Later this week, the Ohio Ag Net, Ohio’s Country Journal and Ohio Soybean Council will kick off a series of events that are developed to help college students better prepare for a career in Ohio agriculture. Learn more about Wilmington College’s Night for Young Professionals and Ohio State’s Planting Professionals events.
Plus, agritourism has become a popular way for farm families to diversify their businesses, create new sources of income and connect consumers directly with agriculture and there a new resource from Ohio Farm Bureau to help those families navigate the laws, regulations and risk considerations of agritourism. Learn more about it on this Ohio Ag Net Podcast, powered by Ohio Corn and Wheat.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture recently announce the approval for local sponsors to purchase agricultural easements on 58 family farms representing 5,165 acres in 36 counties.
Local sponsoring organizations, which include land trusts, counties, townships, and local soil and water conservation districts, receive funding from the Clean Ohio Fund to manage the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP). The easements ensure farms remain permanently in agricultural production. The program supports long-term growth of one of the state’s largest industries, food and agriculture.
To be eligible for the program, farms must be larger than 40 acres or next to a preserved farm, actively engaged in farming, participate in the Current Agricultural Use Value program, demonstrate good stewardship of the land, have support from local government and not be in close proximity to development. Landowners may use the proceeds of the easement in any way they wish, but many choose to reinvest the dollars in their farm operation.… Continue reading
The Ohio AgriBusiness Association (OABA) is now accepting applications for its upcoming 2027 LAUNCH class, a targeted leadership program designed specifically for professionals working across the Buckeye State’s agricultural sector. Applications for the premier development experience are due by November 2, 2026.
Short for Leaders Achieving Unexpected New Career Heights, the LAUNCH program is hosted by OABA in partnership with Shift-ology Communication. It aims to help Ohio agribusinesses elevate their people, foster new ideas, and strengthen the broader agricultural industry. More than 200 agribusiness professionals have graduated from the initiative since its inception.
Navigating today’s agricultural landscape requires leaders capable of handling shifting workforce dynamics, evolving consumer demands, environmental stewardship, and complex regulatory environments. The LAUNCH curriculum addresses these modern demands by helping rising talent build critical business acumen and communication skills.
The course is tailored for emerging leaders and employees at any career stage, from entry-level staff to seasoned managers, who want to make a larger impact within their companies.… Continue reading
This column wraps up a 30-plus-year stint as Ohio Country Journal’s outdoor columnist. As a full-time freelance outdoor writer, it has become my longest-running “assignment” as well as my favorite. I contribute outdoor columns and feature articles to regional and national magazines, but being from Ohio, this one has always been special. In Ohio’s Country Journal, I got to cover outdoor news in which I have a vested interest and personal experience and could concentrate on news of specific interest to fellow hunters and anglers here in the Buckeye State.
Because of the rural nature of the readership that Ed Johnson asked me to reach so many years ago, I have tried to tailor my coverage not only to outdoors-minded folks, but to landowners who have an interest in knowing the hunting and trapping season dates and regulations, land use subjects, and conservation news that affects you.… Continue reading
Ohio’s apple growers are harvesting a strong crop this fall despite early concerns from a spring frost that damaged many fruit blossoms. In this interview, Ohio Ag Net’s Allison Kinney talks with Frank Becker with Ohio State University Extension about how growers managed heavy fruit loads, disease and pest pressures, and the season-long decisions that influence both crop quality and profitability. He also shares insights into new apple varieties being developed for the future through Ohio-based breeding programs.
In a safe at the Walton family farm rests a piece of paper that tells a story few families can tell.
Darby Walton, the eighth generation on the family’s farm, carefully unfolded the cream colored paper, revealing a deed to land for Lemar Walton, signed by President John Quincy Adams in 1826. The land that Darby, his wife, Caroline, and their young son, Reid, now call home was deeded to his ancestors 200 years ago. Another deed, dated 1830, bears the signature of President Andrew Jackson.
This year, the Walton family is celebrating two milestones. The family farm marks 200 years, while the family’s auctioneering business, Walton Realty & Auction Co., celebrates 75 years in business. Together, the anniversaries tell the story of a family whose roots in agriculture stretch from the days of horse-drawn wagons to today’s precision farming equipment.
The family’s story began after Walton ancestors left Pennsylvania, settled briefly near Chillicothe, and eventually claimed land in what is now Wyandot County.… Continue reading
Allison Ryan, director of marketing and communications for MVP Dairy in western Ohio, is among the inaugural recipients of the National Dairy Shrine Emerging Leader Award. She talks with Ohio Ag Net’s Joel Penhorwood about her career in dairy communications, connecting agriculture with consumers, and the importance of authenticity when telling agriculture’s story.
