Town Hall Ohio

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has many divisions to assist the just as many important aspects of American agriculture. Conservation is one of the most valuable attributes of farming, as it keeps farms viable for the long term, which allows farm families to continue the tradition of raising products used for food, fuel and fiber generation after generation. This week, learn more about the agency that provides farmers with financial and technical assistance to use conservation to help the environment and agriculture succeed as we visit with Ohio’s Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. 00:00 - Newly appointed Ohio NRCS Chief John Wilson talks about stepping into his new role and some of the challenges and goals he has for his agency moving forward. 23:50 - On this week’s “To the Beat of Agriculture”, hear from the President of Ohio Farm Bureau, Bill Patterson, as he shares his story of diving into agritourism and how Farm Bureau truly begins in your community with the local farmer. 32:20 -

Throughout the U.S., there has been growing interest in alternative meat options, including plant-based and lab-grown meat. A team of researchers in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University recently surveyed 1,250 Ohio consumers and 130 Ohioans who identified themselves as members of the agricultural industry to better understand how consumers would like to learn about meat option, as well as industry perceptions regarding meat and plant-based alternatives. On this Our Ohio Weekly, we'll go over the results. 00:00 - Dr. Joy Rumble, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership at Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences highlights the findings of their meat options survey. 23:50 - On this “To the Beat of Agriculture, we’ll hear from the First Vice President of the Ohio Farm Bureau and learn how Cy Prettyman’s passion for livestock as a child turned into a 30-year (and counting) agricultu

Last week, The Biden Administration discussed how its strategy to spur the development of homegrown biofuels is critical to expanding Americans’ options for affordable fuel in the short-term and to building real energy independence in the long-term by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. The President announced new steps to achieve that goal by increasing fuel supplies, offering more consumer choices, and reducing gasoline prices for Americans. On this Our Ohio Weekly, we talk about the role of biofuels in the President's announcement and how the future of homegrown energy looks. 00:00 - Troy Bredenkamp, Senior VP for Government and Public Affairs with the Renewable Fuels Association and Donnell Rehagen, CEO, Clean Fuels Alliance America talk about what The Biden Administration’s biofuels announcement means for their industries and what the future of ethanol and biodiesel could look like. 16:50 - 23:50 - “To the Beat of Agriculture” as we meet more Ohio Farm Bureau board members, hear from the current

Recently, food and agriculture groups released the sixth annual Feeding the Economy report, a historic farm-to-fork economic analysis revealing how these sectors influence the local and broader United States economies. The report shows that 1.5 million jobs in Ohio are tied to food and agriculture and those industries add over $10 billion dollars to the state’s bottom line annually. As those numbers continue to grow, so does the need for improved and additional infrastructure and the recruitment of more workers into these career paths. JobsOhio is a major part of those efforts and on this Our Ohio Weekly, Ty visits with the organization’s Senior Director of Food & Agribusiness, Tim Derickson. 00:00 - Tim Derickson, Senior Director of Food & Agribusiness at JobsOhio shares the agency’s mission and a recent study about Innovation and Infrastructure in Ohio. 23:50 - On this “To the Beat of Agriculture”, hear from the Representative of the 13th District, Jerry Lahmers. He represents Ohio Farm Bureau members in

Each year, Ohio Farm Bureau hosts AgriPOWER, designed specifically for farmers and agribusiness professionals. This year-long program focuses on public policy issues confronting agriculture and the food industry such as consumer relations, regulations, energy, and trade policies. It helps individuals develop the skills necessary to become effective leaders and advocates for agriculture by learning from experts in these fields. On this Our Ohio Weekly, hear from some recent graduates of AgriPOWER and find out more about the program. 00:00 - Melinda Witten, Senior Director, Leadership Development with Ohio Farm Bureau, Christine Snowden from Franklin County and Greg Tholen from Highland County talk about the AgriPOWER program and some of the takeaways from being a part of Class XII. 23:50 - On this episode of “To the Beat of Agriculture”, meet Chris Weaver, Ohio Farm Bureau Board Trustee representing the 1st District of Defiance, Fulton, Henry and Williams Counties. He talks about his California roots and the

