The Federal Trade Commission has launched a long-awaited and highly anticipated investigation into the fertilizer industry’s pricing practices and market concentration, Chairman Andrew Ferguson announced on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at a gathering of farmers from across 18 states on a North Texas farm.
“I’m announcing that, on my order, the commission some time ago commenced a major industry-wide investigation into the precipitous rise of fertilizer prices in this country, which has affected so many of our nation’s farmers, including everyone in this room, including the issuance of compulsory process,” Chairman Ferguson said.“USDA data has shown the single largest increase in input costs of farmers across the United States since 2020 has come from fertilizer… These continued price increases are not something our nation, much less our farmers, can continue to ignore.”
The announcement drew an immediate response from the farm leaders in attendance.
“Chairman Ferguson made clear what Ohio farmers have been saying for years — the fertilizer market is broken, and it is costing farm families real money,” Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association President Eric Tipton said.… Continue reading
Last month was a huge first-time event for me. Many of you experience this more frequently because of the miles you drive or the equipment you move from farm to farm without a second thought. I was on a 1.5-hour drive for a family birthday gathering north of Columbus. At midday on a weekend, I was driving on Interstate 270 North on the east side of Columbus. I heard a clank, hitting something in the road. I checked my mirrors but didn’t see anything. Then I glanced at my dashboard tire-pressure monitor, which provided an alarming picture of what just happened. One tire pressure dropped precipitously to zero in under 20 seconds, now detailing a flat tire. I was able to move to immediate safety from the far-left lane, crossing four lanes of traffic, stopping at an exit ramp shoulder, and being completely out of harm’s way and out of the speeding traffic.… Continue reading
Tucked away in the rolling hills of southeast Ohio, Le Petit Chevalier Vineyards and Farm Winery is the perfect place to enjoy 100% Ohio-made wine this summer. With friendly hosts, a tasting room, and views that resemble Europe, this family-owned agritourism business is both a thriving farm and a special experience.
Mark and Margit Chevalier, the husband-and-wife owners, came into farming and agritourism in a unique way.
Originally from Germany, Margit was a fourth-generation pig farmer before becoming a plant pathologist in England. Mark, originally from the Hocking Hills area, met Margit in England through mutual friends — and their story began.
Inspired by friends in Germany who owned a vineyard and winery, in 2009, the two decided to move back to Mark’s hometown of Creola, near Hocking Hills, to try growing grapes. Neither had experience with the crop, but the couple used Ohio State University Extension as their advisors on how to best grow the fruit in Ohio.… Continue reading
State Climatologist of Ohio Aaron Wilson joins Ohio’s Country Journal and Ohio Ag Net to explain what El Niño is, how it develops and what it could mean for Ohio’s weather patterns this summer and into winter.
Wilson discusses the potential for drier conditions in the Ohio Valley, why El Niño may have a stronger impact later in the year, and what farmers should keep in mind as they navigate another growing season.
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.
Ohio’s pork industry is growing stronger — and so is the team behind it. The Ohio Pork Council is proud to welcome three dedicated professionals who bring fresh energy and expertise to its mission of serving the state’s pork producers. Joining the team are Blake Campbell, producer education director; Kayla Barker, consumer information director; and Michelle Bailey, office manager. Each will contribute in their roles to the organization’s core mission of serving and benefiting every Ohio pork producer.
“The future of Ohio’s pork industry demands a team that is skilled, passionate, and relentless in its pursuit of excellence — and that is exactly what these three professionals bring to this organization,” said Cheryl Day, OPC executive vice president. “Blake, Kayla and Michelle represent exactly the kind of talent and passion we need to take this organization to the next level. Together, they enhance our ability to educate, advocate, and deliver results for every Ohio pork producer.”… Continue reading
Ohio farmers are nearing the three-quarter mark for corn and soybeans planted, even as rainfall has continued to accumulate in much of the state. USDA reports there were 2.5 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending May 31.
Corn was 73% planted, up from 63% the previous week, but still behind the 83% five-year average. Corn emergence reached 57%, ahead of last week’s 45% but behind the 61% average.
Soybeans were 68% planted, up from 57% last week and just behind the 75% five-year average. Soybean emergence reached 52%, ahead of 38% last week and the 50% average.
Winter wheat was 94% headed, well ahead of the 82% five-year average. Ohio wheat condition was rated 60% good to excellent, with 49% good and 11% excellent.
Oats were 86% emerged and 1% headed. Oat condition was rated 65% good to excellent.