The National Dairy Shrine officially awarded Allison with the honor at the 2026 World Dairy Expo, along with fellow Ohioan Dr. Bo Harstine of Select Sires Inc.… Continue reading
Just outside of Fayette, Ohio sits Camp Palmer. For many 4-H youth in northwest Ohio, many memories and moments that shaped the lives of those involved in agriculture have been made there. Dusty Sonnenberg gets an update from Camp Palmer program specialist Kristy Helberg in this Featured Audio.
The Ohio AgriBusiness Association (OABA) has announced that registration is now open for its upcoming Women Leading in Ohio Agribusiness Fall Summit, scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
Held at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, the full-day event brings together women from across the Buckeye State’s agricultural sector for leadership development, professional growth, and industry networking.
Designed for women working throughout agribusiness and related industries, the Fall Summit aims to provide attendees with practical ideas, fresh perspectives, and valuable professional connections to carry back to their operations and workplaces.
The morning kicks off at 8:45 a.m. with registration, followed by standard programming from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Program Highlights:
Women Who Lead: An Executive Panel — The day begins with top-level perspectives as female agricultural executives share their experiences, career insights, and key lessons learned while leading in the industry.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) recognized six families as winners of the 2026 Conservation Farm Family Awards at the Farm Science Review in London, Ohio. Winners were chosen across the state from five designated geographic areas, in addition to one family in the state that operates a small farm, a new category added this year.
The six families honored were: Kellogg Family, Hardin County; McKown Family, Richland County; Braddock Family, Knox County; Turpin Farms, Hamilton County; Wolfe Family, Fairfield County; and Hammersmith Family, Defiance County.
“I am honored to recognize these distinguished families as the 2026 Conservation Farm Family Award recipients. Their exemplary commitment to responsible land management, environmental stewardship, and the long‑term conservation of Ohio’s natural resources reflects the highest standards of our agricultural community,” said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge. “This year’s honorees demonstrate innovation, integrity, and dedication to conservation that not only strengthen their operations, but also the future of Ohio agriculture.”… Continue reading
Farming has always been a way of life for Logan Heath of Quincy, Ohio. After a life-changing accident during his senior year of high school left him paralyzed, Heath faced the possibility of never returning to the farm. But with support from Rachel Jarman, Dr. Dee Jepsen, and the team at Ohio AgrAbility, he found new ways to stay involved in the operation he loves.
Today, adaptive equipment such as a lift system and tracked power wheelchair allow Heath to operate tractors, combines, and other farm machinery, check crops, and remain an active part of his family’s 2,000-acre corn, soybean, wheat, and hay farm.
Learn how the right support, adaptive technology, and a commitment to agriculture helped Heath get back in the cab and continue doing what he loves most.
Ohio continues to be one of the strongest farmland markets in the Farm Credit Mid-America territory, but the latest data shows that the story is not simply about rising land values.
Location, land productivity, availability, and an increasingly diverse pool of buyers are all shaping what farmland is worth across the Buckeye State. At the same time, farm economics are forcing producers to be more selective about when and where they invest.
According to Farm Credit Mid-America’s latest farmland value benchmark study, Ohio farmland values increased just over 10% during the past year, compared to a 7% increase across the organization’s five-state territory of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and the Delta counties of Arkansas.
“Ohio realized just a little above a 10% increase, so leading the way,” said Jenny Reithman, head of collateral production at Farm Credit Mid-America. “Lots of different reasons for that, including the old real estate adage of location, location, location.… Continue reading
For you old codgers like me, remember the Sixteen-Ton song written by Merle Travis in the mid-1940s? It did not really hit the music market until Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded his version of it in 1955. The FBI in the ‘40s quietly told radio stations not to play the song, effectively banning it as being subversive because it described the subjugation of coal miners, which, in fact, was happening. Coal miners worked in dangerous mine conditions, breathing coal dust all day. This is where the medical condition termed black lung disease originated.
Miners were in isolated locations, and their only sources of food, basic living supplies, and fuel were available from the company commissary. The commissary prices were often very high, forcing coal miners to live in little more than subservient conditions, too poor to escape, and without basic medical care. My wife, Jaye, was born in a Kentucky coal-mining camp.… Continue reading
The highly anticipated Hasting Farm Fest is set to return to the Clark County Fairgrounds Pavilion on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This annual country music and community festival celebrates the rich agricultural history of Southwest Ohio while supporting a vital local cause: the Second Harvest Food Bank of Clark, Champaign, and Logan Counties.
Founded by Clark County native Kate Hasting of the Nashville-based country duo HASTING, the festival is a heartfelt tribute to her roots and her family’s deep connection to the local farming community. What began as a vision in 2017 to bring high-quality entertainment to her hometown has blossomed into a premier event that embodies the spirit of family, friends, and farming.
