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Ohio crops continue to show strong progress, with corn and soybeans running at or ahead of their five-year averages in several key development stages. Recent scattered showers helped boost soil moisture levels across the state, supporting generally good crop conditions as the growing season advances. USDA report there were 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 9.

Corn silking has reached 95%, ahead of last week’s 90%, and ahead of the 93% five-year average. Corn reaching the dough stage is at 56%, above the 51% average. Corn reaching the dent stage is at 7%, ahead of the 3% average. Ohio corn condition was rated 62% good to excellent, with 51% good and 11% excellent.

Soybean blooming reached 95%, ahead of 87% last week and the 91% average. Soybean pod setting has reached 71%, ahead of last week’s 58% and above the 69% five-year average. Ohio soybean condition was rated 59% good to excellent, with 50% good and 9% excellent.… Continue reading

Brandon Kern, Deputy Executive Director of the Ohio Soybean Association and Ohio Soybean Council, shares details for the upcoming Ohio Soybean Association Hometown Tour stops and highlights from the agenda.

Derek Niese – Putnam

Things are going pretty good. We got some rain yesterday and last Friday, and it sounds like we could get a lot more rain this week. I guess that should make some corn and beans. Everything is green and growing.

The tomatoes look pretty decent. They’re starting to turn red, and we’ll start harvest next week. We have two older harvesters, and we’ve gone through both of them and have them hooked up and ready to go. We also have about 18 trailers, so we went through those and got everything ready. We checked the electronic sorters on both harvesters that help sort out the rocks, dirt, and green tomatoes. There’s just a pile of equipment we have to go through every year, and we’re pretty much ready to go.

I walked into one of our later-planted corn fields right before this call to see how it looked.… Continue reading

The 2026 Ohio State Fair concluded Sunday with the Sale of Champions, generating $396,500 in total sales to recognize Ohio’s top junior livestock exhibitors and support youth programs across the state.

Of that total, $270,500 was raised for the Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program, which has awarded $5,247,150 to more than 46,473 youth since its inception in 1995.

There were a few new buyers this year, including Linde’s Livestock Photos, Joe Dirt Co., Rebco Electric, and Braman Technologies.

The top-selling animals of the day were the Grand Champion Market Beef exhibited by Rees Toler of Gallia County and the Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef exhibited by Addie Wilson of Harrison County. Steve R. Rauch, Inc. purchased each for $55,000.

New to the Sale of Champions this year was the addition of the Reserve Grand Champion Market Turkey. Alivia Kinney of Logan County earned the honor, with her turkey selling for $15,000 to Mark and Megan Kvamme and family.… Continue reading

Grand Champion Market Beef

The Grand Champion Market Beef was exhibited by Rees Toler, Gallia County, and purchased by Steve R. Rauch, Inc. for $55,000.

Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef

The Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef was exhibited by Addie Wilson, Harrison County, and purchased by Steve R. Rauch, Inc for $55,000.

Grand Champion Market Barrow

The Grand Champion Market Barrow was exhibited by Parker Elchinger, Henry County, and purchased by Bob Evans Farms, Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau Federation for $50,000.

Reserve Grand Champion Market Barrow

The Reserve Grand Champion Market Barrow was exhibited by Victoria Gossard, Allen County, and purchased by The Kroger Company, A.G. Boogher and Son, Schmidts Sausage Haus, Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association, All American Quarter Horse Congress, Expo Services, and OKI for $30,000.

Grand Champion Market Lamb

The Grand Champion Market Lamb was exhibited by Carson Nahrup, Warren County, and purchased by Rebco Electric, Braman Technologies, Faith Driving School, Kroger and Joe Dirt Company for $31,000.… Continue reading

Goat Outstanding Marketing Exhibitors
2026 Outstanding Market Goat Exhibitors: 1^st place – Lola Roberts, Marion County; 2^nd place – Colleen Holbrook, Adams County; 3^rd place – Chloe Dickey, Union County; 4th place – Nicholas Sword, Lorain County; 5th place – Chloe King, Seneca County; 6th place – Morgan Bockmore, Lorain County; 7th place –Taylor Workman, Clark County; 8th place –McKenna Kimpel, Defiance County; 9th place – Brade Wright, Perry County; 10th place – Jack Burke, Pickaway County.

