Ohio Field Leader – Podcast

By Dusty Sonnenberg, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Checkoff

The 2026 Ohio Crop Tour, Sponsored by Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Checkoff, was a four-day crop tour that covered roughly 37 counties across the Buckeye state. Tour participants scouted a corn and soybean field in each county and reported on the crop conditions, any weed, disease or insect pressure, and a yield estimate. This episode of the Field Leader Podcast is a combination of those reports from the field scouts and their commentary. In summary, the Corn yield estimates averaged 201.4 bushels per acre on the North Leg and 214.7 bushels per acre on the South Leg. Soybean estimates averaged 55.6 bushels per acre in the north and 57.7 bushels per acre in the south.

By Dusty Sonnenberg, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Checkoff

The story goes that when Perry Ralph switched from horses to a tractor to farm, he tied lanterns to the front so he could see as it got dark and could farm later into the evening. From lanterns on a tractor to GPS guidance and a grain facility monitored with a cell phone, Ralph Farms has grown and changed with the times, including making time to serve the larger agricultural industry.

In Episode 77, Dusty visits with Mike Ralph, a third-generation family farmer in Marion County who understands the value of a multi-generational family operation and the importance of serving. They talk about the family farm and the example set by the previous generation, as well as the important work being done by the Ohio Soybean Council to build soybean demand using check-off dollars.

By Dusty Sonnenberg, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Checkoff

The disease triangle is a tool pathologists use to explain the three factors that must coincide in a field for a disease to negatively impact a crop. They include a virulent pathogen, a susceptible host, and a favorable environment. From the time a soybean seed is planted until the crop is harvested, these three factors are on the minds of growers and pathologists alike as they monitor the crop.

In Episode 76, Dusty visits with Dr. Horacio-Lopez Nicora, OSU Extension Plant Pathologist and Nematologist, along with Dr. Taylor Dill, Director of Research for the Ohio Soybean Council, to discuss the current growing season, how the soybean crop has been impacted by weather and disease so far, and what growers should be on the lookout for moving forward. They also discuss the discovery of Red Crown Rot in Ohio last year, and scouting protocols growers are encouraged to follow in 2026.… Continue reading

By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off.

Episode 75 of the podcast finds the Field Leader Roadshow is in Van Wert County at Heffelfinger Farms. Dusty visits with Mike and Kendra about their family operation dating back to 1852. Mike and his brother Kevin are the 5th generation, and Mike and Kendra’s sons, Logan and Luke will be the 6th generation on the family farm. Mike has served on the Ohio Soybean Association board and currently serves on the Ohio Soybean Council Board. He and Kendra are also extremely active with Ohio Farm Bureau, and in numerous school and community organizations. They share about their farm, some of the changes in agriculture in Van Wert County over the years, and also take a look to the future and things that are important for their operation.

By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off.

In this episode of the Field Leader Podcast, Dusty visits with Dr. Taylor Dill, Director of Research for the Ohio Soybean Council and Dr. Alyssa Essman, Assistant Professor and Weed Science Extension Specialist at The Ohio State University. They discuss the unique weather variables Ohio farmers faced this spring based on where they were located and the impact that has had on weed management strategies. Dr. Essman also shares some weed management strategies to consider going into the summer months.

Dusty, Taylor and Alyssa also discuss the EPA and Endangered Species Act, and new labeling requirements as herbicides are registered and reregistered. Growers are reminded to check the Bulletins Live 2 system for the presence of a PULA or a pesticide use limitation area. These are areas where additional mitigation measures might be required for application of a product in 2026.… Continue reading

By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off

In Episode 73, the Ohio Field Leader Roadshow travels to Seneca County to Margraf Farms. Dusty visits with Bret Margraf about their farm’s soil health journey and the implementation of regenerative agriculture practices, including grazing livestock. Bret shares about the changes they have made and new things they have tried in their no-till and cover crop system over the years, and the jump they made when they introduced grazing beef cattle on a farm that had not had livestock for several years.

By Dusty Sonneberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off

In Episode 72, Dusty visits with Taylor Dill, Director of Research at the Ohio Soybean Council, to discuss the current planting season and conditions. They also cover important management decisions farmers need to make along the way and useful tools available to growers. Links to management tools and calculators:

https://fieldvision-app-d3b82e6fec5d.herokuapp.com

https://www.pioneer.com/us/tools-services/growing-degree-unit.html

https://www.greencastonline.com/growing-degree-days/home

https://weather.cfaes.osu.edu/gdd

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By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off

In Episode 71, Dusty travels to Lorain County with the Field Leader Roadshow to Gordon Farms and Flynn Livestock to visit with Eric and Adele Flynn. They discuss life on a multi-generational farm and Eric and Adele’s journey from South Dakota back to Ohio, raising cattle, kids, and commodity grains. From cover crop seed production to agricultural advocacy work in Washington, D.C., Eric and Adele are looking to the future for their farm and their family, building on the legacy of past generations.

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By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Checkoff

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.

By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off

In Episode 69 of the Field Leader Podcast, Dusty visits with Dan Schwartz of Schwartz Farms in Trumbull County. The Schwartz family has been exporting food grade soybeans to the Japanese market since the late 1990s. Today they not only export their own beans, but also those of several farms that they contract with.

Dusty and Dan discuss the history of Schwartz Farms and the family members that make things happen today, along with the special relationships that have been developed with the processors in Japan.

