Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast

In 2015, The state of Ohio committed to reducing nutrient loading into Lake Erie by 40 percent by 2025. This commitment was made as part of the Western Lake Erie Collaborative agreement, which includes similar pledges from Michigan and Ontario, Canada. How do things stand halfway through this 10-year agreement? Is there any progress being made and is that 40 percent reduction goal attainable? On t...

Technology for solar energy has come a long way over the past 10 years and, as a result, solar development projects are increasing across Ohio at a rapid rate. But with this recent boom in solar comes questions and concerns for farmers and landowners. What should you be aware of when signing a lease, what role does the government play, how will new solar projects impact land use, real estate value...

While many have already started the vaccination process, there is currently a general lack of confidence. Overall, 40% of the U.S. public have expressed concerns, ranging from “skeptical” to “open but uncertain,” about getting vaccinated. The Ad Council and COVID Collaborative are leading a massive communications effort to educate the American public and build confidence around the COVID-19 vaccin...

While farmers are always open to new climate-smart practices and technology to reduce emissions levels, they could play an even larger role in the future to help achieve climate goals by adopting voluntary practices to offset Greenhouse Gas emissions, such as trapping carbon in the soil through increased conservation cover and reduced tillage. On this Our Ohio Weekly learn about the developing car...

In 2019, Ohio farmers experienced shocks that tested the limits of Ohio agriculture. Heavy rains affected planting and harvesting times, economic turbulence contributed to lower commodity prices, and nonfarm economic growth pushed farmland costs up. To learn how farmers were impacted, researchers in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University created...

If you’ve watched a few shows on Comedy Central or NBC’s Last Comic Standing or have purchased peanut butter in bulk you have more than likely run into this week’s guest. Comedian Greg Warren joins us to talk about his new Amazon Prime special “Where The Field Corn Grows”. Warren is smart enough to understand what he doesn't know, and it's in his common-sense attempt to understand basic agricultur...

After beginning to recognize certain, disruptive trends emerging in the farming sector, Columbus-based Aimpoint Research launched a study giving them and the ag clients they serve an extensive look into the future of agriculture. This landmark research revealed the psychology of the farmers who are most likely to lead the industry in 2040 and both the internal and external factors impacting their...

The Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association represents nearly 2,000 farmers and advocates to protect its members' freedom to farm and supports public policy on members’ behalf. The Ohio Corn Checkoff and the Ohio Small Grains Checkoff, also part of Ohio Corn and Wheat, are voluntary programs approved by Ohio farmers that collect funds from the sale of corn and small grains to develop and expand mark...

Spanning over 10,000 acres on three campuses, Ohio State’s College of Food Agricultural and Environmental Sciences boasts an impressive area of learning. But more than acres, they also cover a lot of ground with their offerings for young people wanting careers in agriculture, including 22 bachelor’s degree majors, 26 associate degree majors and 32 minors. On this week’s Our Ohio Weekly, we’ll visi...

Ohio Farm Bureau has new leadership. Former president Frank Burkett left the OFBF board and was elected to the Nationwide board of directors shortly thereafter. Ohio Farm Bureau founded the Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company in 1926, which later became Nationwide. Burkett’s selection to the Nationwide board demonstrates the company’s continued deep connections to the ag industry. On t...

The way we consume media is changing. You could be listening to music or shows in your car or tooling around in your shop or garage as it airs on your local radio station or you might be listening to the podcast version on your mobile device or even a smart speaker. This goes for just about any program being produced these days for any segment of our society...including agriculture. On this Our Oh...

According to the National Safety Council, 1 in 4 car crashes are due to mobile phone usage while driving, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 4.2% of drivers are distracted at any given time between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Add to that that studies show that 41% of car trips between those hours in 2019, involved significant cell phone distractions. The Hands-Free Ohio...

From the food supply chain to rural broadband, regulatory reform to energy solutions, there is a lot on the plate of Ohio Farm Bureau as the organization advocates for the best interests of farmers and rural communities in Ohio. But don’t worry, there is a plan for solving those issues and many more. On this Our Ohio Weekly, learn all about Farm Bureau’s Ohio Agriculture and Rural Communities Acti...

