Ohio Ag Net Podcast

In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Joel Penhorwood and Brianna Smith chat with the Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge and Assistant State Veterinarian Dr. Kristy Shaw. They discuss the county fair season and what the future holds for the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) within the state. Then, Joel talks with Kelly Morgan, Director of the OH-Pigs Program where...

In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Joel Penhorwood speaks with Sam Park, Ohio Channel Technical Agronomist. Sam shares his knowledge on how to best mitigate the heavy rainfall this spring in terms of nitrogen management, more specifically denitrification and leeching. Then, Dusty Sonnenberg checks in with Jordan Hoewischer, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Director of Water Quality and Researc...

In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Dusty Sonnenberg and Brianna Smith visit Baumgarte Farms to meet young agriculturalists Trevor German and Emma Burchett. The duo shares their journey back to the family farm, insights on Ohio's Beginning Farmer Tax Credit, and how they're leading the way with drone technology through their business Eagle Eye Agriculture   in crop spraying, cover crops, a...

In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Dusty Sonnenberg talks with Dr. Horacio Lopez-Nicora, OSU Extension Soybean Pathologist and Nematologist, to discuss timely scouting tips for soybean seedling diseases. The conversation covers how to properly submit samples, the effectiveness and limits of seed treatments, and a practical approach to managing persistent pathogens like Phytophthora and Fu...

This episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast brings together the latest in livestock leadership, soil health, and farm policy updates impacting Ohio producers. Dusty Sonnenberg and Joel Penhorwood lead a timely conversation with Duane Stateler and Pat Hord – two Ohio hog producers now serving in key leadership roles with the National Pork Producers Council with Stateler currently servicing as President...

The Ohio Ag Net Podcast crew heads back to southeast Ohio to talk with Morgan County cattle producers who joined us in September 2024 in the midst of an especially hard drought. Has land and more rebounded from that time? Join Dusty Sonnenberg as he talks with local livestock producers  Austin Wiseman, Gary Haines, and OSU Extension Field Specialist Garth Ruff  to discuss the past year. Later on,...

In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, we're on location in Ottawa County, where a packed barn at the Sheldon and Samantha Miller farm hosted a standout legislative meeting of the Ottawa County Farm Bureau. Ohio Ag Net's Dusty Sonnenberg moderates a thoughtful roundtable with farmers Sheldon Miller, Samantha Miller, Josh Behnke, and Jordan Moore as they dive into the personal and community-wi...

Need motivation? Look no further. This special edition of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast takes you inside the 97th Ohio FFA State Convention with the help of our 2025 Student FFA Reporters. The episode opens with a roundtable featuring returning reporters Sydney Beiting of East Clinton FFA and Alexis White of Fort Frye FFA, alongside new team members Cole Bauman (Liberty Center FFA), Tara Kremer (New Bre...

In this week's Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Joel Penhorwood sits down with Nick Sheets, founder of Henmick Farm & Brewery in Delaware. Nick shares the story of transforming his family's century-old farm into a thriving brewery and community destination. From the rustic charm of the 1860s barn to the commitment to locally sourced ingredients, Henmick offers a unique blend of agriculture and craft brewing....

In this special edition of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, we take a heartfelt journey through the roots and growth of Ohio's premier farm broadcast network. Host Matt Reese is joined by former owner Bart Johnson, legendary broadcaster Dale Minyo, and team member Joel Penhorwood. Together, they unpack the legacy of Ed Johnson, the birth of Ohio Ag Net, the evolution of ag media through radio, print, and...

Show season is upon us, and Roger High of the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (and a noted livestock judge himself) joins several members of the Ohio Ag Net team for a unique discussion about the trends - both differences and similarities - between commercial and show livestock. Ohio Ag Net's Jeff Reese and Joel Penhorwood, each with unique experience in the show world from a feed and showing p...

In this thought-provoking episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, host Matt Reese is joined by Ty Higgins of Ohio Farm Bureau and Melanie Wilt of Shift•ology Communication and Clark County Commissioner. Together, they dive into the concept of echo chambers—what they are, how they affect us, and the implications for agriculture, media, and beyond. From a tragic community crisis in Springfield to Chihua...

Do you know who Ohio's "corn model" is? According to Matt Reese in this week's Ohio Ag Net Podcast, that model is Tyler Drewes of Wood County, a corn producer and the president of the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association. Matt and Tyler catch up at the 2025 Celebration of Ohio Corn & Wheat on Feb. 4 to discuss crop genetics, grower adaptability, and year-round E-15. Featured audio includes: Matt...

