Ohio Ag Net Podcast

In this short but sweet episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Dale Minyo catches up with Ohio Director of Agriculture Brian Baldridge (pictured singing with the choir at the Sale of Champions). The two talk this year's Ohio State Fair as it was wrapping up with stories of ODA involvement as well as unique examples of how the fair is helping tell the story of agriculture to the general public.

In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Dusty Sonnenberg and Brianna Smith chat with Ray Foos, ODOT Survey Operations Manager, and John Fulton, OSU Extension State Specialist on Precision Planting. They discuss the upcoming changes to the Geodetic Datum and how it will affect farmers.

Then, Dale Minyo talks with Luke Crumley, Director of Public Policy and Sustainability for Ohio Corn and Wheat. He highlights the wins of the recent reconciliation bill passing, along with the many funds protected for farmers within the Ohio State Budget.

Next, Joel Penhorwood continues to highlight a major piece of the Ohio State Fair, the open livestock shows. Joel highlights two shows, beef and sheep, talking with the Baney Sisters at Creek Bottom Farm and Tom Wallace and Family from Miami County.

To wrap up, Joel catches up with Jada Shroyer, of Logan County, who exhibited the Grand Champion Market Sheep at the 2025 Ohio State Fair, along with Madison Shatto, of Shelby County, who exhibited the Reserve Champion Market Sheep.

In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Dale Minyo talks with John Linder about his starts in agriculture and how his experiences shaped his time as a past National Corn Growers Association President.

Then, Dale chats with Regan Coyle, Insurance Officer at Farm Credit Mid-America, about their pasture, rangeland and forage risk management options.

To wrap up, Joel Penhorwood interviewed the Market Goat Champions from the 2025 Ohio State Fair Junior Show. Hayden Bryant, Grand Champion and Braxton Method, Reserve Champion share their excitement of winning and advise for younger members.

Joel also chats with Jay and Kristy Ackley about their long-time show career at the Ohio State Fair and what it means to their family to be a part of such legacy.

Adam Heffron, Executive Director of the Ohio Expo Center and State Fair, joins Ohio Ag Net's Dale Minyo to talk about the ongoing construction at the fairgrounds. Visitors will see big changes ongoing as the fair gets major upgrades in the multi-year update.

Additionally, Joel Penhorwood talks with OABA President and CEO Melinda Witten for a state budget perspective and event update from the Ohio AgriBusiness Association.

In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Joel Penhorwood and Brianna Smith chat with the Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge and Assistant State Veterinarian Dr. Kristy Shaw. They discuss the county fair season and what the future holds for the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) within the state.

Then, Joel talks with Kelly Morgan, Director of the OH-Pigs Program where she highlights personal growth of the exhibitors, along with the opportunities the program holds for the future of the swine industry.

In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Joel Penhorwood speaks with Sam Park, Ohio Channel Technical Agronomist. Sam shares his knowledge on how to best mitigate the heavy rainfall this spring in terms of nitrogen management, more specifically denitrification and leeching.

Then, Dusty Sonnenberg checks in with Jordan Hoewischer, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Director of Water Quality and Research, to discuss their recent media and legislative field days focused on show casing conservation practices.

Wrapping up the episode, Brianna Smith talks with Kelley Tillmon, OSU Extension Entomologist, about what pests everyone should be on the lookout for this summer.

In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Dusty Sonnenberg and Brianna Smith visit Baumgarte Farms to meet young agriculturalists Trevor German and Emma Burchett. The duo shares their journey back to the family farm, insights on Ohio's Beginning Farmer Tax Credit, and how they're leading the way with drone technology through their business Eagle Eye Agriculture in crop spraying, cover crops, and even zoo greenhouses.

Also in this episode, Dale Minyo talks ethanol awareness with Gerry Puckett of Ohio Corn & Wheat, and Joel Penhorwood checks in from Pettisville High School with ag educator Whitney Short and her experience with GrowNextGen.

In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Dusty Sonnenberg talks with Dr. Horacio Lopez-Nicora, OSU Extension Soybean Pathologist and Nematologist, to discuss timely scouting tips for soybean seedling diseases. The conversation covers how to properly submit samples, the effectiveness and limits of seed treatments, and a practical approach to managing persistent pathogens like Phytophthora and Fusarium. Dr. Lopez-Nicora also dives into current insights on soybean cyst nematode (SCN), highlighting a free testing opportunity for Ohio growers and how rotating resistance sources is key to keeping SCN populations in check.

Then, Joel Penhorwood is joined by OSU Plant Pathologist Dr. Pierce Paul to unpack headlines surrounding a court case involving an attempted smuggling of Fusarium graminearum into the U.S. – a pathogen that's no stranger to Ohio. They explore how this year's weather could be impacting its presence, how drone-applied fungicides are changing the game, and why now is a crucial time for farmers to stay on top of field monitoring.

This episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast brings together the latest in livestock leadership, soil health, and farm policy updates impacting Ohio producers.

Dusty Sonnenberg and Joel Penhorwood lead a timely conversation with Duane Stateler and Pat Hord – two Ohio hog producers now serving in key leadership roles with the National Pork Producers Council with Stateler currently servicing as President and Hord as Vice President. They dig into major industry topics including Prop 12 implications, biosecurity threats like screwworm, and how Ohio farmers are helping shape national pork policy.

Joel also catches up with Amy Weaver of Farm Credit Mid-America to learn more about the Growing Forward Program – designed to support young, beginning, and small farmers with tailored resources and opportunities.

Then, Dusty chats with Kate Shenk, Director of Regulatory Affairs with Clean Fuels Alliance America, about compelling new research on biodiesel's benefits – findings with a major upside for Ohio's agricultural economy.

Finally, Joe Everett and Brianna Smith talk soil strategy with Dr. Manbir Rakkar of The Ohio State University. With rain-soaked fields and delayed planting on many minds, Dr. Rakkar discusses when waiting just a bit longer might be the healthiest option for your soils in the long run, though far easier said than done.

The Ohio Ag Net Podcast crew heads back to southeast Ohio to talk with Morgan County cattle producers who joined us in September 2024 in the midst of an especially hard drought. Has land and more rebounded from that time? Join Dusty Sonnenberg as he talks with local livestock producers Austin Wiseman, Gary Haines, and OSU Extension Field Specialist Garth Ruff to discuss the past year.

Later on, Ohio Ag Net's Dale Minyo catches up with Luke Crumley of Ohio Corn & Wheat about how they and their farmer leaders are staying busy in an ever-changing policy environment.