Soil moisture remains plentiful. Topsoil moisture was rated 60% adequate and 39% surplus, while subsoil moisture was 53% adequate and 36% surplus.… Continue reading
June is National Dairy Month! The dairy industry continues to evolve as consumers rediscover the value, nutrition, and versatility of milk and dairy products. From strong retail and food service sales to new conversations surrounding school milk and dairy’s role in healthy diets, there’s a lot happening across the industry right now. To talk about the success of the dairy checkoff program, current dairy product sales trends, and what many are calling a renaissance for milk, the Ohio Ag Net’s Ty Higgins visits with Scott Higgins, President and CEO of the American Dairy Association Mideast.… Continue reading
A week of good weather is welcomed as farmers finish planting and replanting. The past several weeks have been cold and wet, and crop growth has been slow. Warm weather increases plant growth and warms microbes, releasing abundant nutrients. A number of agricultural pests, including insects, pathogens, and weeds, are now slowing down crop growth.
Among insects, seed corn maggot and wireworms are among the worst Midwest seed insects. Cold, wet, soggy fields allow these insects to thrive. Seed corn maggots (Delia platura) are pale, larvae that burrow into and hollow out germinating seeds and young seedlings. Infestations cause poor crop stands, stunted growth, and plant death and are a problem in cool, soggy, and manured fields.
Wireworm (Melanotus communis Gyllenhal) is the most common wireworm attacking corn and soybeans and is the larval form of the click beetle. Wireworms have a slender, elongated body and are dark brownish orange.… Continue reading
Registration is open for the 2026 Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC).
The Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC) is getting a refreshed format in 2026, offering the same high-impact experience in a more streamlined schedule. This leadership development program is for young adults involved in Ohio’s beef industry either as a producer or in a related agri-business career. It is designed to help these individuals develop leadership skills, expand industry knowledge, and provide networking opportunities to enhance the profitability and success of their own farms and careers.
YCC will be held Aug. 13-14 in Columbus, Ohio and is open to any OCA member (memberships are $100 for a family and provide a full 12 months of service) over the age of 20 who possesses leadership potential and is active within their community.
The YCC experience will include industry leading speakers, an in-depth look at OCA programs and information on beef checkoff investments through the Ohio Beef Council.… Continue reading
Weeks of persistent rainfall have created challenging conditions across much of Ohio. In this Beck’s Hybrids agronomy update, Luke Schulte helps growers get a closer look at three key concerns developing in wet fields: post-emergence Pythium infections, crown rot, and herbicide stress management in soybeans. Learn how prolonged saturated soils can impact root development, plant health, yield potential, and standability, along with practical management considerations to help crops recover and stay on track. With the growing season still ahead, proactive decisions now could pay dividends at harvest.… Continue reading
The biodiesel industry is expected to continue growing globally, supported by government policy, rising fossil fuel prices, technological advancements in feedstock processing and, of course, the work of the Ohio Soybean Council. Learn about how the dynamic of biodiesel is shifting and how Ohio can play a major role in the industry moving forward on this Ohio Ag Net Podcast.
Plus, we check in with AgroLiquid to discuss how tissue sampling can help farmers better understand crop health during the growing season and make more informed nutrient management decisions.
Then, the 2026 County Fair season is almost here! The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association will be at 66 fairs for live harness racing action. OHHA executive director Frank Fraas talks about the importance of the sport to rural Ohio and shares details about a huge national event happening in Ohio later this year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced eligible landowners have from June 1 until Aug. 31, 2026 to review and consider base acre increases on farms enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs, as authorized by provisions included in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Signed into law by President Donald J. Trump on July 4, 2025, the Act provides landowners with the opportunity to update and increase base acres in preparation for enrollment in ARC and PLC beginning with the 2026 and future crop years. Nationwide, up to 30 million new base acres can be added by eligible farms.
ARC and PLC are cornerstone commodity safety net programs that provide financial protection to farmers when market prices or revenues decline. These programs help producers manage risk and maintain the economic viability of their operations amid challenging market and weather conditions. … Continue reading
By Mike Zuzolo, Global Commodities Analytics & Consulting, LLC
The next 30 days could be crucial in determining whether the recent correction in agricultural commodities is ultimately seen as the market top for the year.
Even though the oil and wheat-led supply shocks have worsened, mid-May brought a substantial correction across many commodities, at least until the U.S.-China Summit in Beijing. This series of events makes the mid-May lows especially important as we head into summer.