Last month, the Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative released their findings of the 2021 Assessment Survey Report on practices being used by farmers in the Lower Maumee watershed to manage water and nutrients. The survey results establish a baseline of adoption for various farming practices in the Lower Maumee watershed. The information will allow for a more targeted approach to help increase some practices, while also displaying that some practices are already adopted at an adequate level. What do the results tell us? What are farmers doing right and what could be improved to protect soil and water? On this Our Ohio Weekly, learn about the entire report from Kris Swartz, farmer and Chair, Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative, Jordan Hoewischer, Director of Water Quality and Research, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and Dr. John Fulton, Professor and Extension Specialist, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University. 00:00 - Swartz, Fulton and Hoewischer talk abo

Some important deadlines are looming for farmers wanting to join the nearly 2,000 already signed up for the H2Ohio water quality program. To date, over 1 million acres have Voluntary Nutrient Management Plans, a key component of H2Ohio. This week, we visit with the Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Dorothy Pelanda, to find out more about the initiative, and other important items, like food security and their work with county fairs, that fall under the purview of ODA. 00:00 - Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dorothy Pelanda discusses the success of H2Ohio in northwest Ohio and how her agency has helped farmers through the recent challenges in Ohio’s food supply chain. 16:50 - The Ohio Dairy Action Group is taking what are have learned from industry experts and created policy to help dairy farmers across the state remain viable. Ohio Farm Bureau’s Brandon Kern has the details. 23:50 - In a new series of “To the Beat of Agriculture” segments, we highlight Ohio Farm Bureau state trustees.

From Waters of the U.S., to the Enlist herbicide ban, to the Renewable Fuels Standard, EPA has ruffled quite a few feathers in agriculture lately. As those challenges come, organizations like Farm Bureau jump in and join in the conversation to make sure the agency has all of the information needed when new ideas that may have an impact on farmers across the country are introduced. On this Our Ohio Weekly, find out about new policies being put forth by the EPA and what Farm Bureau is doing to help them make sure their rules make sense for everyone involved. 00:00 - Ryan Yates, Managing Director of Public Policy with American Farm Bureau and Brandon Kern, Senior Director of State and National Policy with Ohio Farm Bureau talk about the latest developments from the EPA in regards to Waters of the U.S. 16:50 - Yates and Kern discuss the diverse challenges that have come from the EPA over the past year. 23:50 - On this edition of “To the Beat of Agriculture'', we’ll hear from the winner of the Ohio Farm Bureau’

At Ohio Farm Bureau, we keep our eyes on many things that may impact our members and their way of life. Most of the time that would be proposed legislation or regulation, but we also keep tabs on litigation at the local, state and federal levels. At Farm Bureau’s recent Ag Day at the Capital, nearly 350 members traveled to Columbus to visit with lawmakers and were invited to a special panel to hear from some very important people, including Supreme Court Justices Pat DeWine and Patrick Fischer, for an inside look at the workings of the highest court in Ohio. 00:00 - Ohio Supreme Court Justices DeWine and Fischer talk about how their backgrounds molded their judicial philosophies. 16:50 - The Justices talk about how input from organizations like Ohio Farm Bureau impact their decisions from the bench. 23:50 - On this edition of To the Beat of Agriculture, meet the recipient of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association’s Young Cattleman of the Year Award. Learn about Zane Gross’ background, challenges the cattle indus

According to the USDA Economic Research Service, food-at-home prices increased 3.5 percent and food-away-from-home prices increased 4.5 percent in 2021. That trend looks to continue throughout this year with the food we eat at home predicted to increase between 1.5 and 2.5 percent, and food-away-from-home prices are predicted to increase between 3.5 and 4.5 percent. This, of course, has an impact on every American in a different way, but why are food prices so high and what types of food items are being affected the most? On this Our Ohio Weekly, we talk food prices and inflation. 00:00 - Dr. Zoë Plakias, Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics at Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences shares her latest findings about food prices and inflation 16:50 - As winter weather continues, farmers are quickly turning attention to 2022 farm planning. Factors like farm labor availability and supply chain disruptions potentially compli