Barrow Outstanding Marketing Exhibitors
2026 Outstanding Market Barrow Exhibitors: 1^st place – Parker Elchinger, Henry County; 2^nd place – Ava Genter, Fulton County; 3^rd place – Alex Genter, Fulton County; 4th place – Owen Russell, Pickaway County; 5th place – Claire Lampe, Wood County; 6th place – Landen Russell, Pickaway County; 7th place – Kinsley Swanson, Ashland County; 8th place – Rhylee Eichhorn, Miami  County; 9th place – Austin Handwork, Mahoning  County; 10th place –  Kenna Seaburn, Madison  County.… Continue reading

Judge: Dr. Jeff Ripley, Texas

Grand Champion: Briley Ashcraft, Athens County

Reserve Champion: Jada Shroyer, Logan County

3rd Overall: Maya McCoy, Fayette County

4th Overall: Addilyn Bryant, Ashland County, Heavyweight

5th Overall: Gabrielle McDade, Butler County

6th Overall: Braxton Method, Auglaize County

7th Overall: Addilyn Bryant, Ashland County

8th Overall: Anara Shroyer, Logan County

9th Overall: Braxton Method, Auglaize County

10th Overall: Lola Roberts, Marion County

Light Weight Division:
Champion: Braxton Method, Auglaize County
Reserve: Anara Shroyer, Logan County
3rd Overall: Lola Roberts, Marion County
4th Overall: Gabrielle McDade, Butler County
5th Overall: Maya McCoy, Fayette County

Middle Weight Division:
Champion: Maya McCoy, Fayette County
Reserve: Addilyn Bryant, Ashland County
3rd Overall: Gabrielle McDade, Butler County
4th Overall: Braxton Method, Auglaize County
5th Overall: Hayden Bryant, Ashland County

Heavy Weight Division
Champion: Briley Ashcraft, Athens County
Reserve: Jada Shroyer, Logan County
3rd Overall: Addilyn Bryant, Ashland County
4th Overall: Addilyn Bryant, Ashland County
5th Overall: Braelyn Miller, Marion County… Continue reading

Judge: Jirl Buck, Oklahoma

3rd Overall: Kate Liggett, Tuscarawas County. Maine-Anjou

4th Overall: Brayden McConnell, Jefferson County. Division IV Crossbred.

5th Overall: Ruger White, Ashland County. Division III Crossbred.

6th Overall: Weston Grauer, Richland County. Division III Crossbred.

7th Overall: Luke Fulton, Miami County. Market Heifer

8th Overall: Micah Kohen, Mercer County. Division II Crossbred.

9th Overall: Colby Hoffman, Union County. Chianina.

10th Overall: Olivia Jones, Allen County, Chianina

Angus:
Champion: Natalie Williams, Union County
Reserve: Griffin Gahler, Ottawa County

Charolais:
Champion: Taylor Wadsworth, Portage County
Reserve: Cody Landin, Putnam County

Chianina:
Champion: Colby Hoffman, Union County
Reserve: Olivia Jones, Allen County

Hereford:
Champion: Samantha Haley, Wayne County
Reserve: Hallie Clem, Clark County

Maine-Anjou:
Champion: Kate Liggett, Tuscarawas County
Reserve: Tyler Neill, Huron County

Shorthorn:
Champion: Allison Meggitt, Erie County
Reserve: Beau Langenderfer, Fulton County

ShorthornPlus:
Champion: Jozie Beiser, Preble County
Reserve: Ella Grimwood, Ashland County

Simmental:
Champion: Hudson Miller, Portage County
Reserve: Reese McClure, Marion County

AOB:
Champion: Addison Burnett, Geauga County
Reserve: Kaylynn Cutter, Wayne County

Market Heifer:
Champion: Luke Fulton, Miami County
Reserve: Paisley Allen, Clark County

Division I Crossbred:
Champion: Quinn Billenstein, Hardin County
Reserve: Karissa Treadway, Warren County

Division II Crossbred:
Champion: Addie Wilson, Harrison County
Reserve: Micah Kohnen, Mercer County

Division III Crossbred:
Champion: Ruger White, Ashland County
Reserve: Weston Grauer, Richland County

Division IV Crossbred:
Champion: Rees Toler, Galia County
Reserve: Brayden McConnell, Jefferson County