In this week's Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Matt Reese catches up with newly-elected Ohio Farmers Union President Bryn Bird. They talk cross-country moves, diverse vegetable production, and family farming. Bird also shares what the union is advocating on behalf of farmers for, including strengthening regional food systems and farms. Featured audio includes: Dale Minyo catches up with the Director of the O...

The Commodity Classic brings together some of the biggest names in agriculture, and this episode takes you on a virtual tour of the trade show floor. Ohio Ag Net's Dusty Sonnenberg and Joe Everett catch up with industry leaders to hear the latest on everything from crop protection and seed innovation to ag lending and equipment advancements. Whether it's new technologies, financing options, or the...

The annual Commodity Classic is a big deal for agriculture, bringing together voices from across the industry to talk about what lies ahead. In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Farm Director Dusty Sonnenberg brings you insights from the recent Commodity Classic 2025, featuring updates from a wide range of key agricultural commodity organizations. From market trends and trade discussions to...

Pork, pork, and more pork on this week's Ohio Ag Net Podcast! Getting updates from the recent Ohio Pork Congress, Matt Reese talks with Ohio Pork Council President Nathen Schroeder from Putman County and Josh Scramlin with the National Pork Producers Council for an entertaining and insightful discussion on all things impacting hog farmers. Additional interviews include: A conversation with Cheryl...

This week, the Ohio Ag Net Podcast brings you coverage from Ohio Farm Bureau's Ag Day at the Capital, where Matt Reese catches up with Ohio Farm Bureau Trustee Vince Untied of Muskingum County and Evan Callicoat, OFBF Director of State Policy. More insights from the event come from Whitney Bowers, OFBF Director of State Policy and Grassroots Engagement. Also featured, Dale Minyo talks with Erica H...

In this week's episode, hosts Matt Reese and Joe Everett sit down with Clint and Joe Nester of Nester Ag, LLC in Williams County to discuss how excess soil fertility can be depreciated for tax savings after purchasing farmland. Also in this episode: Joel Penhorwood catches up with Wendy Osborn of Ohio Corn & Wheat to recap the latest corn and wheat yield contest winners. Matt talks with Ohio Depar...

This week's Ohio Ag Net Podcast features an update from the Ohio Cattlemen's Association with OCA President Mark Goecke of Allen County and Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Also featured is Alyssa Heldman, student coordinator for Night for Young Professionals, followed by Taylor Embry of AgHires with insights for job seekers in agriculture. Wrapping up the episode,...

This week's Ohio Ag Net Podcast takes you inside the Ohio Agribusiness Association Conference, featuring conversations with OABA President & CEO Melinda Witten and Board Chair Grant Gates on key legislative wins and the impact of Trump-era tariffs. Dusty Sonnenberg catches up with Tadd Nicholson for an update on E15, while Matt Reese brings insights from the conference, talking ag weather with Aar...

This week, the Ohio Ag Net Podcast takes a closer look at the Winchester Farm Exchange, a farm-to-table grocery store featuring products from over 50 local vendors. Hosts visit with Trish Preston, co-owner of Winchester Farm Exchange, and vendors Derek Schmitt of Schmitt Farms in Fairfield County and Sarah Ison of Flourish and Roam in Clermont County. Learn how they're bringing innovative ideas to...

In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Matt Reese reflects on the trials and triumphs of the 2024 growing season with insights from Nathan Brause of Crawford County and Glenn Lackey of Athens County at the Ohio No-Till Conference. Dale Minyo sits down with Luke Crumley of Ohio Corn & Wheat to discuss the organization's 2025 public policy priorities. Margaret Jodlowski of Ohio State sheds ligh...

What would you do if you got a direct message on Instagram, and it said, "Would you like to be on a Japanese TV show?" A. Delete it B. Ignore it C. Sure! I'd love to be on a Japanese TV show! Chances are most people would overwhelmingly choose A or B. Last February, OCJ columnist Shelly Detwiler read the first line of this exact message and her first thought was that it was a scam, but she ultimat...

In the first Ohio Ag Net Podcast of 2025, Dusty Sonnenberg takes a look back at the work done by the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off in 2024.  Dusty visits with Steve Reinhard, an Ohio soybean farmer that just finished his term serving as Chairman of the United Soybean Board. Dusty and Steve discuss some of the important work of the USB, creating greater value for farmers with the dolla...