This year’s festival promises an unforgettable day of live country music, featuring a stellar lineup of national and local talent, inlcuding:
Matt Clarkson Band – 4:30 PM Hasting – 5:30 PM Dalton Dover – 6:30 PM Priscilla Block – 8:00 PM
Hasting Farm Fest offers a community experience designed for all ages.… Continue reading
In the mid-August column, we reviewed the status of the data center proposed for Ashville. The Village of Ashville had passed an agreement, as emergency legislation, to cooperate in the construction of two data centers and an accompanying natural-gas power-generating facility.
Village resident Laura McNamara-Smith and others circulated a referendum petition to repeal the data center resolution. A referendum is a direct vote by the electorate (rather than their representatives) on a proposal, law or public issue. In May, the group turned in enough valid signatures to place the referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot. The petitions were submitted to the Ashville fiscal officer to transfer to the board of elections.
In a June letter, the Village fiscal officer informed the board of elections that she was not submitting the petition because it was insufficient and invalid. She explained the resolution is not subject to referendum because it passed as an emergency measure and was an administrative action.… Continue reading
At the Gwynne Conservation Area, landowners don’t just hear how to improve wildlife habitat, manage woodlands or protect ponds—they see those practices at work.
Across 67 acres of woodlands, prairies, wetlands, ponds and streams, the Gwynne serves as an outdoor classroom where visitors can explore practical strategies for caring for their land.
For many farmers, farming is more than a job. It is a way of life, built around the responsibility and pride that comes with producing food, fiber, and fuel for the world. That is why few things are harder than facing the possibility of having to give it up.
For Logan Heath, a farmer from Quincy, Ohio, that possibility became very real. Farming had always been a central part of his life, but for a time, he wasn’t sure he would ever be able to return to it.
“Around my senior year of high school. I was on my way home from shelling corn, and I got in an accident and rolled my truck. I became paralyzed. It will be four years this Oct. 20 since the accident,” Heath said.
Heath has been farming since he was able to walk, doing so alongside his grandfather and uncles.… Continue reading
By Mary Wilhelm, Holstein Foundation Young Dairy Leaders Institute participant
As backpacks are packed and school buses roll again, parents everywhere focus on setting their children up for a successful year. While school supplies and schedules are important, one key factor often overlooked is nutrition—making sure kids start their day fueled, focused, and ready to learn. One of the simplest and most effective ways to support growing children is with a nutrient-rich glass of milk.
Milk has long been recognized as a nutritional powerhouse, especially for growing children. Packed with 13 essential nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D, protein, potassium, and vitamin B12, milk plays an important role in supporting overall health, development, and academic performance.
One of milk’s biggest benefits is its contribution to strong bones and teeth. During childhood and adolescence, the body is rapidly building bone mass, making calcium intake more important than ever. Milk provides a highly absorbable source of calcium, paired with vitamin D to help the body use it effectively.… Continue reading
For months now we have heard terms in the popular media of the impending “Super El Niño” or even “Godzilla El Niño” to depict the climate cycle we have entered. But what does it really mean and perhaps more importantly, what does it mean for farmers? Back in June, OCJ’s Brianna Smith and I discussed these issues on the Ohio Ag Net Tv podcast. This is a review and an update on El Niño conditions and potential impacts across the region heading throughout the rest of 2026 and into 2027.
What is El Niño?
El Niño refers to an ocean-atmosphere climate phenomenon linked to a periodic warming in sea-surface temperatures across the central and east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean. Its origins extend back centuries to Peruvian and Ecuadorian fishermen who noticed periods of abnormally warm water around Christmastime that greatly reduced fish catches. Later, scientists discovered its links to atmospheric circulation via the position of the jet stream, which has downwind effects on weather patterns in many areas of the globe.… Continue reading
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), in partnership with Great Ohio Lodges, invites visitors to experience “Remember, Lights in the Sky” on Saturday, September 12. Nine state park lodges will host this one-of-a-kind evening where, at 9 p.m., a synchronized illuminated drone show will light up the night sky across Ohio.
This special statewide event honors America’s 250th anniversary, accompanied by a solemn patriotic tribute marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Families, friends, and communities throughout Ohio are encouraged to come together for a night of reflection, gratitude, and celebration.
“Whether you’re joining us for the drone show, exploring the parks, or enjoying the many activities offered at our lodges, we hope you take this opportunity to experience the very best of Ohio State Parks,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “There is truly something for everyone, and we invite visitors from across the state to be part of this unforgettable evening.”… Continue reading
Ohio Ag Net | Ohio's Country Journal Ohio Ag Net | Ohio's Country Journal 
