The Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative (OACI) rolled out the findings of its 2026 Assessment Survey Report on practices being used by farmers in the Auglaize River watershed to manage water and nutrients. The assessment results show ample conservation efforts, as well as areas for improvement and continued farmer education and resourcing by OACI.
“By establishing a clear baseline for conservation practice adoption in the Auglaize River watershed, this assessment gives us a stronger understanding of where progress is being made and allows for a more targeted approach to increase adoption of best management practices,” said Jeff Duling, Chair of the Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative. “We encourage farmers to engage with programs like OACI’s Farmer Certification program, H2Ohio and other conservation-focused initiatives to learn from one another, adopt new practices, and continue strengthening stewardship of Ohio’s land and water resources.”
The survey results establish a baseline of adoption for various farming practices in the Auglaize River watershed.… Continue reading
Lake Erie anglers can expect the 2026 season to again offer world-class fishing as walleye from Lake Erie’s recent large hatches continue to grow, anglers can expect even more “Fish Ohio” sized walleyes to be caught in The Walleye Capital of the World. A Lake Erie “Fish Ohio” walleye is a fish measuring 28 inches or more in length.
Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch 2026 quotas were announced by the Lake Erie Committee; however, angler daily harvest limits remain unchanged in Ohio for 2026 and will be in effect through April 30, 2027.
Yellow perch populations continue to struggle in most of Lake Erie, however a stable yellow perch population in Lake Erie’s west zone should provide good fishing in 2026.
Ohio’s Lake Erie Angler Daily Limits (May 1, 2026 – April 30, 2027)
* Walleye: 6 fish per day, 15-inch minimum length requirement
* Yellow perch, west zone (approximately Toledo to Huron): 30 fish per day
* Yellow Perch, central zone (approximately Huron to Fairport Harbor): 10 fish per day
* Yellow Perch, east zone (approximately Fairport Harbor to Conneaut): 20 fish per day
Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch fisheries are managed through an interagency quota system.… Continue reading
I am in a reflection mode. Even though Mother’s Day has just passed, the significance of mothers remains long after a date on the calendar. Individuals interested in animal behavior recognize the unique attachment that a newborn calf, foal, puppy, or kitten shares with its mother. Just as we recognize the bond between animals and their young, we also celebrate our own mothers throughout our lives
I am also mindful that not everyone’s story looks the same. For some, it was a grandmother, foster mother, aunt, or another caring woman who filled that role. They, too, deserve to be honored and remembered.
As we recognized Mother’s Day, many of you likely thought of special memories with your mother or grandmother, moments at home and milestones in life that remain close to your heart. I hope many of those memories bring joy. At the same time, I know for some there may be pain, loss, or unresolved emotions tied to those relationships.… Continue reading
Latest update: 19-May
Corn stubble average: 68.67°F
Last year at this time: 60.5°F (8.17° warmer).
Bean stubble average: 68.67°F
Last year at this time: 58.25°F (10.42° warmer).
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:
Most people see the jacket, with all the pins and medals, but they don’t always see the journey behind it. For me, the jacket holds so much more than my name and pins. It holds countless early mornings, late nights, tears, tight hugs, laughter, lessons, and proud moments. As I unzip my jacket for one of the final times, I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the memories, growth, and purpose these past four years have brought me.
When I first walked into my agricultural education class, I was a shy freshman who decided to join FFA because I saw the impact it left on my brother. Though initially nervous, I began saying “yes” to opportunities. Soon, I found myself on the Agricultural Soils CDE Team and navigating my way through Indianapolis for my first National FFA Convention. With each new experience, my confidence began to grow.… Continue reading
Some areas of the state are wet and have yet to make much progress with burndown applications or planting, and others are rapidly approaching the finish line thanks to a stretch of nice weather. In addition to fluctuating precipitation, weather patterns lately have brought about both very warm and freezing temperatures. In some areas with conditions that have been adequate for planting, wind has also complicated the timing of herbicide applications. Questions have come up related to herbicide efficacy across this range of scenarios, and the following are some considerations for each:
Areas that are waiting to dry out to make burndown applications
Cold weather (nighttime temps below 40 and daytime temps below 50) can slow the rate of kill for systemic products like glyphosate, dicamba, and 2,4-D. Contact products like paraquat and glufosinate work best in sunny, warm conditions, and control can be reduced in cool, cloudy weather.