If U.S. weather improves and investment funds begin anticipating higher interest rates, will they continue holding large net-long positions after northern hemisphere planting wraps up? With USDA confirming tightening wheat supplies both domestically and globally, and with the Strait of Hormuz still effectively closed as we move into the second half of May, both wheat and crude still require more demand rationing — not less — in my view.
However, as we enter the final leg of northern hemisphere row-crop planting, is that enough to keep agricultural commodities, and the broader commodity sector, in an uptrend?… Continue reading
Even as planting dates shift, corn growth and development remain primarily driven by temperature, so tracking growing degree day (GDD) accumulation can help guide management and marketing decisions. Corn GDD is calculated as the average daily temperature minus 50.
The 86/50 method factors in the upper and lower threshold temperatures for corn growth. For example, if the maximum daily temperature (Tmax) is greater than 86 degrees Fahrenheit, 86 is used to determine the daily average. If the minimum daily temperature (Tmin) is less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, 50 is used to determine the daily temperature. So, if 87 F was the daily maximum temperature and 63 F was the daily minimum temperature, the GDD accumulation for the day would be [(86 + 63) / 2] – 50 or 24.5 GDDs. Corn typically needs 100–120 GDDs to emerge and about 350 GDDs to reach the V3 growth stage.… Continue reading
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but farm stress and mental health matter year-round. In this interview, Jami Dellifield, family and consumer sciences educator with Ohio State University Extension and part of the Rural and Farm Stress Team, shares how Extension is helping farmers, rural communities and mental health professionals better understand the unique pressures of agriculture.
Dellifield also highlights resources available through OSU Extension at u.osu.edu/farmstress, including Farm Stress Certified training, mental health first aid programs, 4-H mental health project books and crisis support resources like 988 and the Crisis Text Line.… Continue reading
By Dusty Sonneberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Checkoff, and Brianna Smith
Replant decisions can be difficult, especially when soybean stands are affected by wet conditions, cold weather damage or uneven emergence. A new tool funded by the Ohio Soybean Council is designed to help growers take a closer look before making that call.
Taylor Dill, director of research with the Ohio Soybean Council, said the Field Vision AI app is a free, open-source web application that allows farmers to upload photos of soybean stands and receive stand count information.
Growers can use photos taken with a phone or drone, as long as the image is clear enough to show row differentiation and plant spacing. After uploading and processing the image, the tool estimates the stand count in the photo and provides a per-acre average.
Dill said the technology is especially useful because it also measures uniformity, which is a key factor in replant decisions.… Continue reading
AgCredit, one of northern Ohio’s largest lenders for farmers, agribusinesses, and rural homeowners, is pleased to announce the results of its recent Board of Directors election.
The successful candidates were Terry McClure of Grover Hill representing Region 1, consisting of Paulding, Putnam and Van Wert Counties; and Stephen Reinhard of Bucyrus representing Region 7, consisting of Crawford and Morrow Counties. McClure and Reinhard are both serving in their second terms, having been originally elected in 2023.
Both delegates bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the AgCredit Board. McClure operates his own grain and livestock operation. Reinhard is both a self-employed farmer and operates his own seed company. In addition to his experience on AgCredit’s board, he also serves as the Crawford County Treasurer.
AgCredit’s Board of Directors includes eight members elected by stockholders; the remaining three are appointees to ensure diversity and a range of experience.
The board also appointed a new outside director, Peter Paras of Hinckley, Ohio.… Continue reading
Corn and soybean fields across Ohio are emerging, and at first glance, many look good from the truck window. But early emergence is the best time to step into the field and take a closer look. A short scouting trip shortly after emergence can reveal planter performance issues that affect yield long before showing up at harvest.
Emergence uniformity is critical for corn yield. Research, including work done at Ohio State University, consistently shows that corn plants that emerge later than their neighbors rarely catch up. Even short delays in emergence can hurt individual plant yield and reduce overall field performance. Ohio State studies have found that if half of a corn stand emerges about a week late, total field yield can drop by 5% to 10%, even when the final plant population still looks good. That yield loss occurs because early emerging plants outcompete later-emerging ones for sunlight, water, and nutrients.… Continue reading
Hoof health starts from the ground up, and in this conversation, professional hoof trimmer Carrie McFarland shares the tools, techniques, and philosophies she uses to keep dairy cows comfortable and productive.
The chat includes her choice in trimming tables and grinders to hoof knives, blocks, and treatment products. She also discusses the Kansas and Balanced trimming methods and how proper hoof care can impact everything from mobility to milk production and overall profitability on the dairy.
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