No-till farming is nothing new. It was used as far back as 10,000 years ago. Research shows that adopting no-till practices is good for the soil. But what’s in it for the farmer? And how does No-Till farming fit into water quality, climate-smart farming and carbon sequestration? This week on Our Ohio Weekly, we’ll visit with members of the Ohio No-Till Council to find out why more farmers are beco...

The Lake Erie Bill of Rights, or LEBOR ballot initiative didn’t get very far after it was passed by Toledo voters in 2019, thanks to the fast action of Wood County farmers Mark Drewes. Drewes filed a lawsuit to thwart the attempt to give legal rights to Lake Erie and give Toledoans authority to sue farmers on behalf of the lake. The result of Drewes’ lawsuit was a U.S. District Court judge ruling,...

Barnwood Builders follows five fun-loving West Virginians who salvage antique log cabins and barns. The show celebrates the American pioneer spirit, and pays tribute to the hard work and craftsmanship that built our nation. They have even made quite a few trips through rural Ohio. On this Our Ohio Weekly, meet the foreman of DIY Network’s Barnwood Builders, Mark Bowe, as he talks about the show, h...

With a new administration in the White House, comes a new cabinet of leaders in all major departments of the U.S., including Transportation, Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency and Agriculture. The man tapped to lead the farm and food sector has some experience in that area. Tom Vilsack actually served as the Secretary of Agriculture under the Obama Administration. On th...

While net cash farm income in 2020 was above the average net cash farm income for the 2013–2019 period, increased government payments to farmers accounted for a substantial portion of that rise. Although that certainly helped alleviate the immediate need for relief due to the pandemic, the future remains uncertain. As you might imagine, those in the farm banking world are keeping a close eye how t...

Often a vision for retiring from a career in agriculture may be a bit different than most. Options can range from staying on the farm and helping during harvest and planting, just tinkering around the shop, or selling and moving to Florida. Whatever the vision and whatever the profession, having the financial resources to live their best lives during this time is something everyone would agree is...

We have finally turned the calendar to 2021 and although the challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic all still with us, this new year will be a time to look back at those challenges and make changes that will alleviate the problems we faced should something like a global pandemic ever happen again. One of those challenges on the minds of Ohio Farm Bureau and its members has to do with the food suppl...

COVID-19 has, without a doubt, fundamentally changed the food system and consumer attitudes but what we can expect in 2021. What shifts are happening in purchasing behaviors? How is the food industry evolving to adjust? What’s ahead in the new year? On this Our Ohio Weekly, hear from industry experts and members of the Center for Food Integrity’s Consumer Trust Insights Council to find out if how...

Earlier this summer, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) pegged the severity of the 2020 algal blooms on Lake Erie at a 4.5 on a scale of 10, one of the smaller forecasts in recent years. Final data concluded that the actual bloom came in at a 3. What goes into these forecasts? What does water quality research look like in Northwest Ohio and how will initiatives like H2Ohio...

In 2019, Governor Mike DeWine introduced his H2Ohio water quality initiative. The plan, which farmers in the Maumee River Watershed were able to sign up for earlier this year, is an investment in targeted solutions to help reduce phosphorus runoff and prevent algal blooms through a number of ways, including increased implementation of agricultural best practices and the creation of wetlands, impro...

For the first time in its more than 100 year history, Ohio Farm Bureau’s annual meeting was largely held remotely across the state this past week. The yearly face-to-face gathering of members from all around Ohio was prohibited by orders from the Ohio Department of Health limiting indoor gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this first-of-its-kind annual meeting allowed members to get...

Creating opportunities and increasing demand for soybeans means farmers that grow the commodity will get more money for every bushel. That is the task for the Ohio Soybean Council, more commonly known as the Soybean Checkoff. Promoting effective policies and legislation at the state and national levels for those same farmers falls in the purview of the Ohio Soybean Association. Hear from leaders f...