Wet weather and heavy clay soils have delayed planting across much of northern Ohio. Should farmers be making any changes to their planting decisions? In this agronomy update, Mike Hannewald, field agronomist with Beck’s Hybrids, shares practical guidance for growers facing late-May planting decisions in corn and soybeans.… Continue reading
Farmers across the state have been busy this past week. The USDA Crop Progress Report released May 18 showed about half of Ohio’s corn and soybean crops have been planted.
The report detailed that 52% of Ohio’s corn is planted, well above the five-year average of 40%. That is up from 37% recorded in the May 11 report. Corn emerged was reported at 27%.
Soybeans were reported at 46% planted, ahead of the five-year average of 35%. The report released May 11 detailed only 34% of the crop planted. Soybeans emerged were recorded at 24%.
Winter wheat was reported 60% headed, with 68% rated good to excellent.
If you live in rural Ohio, it is no secret that there are challenges facing the agriculture sector & communities. How is USDA Rural Development working to improve the lives of rural Ohioans. Find out as Ty Higgins chats with the Ohio Director of USDA Rural Development, Charles Tassell.
For decades, agricultural research has often followed a similar path. Scientists identify a problem, develop a study, gather results, and eventually ask farmers to adopt the science or practices that they have learned.
A new project called From the Ground Up is working to reverse that process.
Instead of beginning in university offices or small test plots, the USDA-funded initiative starts with farmers — asking what challenges they face, what questions matter most on their operations, and what solutions are worth testing in real fields. Researchers then step in to help design trials, collect data, and measure results.
Doug Jackson-Smith, professor in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at Ohio State, has studied agricultural change and rural communities throughout his career. He said the project was created to help close what many call the “conservation adoption gap.”
“We think we know things that will help people, but often they don’t,” Jackson-Smith said, referring to the long-standing challenge of getting more conservation practices adopted on farms.… Continue reading
In a huge win for corn growers, legislation allowing nationwide year-round sales of E15 passed the House last week. Exactly how will this benefit farmers and consumers and what are the next steps for the legislation? Find out on this Ohio Ag Net Podcast, powered by Ohio Corn and Wheat.
Plus, on the latest Ohio Field Leader Roadshow, Dusty Sonnenberg visits Flynn Livestock and Gordon Farms in Lorain County to talk with Adele and Eric Flynn about their diversified family operation.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Ohio Grape Industries Committee (OGIC) gathered Wednesday evening at the Ohio Statehouse to launch a month-long celebration of Ohio wine and recognize some of the state’s top wines ahead of Ohio Wine Month in June.
The event featured Ohio Quality Wines as well as Double Gold Medal winners from the 2025 Ohio Wine Competition, bringing together winery owners, grape growers, industry partners, and state leaders to celebrate the people and businesses behind Ohio wine.
“Ohio wineries and the people behind them have created an incredible range of wines and experiences rooted in their communities,” said ODA Director Brian Baldridge. “Ohio Wine Month is an opportunity to celebrate the innovation, craftsmanship, and economic impact of this industry while encouraging Ohioans to discover outstanding wineries and taste something uniquely Ohio.”
Ohio is home to more than 430 licensed wineries and is the seventh-largest wine-producing state in the nation.… Continue reading
A few weeks back, my son and I were working on a curtain drain that the roots of an unfriendly tree had visited. A quick visit to the local hardware store was just the ticket since I knew they rented heavy-duty eels complete with the appropriate root cutter. The owner greeted us by name, chatted about the weather as it related to the farm (he’s a farm boy), then pointed to the best rental option, and with a handshake, we made our way to the door. No contract. No questionnaire. No training. No fuss, no muss.
On our way to the trailer, the owner called out — “Hey Chris, I wanted to let you know I see and read your editorials biweekly in the local paper. He then went on to give me an ever-so-gentle constructive suggestion. “How about writing one time about how great America is sometime?… Continue reading
Stand count, plant spacing and uniformity across the acres is a key management measurement when determining if a soybean crop is adequate or needs to be replanted. With funding from the Ohio Soybean Council, a research project at The Ohio State University conducted by Dr. Sami Khanal has investigated and developed a new AI tool to help farmers analyze and make this key replant decision.