Division V Crossbred:
Champion: Wyatt Wolfer, Clermont County
Reserve: Bryson Jones, Allen County… Continue reading

Judges: Jarrett Davis from Shawnee, Oklahoma and Blake Goss from Leedey, Oklahoma

Grand Champion: Parker Elchinger, Henry County (Light Cross)

Reserve Champion: Victoria Gossard, Allen County (Berkshire)

3rd Overall: Kinsley Swanson, ashland County (Dark Cross)

4th Overall: Owen Russel, Pickaway County (Light Cross)

5th Overall: Hanna Wells, Preble County (Dark Cross)

6th Overall: Miley Caldwell, Highland County (Yorkshire)

7th Overall: Chloe Roberta, Fairfield County (Yorkshire)

8th Overall: Alec Genter, Fulton County (Tamworth)

9th Overall: Kristine Baldwin, Highland County (Spot)

10th Overall: Paisley Tindle, Clermont County (Spot)

BREED CHAMPIONS

BERKSHIRE

Grand: Victoria Gossard (Allen)

Reserve: Harper Saunders (Gallia)

CHESTER

Grand: Edward Deloy (Shelby)

Reserve: Brodie Wheeler (Coshocton)

DUROC

Grand: Kylee Barote (Pickaway)

Reserve: Janelle Sebring (Darke)

HAMPSHIRE

Grand: Cooper Stambaugh (Fulton)

Reserve: Claire Winkle (Highland)

HEREFORD

Grand: Janelle Sebring (Darke)

Reserve: Carly Niekamp (Mecer)

LANDRACE

Grand: Connor Bowen (Clark)

Reserve: Kali Kimbler (Madison)

POLAND

Grand: Kendall Niekamp (Mecer)

Reserve: Oakley Engle (Highland)

SPOT

Grand: Kristine Baldwin (Highland)

Reserve: Paisley Tindle (Clermont)

TAMWORTH

Grand: Alec Genter (Fulton)

Reserve: Victoria Gossard (Allen)

YORKSHIRE

Grand: Miley Caldwell (Highland)

Reserve: Chloe Roberts (Fairfield)

DARK CROSS

Grand: Kinsley Swanson (Ashland)

Reserve: Hanna Wells (Preble)

LIGHT CROSS

Grand: Parker Elchinger (Henry)

Reserve: Owen Russell (Pickaway)… Continue reading

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry failed to advance a farm bill on Thursday after Democrats rejected the Republican proposal in a 10-11 vote, leaving the legislation without a clear path forward.

The committee did approve several amendments, including provisions to permanently move the Food for Peace program to USDA and allow hot rotisserie chicken purchases through SNAP, but the hangup among committee members was over changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Democrats insisted on a two-year delay before states begin sharing SNAP benefit costs, while Republicans offered a one-year delay.

“We’re holding hostage the people that we’re charged to help,” said Committee Chairman John Boozman. “Again, this is not about SNAP recipients, this is about the states, with very, very high error rates. We’re holding hostage our farm community. When you take livestock out of it, this is one of the poorest industries right now in America.… Continue reading

Judge Jacob Bates, Charleston, Arkansas

Market Turkeys

Class 1:
1. Alexandra Kinney, Logan County
2. Jack Patterson, Geauga County

Class 2:
1. Camden Bennett, Fayette County
2. Anna Langley, Fayette County

Class 3:
1. Luke Bennett, Fayette County
2. Luke Kraft, Warren County

Class 4:
1. Alivia Kinney, Logan County
2. Campbell Reese, Geauga County

Meat Chickens

Class 1:
1. Alexandra Kinney, Logan County
2. Allia Hester, Clinton County

Class 2:
1.… Continue reading

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

Next week at this time, we will have a much better picture of what crop conditions and yield expectations are across the Buckeye state as the 2026 Ohio Crop Tour sponsored by Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Checkoff, will be in the history books.

Looking back, every year has been different. In 2025, the biggest story on the crop tour was the lack of any specific story. There were no showstopping headlines to be found. Despite a very wet start, the Ohio soybean and corn crops looked good in 2025. Considering the variety of planting dates, major rain events versus dry weather concerns in certain locations, replant situations, and heat, the participants on the 2025 Ohio Crop Tour were impressed with the overall quality of the crops and yield potential they observed.… Continue reading