After a grueling winter, spring is arriving across Ohio and we are itching to get the planters rolling. After looking at where this past winter landed in the books, we talk with Dr. Aaron Wilson about what we can expect for this season. With drought conditions lingering in some parts of the state and heavy rains across others, we have our fingers crossed for a good growing season. Will Mother Nature deliver? Tune in to find out.

Sign up to receive monthly and quarterly updates from the State Climate Office: climate.osu.edu. Check out mrcc.purdue.edu/ to find useful tools such as the GDD calculator and freeze predictor. You can also reach out to Aaron at [email protected].

Amanda Douridas is the Ohio State University Extension Educator for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Madison County. Her on-farm research has focused on nutrient management and adapting to changing weather patterns within cropping systems. In this episode, Bruce and Josh talk to Amanda about a research project for target spray for pre and post application.

Two farmers, Fred and Josh Yoder, discuss one conservation focused research project developed by a group of farmers in Ohio. They are part of a multi-state, four-university effort to discover how to increase conservation adoption on farms. Our farmer-led team is working to improve real-world, on-farm performance of conservation practices to ensure they better generate the outcomes – e.g. profitability, yield stability, and protection from extreme weather events – that farmers need.

To learn more about this project, visit: https://ftgup.org/.

On this episode, Bruce and Josh have Clint Schroeder, Program Manager for the OSU Farm Business Analysis program, and Justin Baum, Clinton County Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator for OSU Extension. Clint and Justin discuss how farm managers can determine their cost of production and use the Crop Cost tool from the University of Minnesota in their decision-making process.

https://farmprofitability.osu.edu

https://cropcost.umn.edu

After a brief weather outlook/lookback we get into discussing weather myths and conspiracy theories. Dr. Aaron Wilson takes us through a few common ones. What are chemtrails? Are we seeing weather modification in Ohio? These are a couple of the big ones we talk about. Listen in and see what you think.

For more on weather modification, you can utilize noaa.gov. You can also connect with the State Climate Office at climate.osu.edu.

On today’s episode, Bruce and Josh talk with Dr. Logan Minter, Associate Professor in the OSU Department of Extension and associated faculty with the Department of Horticultural and Crop Sciences, statewide Field Specialist for Specialty Crops, and the Ohio Integrated Pest Management Program Coordinator. Dr. Minter discusses the opportunities farms may have in diversifying their portfolio with specialty crops and some considerations before implementing specialty crops. He also discusses the new research study publication, ePlus, which can be found here: https://go.osu.edu/eplusreports

We continue our discussion with Eric Richer, OSUE Field Specialist, by digging into more hurdles of organic grain production. From nitrogen sources to paperwork, we take a realistic look what farmers can expect in an organic system compared to conventional.

To dive deeper into this topic, we recommend attending the 2026 Ohio State Organic Grains Conference January 7-8. For more details, visit: https://offer.osu.edu/events/2026-OrganicGrainsConference.

Transitioning to organic production is not a consideration farmers can take lightly. The intensive management, restrictions on inputs and changes in marketing must be well understood. To help us wrap our heads around that process, Eric Richer, OSUE Farm Management Field Specialist, joins us to dive into the opportunities and challenges organic production presents in Ohio.

To dive deeper into this topic, we recommend attending the 2026 Ohio State Organic Grains Conference January 7-8. For more details, visit: https://offer.osu.edu/events/2026-OrganicGrainsConference.

To renovate or not to renovate? That is the question many pasture managers face, especially after two dry summers. With a large commitment of time and money, it is a question that should be carefully considered. To help us do so, Dr. Emma Matcham, State Specialist for Integrated Forage Systems, walks us through the process from start to finish. We consider stand evaluation, timing, seeding methods and more as we discuss the nuances farmers face in making this decision.

Additional resources:

Giving new life to tired pastures: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/anr-0159
Forage management after drought and a tough growing season: https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2025-36
Ohio Agronomy Guide: https://extensionpubs.osu.edu/ohio-agronomy-guide-16th-edition/

This episode comes to you from the 2025 Farm Science Review at Ask the Expert, where Bruce sits down with Barry Ward, Leader, Production Business Management & Director, Income Tax Schools at The Ohio State University, to discuss his thoughts on Crop Inputs, Farmland Values/Rents, Tax Law – 2025 & Looking Ahead.