In this featured audio, Dr. Taylor Dill, Director of Research for the Ohio Soybean Council, discusses the Field Vision AI App with Dusty Sonnenberg, Field Leader. The app is currently a free web application available to farmers and can be found at https://fieldvision-app-d3b82e6fec5d.herokuapp.com/.
From agronomic insights to water quality research, Field Leader, sponsored by the Ohio Soybean Council, delivers timely information to help Ohio growers make informed decisions on the farm. Visit ocj.com/ohio-field-leader to learn more.
A recent pseudorabies detection in an Iowa commercial hog facility has renewed discussion around swine biosecurity and disease surveillance. In this interview, The Ohio State University veterinarian Andrew Bowman explains the history of pseudorabies in the U.S. swine industry, why the recent case is not considered a human health concern, and how long-standing surveillance and biosecurity systems are working to quickly identify and contain risks. Bowman also discusses the role feral swine populations play in disease management and why continued vigilance remains important for producers.… Continue reading
By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Checkoff
In agriculture, as in life, many people like to imagine what the future will look like. Then there are those who are intentional about proactively shaping their future. Eric and Adele Flynn of Gordon Farms and Flynn Livestock in Lorain County are intentionally involved in organizations that are shaping the future of agriculture and will impact their farm and family.
What started back in the 1940s as a sheep farm and later a dairy farm by Adele’s grandpa, father, and uncles, is now a diversified cash grain and livestock operation, including a cover crop seed production enterprise. While Adele grew up on the family farm, Eric found his passion for agriculture through his involvement with 4-H and FFA. He went on to ATI to receive a degree in beef production and eventually ended up at Gordon Farms when he “married the farmer’s daughter,” as Adele teased with a smile.… Continue reading
Walk into the Ohio FFA Convention, and you’ll see it right away: a sea of blue corduroy jackets, kids going in every direction to sessions, the expo, or to the big stage.
If you listen closely, you’ll hear a few common phrases:
“Have fun!” “Make good choices!” “Be back on time!”
Behind every student at convention, whether there to learn, compete, or receive an award, is an agricultural education teacher who helped make it happen.
For many, that impact goes far beyond lesson plans and supervised agricultural experiences. It shows up in early mornings, late nights, hard conversations, and the steady encouragement to try something new.
My ag teacher, Mr. Eisenhauer, kept us entertained and informed. Always ready with a story, he went above and beyond for students. If you committed to FFA, he matched your efforts.
I still remember the early mornings in the ag room, practicing speeches for the prepared speaking contest, and the time a group of us decided we were going to be the best livestock judging team we could be.… Continue reading
Last month, I visited with a fraternity brother at a memorial service for another friend. As often happens when two farmers get together, the conversation quickly turned to spring planting. He confidently said, “We are finishing up!”
That caught my attention. Based on what I knew, that didn’t quite add up. Southern Ohio farmers were already more than 80% planted, with some nearly finished a week earlier, but the northern half of the state, above Interstate 70, was lagging. And he farms near Findlay, nearly 100 miles north of Interstate 70, right in the middle of that slower progress.
It started to feel like a high-stakes poker hand. I went all in and said, “Your planting progress is less than 20%, right?”
He smiled, his shoulders dipping just a bit, and chuckled. “It’s near 10%.”
The U.S.–Iran war continues despite ongoing truce uncertainty. A U.S. naval blockade has yielded little success despite significant military presence, including at least one aircraft carrier and multiple support vessels.… Continue reading
In a historic, bipartisan vote, legislation allowing nationwide, year-round sales of E15 passed the U.S. House of Representatives and moves to the U.S. Senate for approval.
H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, removes outdated regulatory barriers that have restricted summertime sales of E15, also known as Unleaded 88, in many parts of the country.
The Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association thanked the members of Ohio’s congressional delegation from both parties who supported the bill.
“Ohio farmers have pushed for this for years, and today’s vote is proof that Congress understands what is at stake,” said Eric Tipton, president of the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association. “We thank the Republicans and Democrats in Ohio’s congressional delegation who stood with farmers and helped move year-round E15 one step closer to reality.”
E15 contains 15% ethanol and is approved for use in cars and light-duty trucks 2001 and newer, representing more than 96% of vehicles on the road today.… Continue reading
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