This week, the Ohio Ag Net Podcast takes a closer look at the Winchester Farm Exchange, a farm-to-table grocery store featuring products from over 50 local vendors. Hosts visit with Trish Preston, co-owner of Winchester Farm Exchange, and vendors Derek Schmitt of Schmitt Farms in Fairfield County and Sarah Ison of Flourish and Roam in Clermont County. Learn how they're bringing innovative ideas to connect farmers and consumers in the Canal Winchester region.

Also featured in this episode:

• Brent Sohngen of OSU discussing the latest insights on energy.
• Susan Shultz of Logan County representing the American Sheep Industry.
• Taylor Embry from AgHires sharing career tips for young professionals in agriculture.

In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Matt Reese reflects on the trials and triumphs of the 2024 growing season with insights from Nathan Brause of Crawford County and Glenn Lackey of Athens County at the Ohio No-Till Conference. Dale Minyo sits down with Luke Crumley of Ohio Corn & Wheat to discuss the organization's 2025 public policy priorities. Margaret Jodlowski of Ohio State sheds light on the evolving farm labor outlook, while Joel Penhorwood introduces us to the unique world of yak farming in Ohio through conversations with Blake Mathys of Covered Bridge Yaks and Greg Dike, president of the USYAKS Association.

What would you do if you got a direct message on Instagram, and it said, "Would you like to be on a Japanese TV show?"

A. Delete it

B. Ignore it

C. Sure! I'd love to be on a Japanese TV show!

Chances are most people would overwhelmingly choose A or B. Last February, OCJ columnist Shelly Detwiler read the first line of this exact message and her first thought was that it was a scam, but she ultimately chose C, which put on track for a once in a lifetime experience on the other side of the world from her home near Plain City. Shelly shares her global culinary adventure with Matt Reese on this week's Ohio Ag Net Podcast.

Also this week:

Matt gets an update on the status of H5N1 in dairy cattle with Shaun Wellert, D.V.M. at Ohio ATI College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Wooster.

Joel Penhorwood recaps the big USDA report day from January 10 with Doug Tenney of Leist Mercantile.

Ian Sheldon, Ohio State University Professor and Andersons Chair of Agricultural Marketing, Trade and Policy has a look at international agricultural trade.

Celebrate the season with this heartwarming and informative Christmas episode! Matt Reese chats with Kayleigh Keller of Keller Meats in Medina County about organizing a supply convoy to help those devastated by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, an inspiring story of generosity and resilience.

Shelly Detwiler shares festive Christmas recipes to brighten your holiday table. Plus, hear a GrowNextGen update with Eric and Adele Flynn of Lorain County, who have hosted engaging virtual field trips.

Dale Minyo catches up with Wendy Osborn from Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers for an update on ethanol. He also gets an exciting update from Farm Credit Mid-America's Rudi Pitzer Perry and Olivia Congrove as they discuss this year's record-breaking success of Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer, which collected more food for local foodbanks than ever before.

Plus, we round it out by remembering the reason for the season as we hear a reading of the Christmas story from the Book of Luke.

Join us to get inspired and educated in this final Ohio Ag Net Podcast of 2024.

Join Matt and Dusty as they spotlight innovative farming practices and stewardship across Ohio. Leon Klopfenstein of Paulding County shares his journey to earning the Ohio No-Till Council 2024 No-Till Farmer of the Year award, focusing on enhancing soil health in challenging conditions. Rob Davis of Reclaimed Tree Farm in Harrison County, the 2024 Ohio Tree Farm of the Year, discusses his sustainable forestry practices. Plus, Jessica D'Ambrosio of The Nature Conservancy explains cascading waterways and their role in conservation.

On this week's podcast, Matt Reese sits down with Dave Keener, farm manager at Timbuk Farms in Licking County, home of the Canaan Fir Tree Company. Keener shares insights into one of Ohio's unique farms that takes Christmas trees from seed all the way to retail.

Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge discusses the Operation Evergreen Program, plus Mike Estadt with Pickaway County Extension provides a harvest recap from one of the areas hardest hit by the 2024 drought.

This week on the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Matt Reese talks with Brian Baldridge, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, about the critical issue of farmland preservation in Ohio and its impact on the future of agriculture. Do recent exceptions to farmland easements made with good intentions open up loopholes down the road? They explore the topic in depth.

Featured audio includes:

• Dale Minyo's conversation with David Marrison of OSU Extension about key planning considerations for the year ahead.
• Brock Burcham of Farm Credit Mid-America discussing strategies for preparing for 2025.
• Joel Penhorwood catches up with Jeff Jostpille, a GrowNextGen teacher leader and science teacher at Fort Jennings High School, to talk about bringing agriculture into the classroom.
• Matt also interviews Randy Evans of Three Valley Conservation Trust about conservation efforts in the region.

Tune in for these stories and more on this week's podcast!

In this week's episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, hosts Matt and Dusty are joined by Dee Jepsen from Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, and Ty Higgins of the Ohio Farm Bureau, to discuss the Ohio Agricultural Mental Health Alliance's first farm stress survey results. The conversation dives into the survey's insights and what they mean for Ohio farmers' mental health and resilience.

Also in this episode:

• Dale talks with Shane Kellogg about the role of biodiesel and its benefits to Ohio agriculture.
• Matt chats with Devin Dye of Dye Real Estate and Land Co. for a look into farmland price trends and the market factors at play.
• Matt catches up with Garth Ruff from OSU Extension to cover alternative feed options for livestock this winter after the challenging growing season.

Tune in for these stories and more in this week's Ohio Ag Net Podcast!

For many in Ohio agriculture, 2024 has been a particularly challenging year. As harvest wraps up and the season of thankfulness draws near, 2024 has offered plenty for farmers to reflect on, learn from and pray about. Please do not overlook the power of prayer in a year such as this.

On this week's Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Matt Reese talks with Pastor Chris Reed from The Tree Church in Lancaster about the role, benefits and power of prayer in the lives of Ohio farmers agriculturalists.

Also featued in this podcast, we hear a series of beautiful farm-focused prayers from clergy from around Ohio. They include: Pastor Gregg Foxx, New Hope Church, Rawson; Pastor Dave Dooley, Napoleon Church of the Nazarene, Napoleon; an anonomous Catholic priest and pastor of a rural parish in southern Ohio; Pastor Kimberly Reese, College First Church of God, Findlay; and Pastor Wayne Downing, Goshen Friends Church, Zanesfield.