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By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off

From Red Crown Rot to Brown Stem Rot to Sudden Death Syndrome, Ohio soybean farmers have their work cut out for them as they scout fields and try to identify the diseases that are stressing their crops. Dr. Horacio Lopez-Nicora, OSU Extension Soybean Pathologist and Nematologist, visits with Dusty Sonnenberg to review the 2025 growing season and Ohio’s first positive identification of Red Crown Rot. Dr. Lopez-Nicora shares the environmental conditions that favor disease, and the plant and leaf symptoms soybean growers should watch for in 2026. They also discuss the research being conducted by OSU Extension on these diseases, thanks to financial support from the Ohio Soybean Council and the Soybean Check-off.

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By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off

Taylor Dill was recently named Director of Research for the Ohio Soybean Council. Dusty visits with Taylor to discuss what led her to this role with the OSC and more about her background in agriculture. They also discuss some of the current research being funded by the soybean check-off and future plans to help drive value back to farmers from the investments of the soybean check-off.

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By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off

On the first episode of the OFL Podcast for 2026, Dusty travels with the Ohio Field Leader Roadshow to Clark County. Dusty visits with Brian, Jennifer, Lane, and Aidan Harbage at Harbage Farms. The Harbage family is the seventh and eighth generation on the farm, which raises soybeans, corn, wheat, and hay, and operates a cattle feedlot and cow-calf operation. They also own and operate Fat Hen Farmhouse, which sells beef, pork, chicken, turkey, eggs, and honey, all produced on their farm and sold directly to consumers. Dusty and the family talk about their heritage, the growth of the farm over the years, the addition of a direct-to-consumer business, and overcoming a barn fire and equipment loss in the past year. They also take a look at the future for Harbage Farms and opportunities for Lane and Aidan going forward.… Continue reading

By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off

For two decades Tom Fontana has been at the forefront of Ohio soybean research and educational initiatives for the Ohio Soybean Council.  Working with land grant university and industry researchers, as well as school educators all across the state and country, Tom has seen the industry through a number of exciting changes. Dusty and Tom take a look back at the last 20 years of Tom’s career and some of the milestone programs, as well as a look to the future and what may be on the horizon for Ohio Soy.

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By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off

While we do not often think about soybean farmers in Ontario, Canada, the challenges they experience are often very similar to ours in Ohio. Much can be shared and learned from one another. Agronomic pests and diseases do not stop at state or country borders.  In this episode of The Ohio Field Leader Podcast, Dusty had a chance to visit with Albert Tenuta, Extension Plant Pathologist at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness at the University of Guelph. Tenuta also works closely with the Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) Coalition. They discuss the similarities and differences in soybean production and diseases in the two countries, and how, by working together through the SCN Coalition, farmers on both sides of the border can benefit.

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By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off

Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) is the most destructive soybean pathogen in the United States, with annual yield losses due to SCN estimated at more than $1 billion. Yield losses caused by SCN are often underestimated because the nematode can be present in fields without causing any noticeable aboveground symptoms. In an effort to increase soybean farmers’ awareness of the soybean cyst nematode, the SCN Coalition is designating October 6, 2025, as National Nematode Day.

Recently, members of the SCN Coalition met in Columbus to discuss the latest research and updates on their current initiatives. On this episode of the Ohio Field Leader Podcast Greg Tylka, professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology at Iowa State University; George Bird, professor emeritus in the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University; and Albert Tenuta, extension plant pathologist at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness at the University of Guelph all joined the Ohio Field Leader to discuss the origins of the SCN Coalition and share their vision for the future.… Continue reading

By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off

In a time of low commodity prices, late-season soybean disease management is important as growers make decisions to help reduce plant stress and potentially increase or simply preserve soybean yield potential. Equally important is knowing when a treatment is no longer necessary and when it may actually be a waste of money and time. Diseases such as septoria brown spot, downy mildew, white mold, and many other foliar diseases, such as frog eye leaf spot, can often be observed as the long hot summer days fade into cooler fall weather. Dr. Horacio-Lopez Nicora, OSU Extension Soybean Pathologist and Nematologist, visits with Dusty to discuss the current growing conditions in Ohio’s soybean fields and factors that growers should consider before making a late-season fungicide application to their crop. They also discuss the great resources available to farmers at the Crop Protection Network.… Continue reading

By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off

Red Crown Rot has officially been confirmed in Ohio. Dr. Horacio Lopez-Nicora joins Dusty on this special episode to discuss the finding and what it means to Ohio soybean growers going forward. They discuss what is known about the disease, basic management strategies moving forward, and how Ohio farmers can submit soybean plant samples for free testing and identification thanks to the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off.

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By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off

When life gives you lemons, it has been said that the best thing you can do is to make lemonade. That is exactly what Sheldon and Samantha Miller of Ottawa County did on their farm after a tornado in 2023 destroyed their home and buildings. They continue to navigate the many challenges and opportunities in production agriculture. Dusty visits with Sheldon and Samantha on this episode of the Ohio Field Leader Podcast at the latest stop of the Ohio Field Leader Roadshow. The Ohio Field Leader is a product of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off.

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By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off

On Episode 58 of the Ohio Field Leader Podcast, Dusty visits with Tim, Tyler, Joe and Jon Everett of Everett Farms in Shelby County. The brothers and their sons have been farming many of the same acres for generations, and the unique thing is that the absentee landlords are also multi-generational as the land has been handed down over the years. Establishing and continuing to develop their landlord relationships and stewarding the ground has been a key to their success. They also discuss the unique aspects of having two families and multiple generations farming together and what it takes to make it all work.

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