The average Ohio farm real estate value, including land and buildings, averaged $6,600 per acre last year, according to the National Ag Statistics Service. That’s a 3.9 percent increase from 2020. Ohio’s cropland value was $6,800, an increase of 5.3 percent from the previous year and pasture values in the Buckeye State were up 2.1 percent from 2020 at $3,440 per acre. On this Our Ohio Weekly, find out what has caused this spike in land values and if the bubble will pop anytime soon. 00:00 - Randy Dickhut, senior vice president of real estate operations with Farmers National Company and Chip Carpenter, Auctioneer/Broker at United Country Real Estate & Auction Services discuss what they are seeing when it comes to farmland values across Ohio and the Corn Belt. 16:50 - Dickhut and Carpenter talk about how today’s land market compares to the 1980’s and if the land value bubble will pop. 23:50 - On this episode of “To the Beat of Agriculture”, hear from Katelyn Hall, National Junior Miss Agriculture USA, about

What started as an unprecedented meeting between members of American Farm Bureau and America’s cattle organizations has turned into meaningful legislation that is looking to dramatically change how cattle are marketed. These changes would give more transparency to the process and more income for the farmer. On this week’s Our Ohio Weekly, we talk about the issues involving cattle marketing and what is being done in Washington D.C. to give livestock producers a more fair market in the future. 00:00 - Scott Bennett, American Farm Bureau’s Director of Congressional Relations and Brandon Kern, senior director of state and national policy for Ohio Farm Bureau discuss the current challenges farmers are dealing with when it comes to cattle marketing across the country. 16:50 - Bennett and Kern talk about what possible changes to the Packers and Stockyards Act would mean for the livestock industry. 23:50 - “To the Beat of Agriculture”, hear from the outstanding winner of an important award from the National Associ

There is always a lot to take in at the Ohio Farm Bureau Young Agricultural Professionals Winter Leadership Experience. Plenty of educational seminars, resources for new and beginning farmers and an abundance of networking opportunities. At the event last weekend in Cincinnati, attendees also got some education and advice from a panel of more seasoned farmers, including Steve Hirsch, a fifth-generation owner of Hirsch Fruit Farm in Ross County, as well as a board member for Nationwide Insurance and Rose Hartschuh, an Ohio Farm Bureau board member who operates a dairy and raises grain crops, alfalfa and cover crops in Northwest Ohio. On this Our Ohio Weekly, hear some of their advice to younger farmers. 00:00 - Hirsch and Hartschuh talk about their current farming operations and the road from when they started their careers to where they are now. 16:50 - Hirsch and Hartschuh discuss some of the new ideas they brought to the farm when they first started and what a plan for the future looks like. 23:50 - On t

Earlier this month, the American Farm Bureau Federation hosted their 103rd Annual Convention. Members from across the country traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to celebrate successes of 2021 and set the organization’s priorities for 2022. Some VIPs also took part in the event, including AFBF President Zippy Duvall and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, to share their expectations for farmers for this year and further into the future. 00:00 - American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall shares his stories from his travels across the country’s diverse agricultural landscape and how he takes what he learns from those farm visits to lawmakers in Washington D.C. 16:50 - Tom Vilsack, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary, shares what his agency is doing to address some of the major issues impacting agriculture. 23:50 - On this edition of “To the Beat of Agriculture”, meet the recipient of the No Till Farmer of the Year award from the Ohio No-Till Council, Jeff Duling, and learn about

The first part of a new year is always a great time to reflect on the past 12 months and set goals for the next 12. What went right, what went wrong and what did we learn? On this Our Ohio Weekly, we ask those questions from an agricultural perspective and get the answers from an economist, an agronomist and an agribusiness leader. 00:00 - Dr. Roger Cryan, American Farm Bureau’s Chief Economist, Chris Henney, President and CEO of the Ohio Agribusiness Association and John Brien, Eastern Agronomy Manager for AgriGold talk about the good and the bad from 2021 and take a look at 2022. 23:50 - On this “To the Beat of Agriculture”, hear from Austin Troyer, a driven, first generation livestock farmer and learn about how his unique plot of land influenced him to switch from cattle to sheep. 32:20 - Dr. Jay Martin, Professor of Ecological Engineering, Department of Food, Agricultural & Biological Engineering at The Ohio State University talks about a couple innovative projects in the Western Lake Erie Basin dealin

