Our world’s capacity to feed itself is dependent on science and technology, which is true whether we’re talking billions of calories for a growing population or organic produce from our own back yards. But the simple act of talking about food and science can be challenging for scientists, communicators and consumers. Ohio State University addressed those challenges in a recent forum, and three of...

Regular listeners know that we often dig into the politics, economics and social issues centered along Ohio’s back roads. I mean, we’re Farm Bureau, so it’s no surprise that we talk a lot about rural issues. Today though, we get into some of those same topics with representatives of Ohio’s biggest cities. Mayors Lydia Mihalik, Findlay and Nan Whaley, Dayton are members of a new coalition of Ohio’s...

Whether we’re posting pet photos on Facebook, streaming a new movie, shopping, banking or working, most of us enjoy the benefits of high speed internet. A new study from Ohio State says more than a million Ohioans don’t have adequate internet access, at a cost to the economy of billions of dollars. What are the consequences of life in the online slow lane, and how do we correct that shortcoming fo...

To say the first few months of the Trump presidency have been “unique” would be considered by most to be an understatement. The politics, policies and personality of the nation’s 45th president have given his supporters and detractors a mountain of material to debate and discuss. Two Washington journalists who write for Ohio audiences join us by phone to share their insights and dissect Donald Tru...

One of Columbus’ great attractions is its Center of Science and Industry, which most of us know as COSI. COSI, is rated as one of the nation’s top science museums. The first of this year, it welcomed a new leader. Dr. Frederic Bertley is a nationally known scientist, educator, and maybe most importantly, communicator. On this episode of Town Hall Ohio, he joins Farm Bureau’s executive vice preside...

In Ohio, the Republican Party holds most of the cards, dominating statewide elected offices, the general assembly and the Ohio Supreme Court. Keeping the party ticking along is the job of Jane Timken, who took over as state party chair this past January. On this episode of Town Hall Ohio, she and Ohio Farm Bureau executive vice president Adam Sharp will chat about politics and policy, and hopefull...

There’s a lot of things good about being an Ohioan. But, a new report from the Health Policy Institute from Ohio suggests things aren’t as good as they could be when it comes to health value. Ohio ranks 46th in the nation, meaning we spend more but are less healthy than all but 3 other states. Amy Rohling McGee of the Health Policy Institute and Dan Rapp of Ohio Farm Bureau are in today to talk ab...

The food production, manufacturing, retailing and consumption space is undergoing monumental change. Noted food expert and futurist Dr. David Hughes joins Town Hall Ohio to help us wrap our arms around what we put on our forks.

There are more than 380,000 Ohio homes and businesses throughout Ohio which get their electricity from one of 25 rural electric cooperatives. The organization representing those co-ops is engaged in a wide range of energy and community development activities. Its president and CEO, Patrick O’Loughlin is with us on this episode of Town Hall Ohio, and joins Farm Bureau’s energy specialist Dale Arnol...

Have you been in a convenience store lately, or a McDonalds, or bought some fresh donuts, a piece of jewelry or a set of tires? These diverse businesses have at least one thing in common--they are affiliated with the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants. The group's president and CEO Gordon Gough joins Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Adam Sharp to talk about the economy, government and other...

House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman talk health care, immigration and other issues with Ohio's county Farm Bureau presidents during their recent visit to Washington, D.C.

Ohio is blessed with a great highway system. Building it, and keeping it maintained, requires pouring concrete and laying asphalt. But we’re not too far away from when improving those roads will include laying digital cable and placing electronic sensors. The Ohio Department of Transportation is embarking on what they call a smart mobility initiative - gearing up for driverless cars and all the ot...

Today, many Americans shop for a good deal, but not necessarily for themselves. They want a good deal for workers, the environment and other factors. There are lots of names, but for today we’ll call them socially conscious consumers. Who are they and what implications might there be for farmers, businesses and the rest of the consuming public? We’ll discuss all of these on this episode of Town Ha...

One of America’s greatest assets is its ability to produce abundant, affordable, safe food. One of our greatest shortcomings is that we waste about 40 percent of the food we produce. That’s 34 million tons of food, every year. Waste affects families, communities, industries, and of course, 49 million hungry Americans. Why do we waste so much, what are the consequences and what can be done about it...

The U.S. has the biggest health care system in the world, and yet, Americans are not getting healthier. These facts exist as congress is preparing to dismantle and replace a massive national system created just eight years ago. What’s wrong and what’s right with our healthcare system? What can be done to make health care accessible, affordable and effective? We ask those questions, on this episode...

At the core of Farm Bureau is the idea that people working together can solve problems. One of our ways to identify future leaders who can carry through on that belief is a contest we call the Discussion Meet. Shana Angle of Bolivar, Danielle Burch of Salem, Katie Lee of Magnolia and Micaela Wright of Arcanum are this year’s final four contestants. Due to the fact that this show was recorded on th...

If you’re a journalist, the ultimate recognition of excellence is the Pulitzer Prize. Today’s guest has one. Connie Schultz was honored in 2005 for distinguished commentary for her Cleveland Plain Dealer columns that the Pulitzer committee said “provided a voice for the underdog and underprivileged.” On this episode of Town Hall Ohio, Schultz joins us to talk about the journalism profession, and h...