For most of the past two years, while most of the world was put on pause, farmers never stopped working and neither did their associations. Along with Ohio Farm Bureau, organizations like the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association and Ohio Soybean Association continue to advocate for trade policies that work for Ohio farmers, as well as monitor water quality and biofuel legislation, engage legislators and regulators, and talk with our farmer members. On this Our Ohio Weekly, hear from leaders of Ohio’s corn, wheat and soybean groups. 00:00 - Tadd Nicholson and Kirk Merritt, Executive Directors of Ohio Corn and Wheat and Ohio Soybean, respectively, give a recap of 2021 and what their members can expect in 2022. 16:50 - Jay Truitt with Policy Matters talks about things happening in Washington D.C. that could have major implications for rural Ohio. 23:50 - On this week’s “To the Beat of Agriculture”, hear from a retired physician who found a passion for soil conservation and how his journey leg to him winnin

Ohio Farm Bureau members were “Together Again” as the organization held its 103rd annual meeting earlier this month in Columbus. Nearly 385 delegates from all 88 Ohio counties established the organization’s policy goals for the coming year, elected leaders, recognized county Farm Bureau and individual achievements and honored industry leaders. On this Our Ohio Weekly, get a recap of this year’s annual meeting and hear from the organization’s President and Executive Vice President. 00:00 - Ohio Farm Bureau President Bill Patterson addresses the organization’s members at the 103rd Annual Meeting. 16:50 - At the Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting Kickoff Luncheon, Executive Vice President Adam Sharp gave remarks about the successes of 2021 and the goals for the coming year. 23:50 - On this “To the Beat of Agriculture'', we’ll hear from an ag lender who has also carried on the legacy of his family’s farm. Plus, learn more about Derek Snyder’s journey and what he is looking forward to at the upcoming Young Ag Prof

Farmers will be the first to tell you there is no better life than life on the farm. But it certainly isn’t for everybody. Early mornings, long days and dirt under the nails isn’t as appealing as most other jobs out there, but nonetheless those not-so-attractive jobs still need to be done. On this Our Ohio Weekly, find out how the big picture of Food and Ag Labor looks and what worker shortages mean for the farm sector and for consumers down the line. 00:00 - Ohio State Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics Assistant Professor Dr. Margaret Jodlowski gives an update on Ohio Food & Agricultural Labor 23:50 - To the Beat of Agriculture, Hannah Divencenzo shares the importance of networking at the upcoming YAP Winter Leadership Experience and how this conference has personally impacted her own life. 32:20 - Year end is quickly approaching and it is time to update and gather financial information. While some may avoid or procrastinate this step, Farm Credit Mid-America’s Regional

Farm life can be demanding and stressful and those stresses have reached a critical stage with pandemic impacts on top of natural disasters, extreme weather events, financial pressures due to fluctuating commodity prices, labor shortages, trade disruptions and other factors over the past several years. On this Our Ohio Weekly, find out if the issues of farm stress and mental health are getting as much attention as needed when it comes to helping those who need it. 00:00 - Highland County farmers Nathan Brown and Brandon Fullenkamp, along with mental health expert Adrienne DeSutter talk about the current status of farm stress and mental health and what is being done to bring the important issue to light across rural America. 23:50 - Hear from Ryan Matthews on “To the Beat of Agriculture”. He is a new member of the Young Ag Professional state committee and he shares how Farm Bureau played an important role in his life and gives some details about the upcoming YAP Winter Leadership Experience. 32:20 - The far

A different type of farm is coming to the Buckeye State. Soon, the town of Pioneer, Ohio will be home to a nearly 500,000 square feet facility that will be used to grow Atlantic Salmon. Science and technology breakthroughs from 30 years ago have spawned into a burgeoning industry where farms grow quality food to a booming world population and produce that food with their neighbors and the environment in mind. On this Our Ohio Weekly, learn more about AquaBounty, one of Ohio’s newest farmers. 00:00 - AquaBounty President and CEO, Sylvia Wulf gives insights into the Salmon industry and her company’s plans for growth to meet market demands. 23:50 - Young Ag Professionals State Committee member Sara Tallmadge tells her ag story “To the Beat of Agriculture” and has important information about the 2022 YAP Winter Leadership Experience 32:20 - Micah Mensing, Farm Credit Mid-America’s Growing Forward Specialist, shares how his organization supports the next generation of agriculture. 42:20 - The Thanksgiving Dinn