In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, hosts Matt Reese of Ohio's Country Journal and Dusty Sonnenberg of Ohio Ag Net delve into the world of international trade and local agriculture. The main focus of the episode is a captivating conversation with Charlie Reffitt, president of Hondros Farms in Delaware County. Charlie shares insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by high-end beef production, including Wagyu, as well as the innovative approaches he has had to take as modern farm manager. He also discusses the challenges he has powered through after a hunting accident left him paralyzed.

Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association Colombia Trade Mission Recap: The podcast also features intriguing audio content from the recent Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association Trade Mission, hosting visitors from Colombia. Discover the insights gained from this international experience as Matt and Dusty speak with various experts:

·       Tyler Drewes, OCWGA Board Member: Tyler provides a firsthand account of the trade mission's goals and accomplishments, shedding light on the importance of global agricultural connections.

·       Ray VanHorn, OCWGA Board Member and U.S. Wheat Associates Board: Ray discusses the significance of international collaboration and its impact on wheat growers in Ohio.

·       William Morales, Operations Manager, Valle del Cauca, Colombia: Gain valuable perspectives from William on the Colombian agricultural landscape and its ties to Ohio's corn and wheat industries.

·       Jose Fernando Charcon, Production Manager, Harinera Del Valle, Colombia: Jose shares his expertise on production practices and the exchange of knowledge between Colombia and Ohio.

·       Bill Schroeder, OCWGA Board Member: Bill provides an overview of the broader implications of international trade missions for Ohio's agricultural sector.

Intro

0:00.000

Tyler Drewes

1:53.741

Ray VanHorn

5:38.783

William Morales

8:13.712

Jose Fernando Charcon

12:37.827

Bill Schroeder

15:07.564

Charlie Reffitt Main Conversation

18:03.935

High-performance vehicles might be making the same decisions as you at the retail gas pump. In this podcast, Matt Reese and Joel Penhorwood are joined by Ohio Corn & Wheat’s Ethanol Specialist, Brad Moffitt, to discuss E88 fuel, ethanol from corn, high-performance racing, and cleaner air emissions. The conversation will debunk some common fuel myths, highlight some of the top ethanol blend users, and understand why it’s safe for your gas tank. 

Also in this week’s podcast:

Corn & Wheat Membership Blitz 

Marlene Eick and John Settlemyre speak about the grain checkoff program and association groups in Ohio, along with the advocacy benefits to farmers. 

Cattle Nutrition with Mark Goeke 

An Allen County cattle herd creates feed rations with increasing soybean contents for growth. 

Human Inc. with Dale Everman 

Wheat harvest has completed in Ohio, so what’s next? Dale speaks about post-harvest options, including manure application. 

Kenn-Feld & TTG Equipment Merger 

Jameson Ringger and Tom Burenga announce their company merger as TRULAND Equipment, effective August 21st. 

Intro with Brad Moffitt

0:00

Corn & Wheat Membership Blitz

7:57

Cattle Nutrition with Mark Goeke

17:42

Homan Inc. with Dale Everman

23:03

Kenn-Feld & TTG Equipment Merger

28:20

Ethanol and Racing

35:51

It’s that time of the season for the Ohio Crop Tour with OSU Extension and Ohio Country Journal. In this podcast, Matt Reese and Dusty Sonnenberg are joined by Extension’s Greg LaBarge to discuss the major events of the growing season and what the travel crop sampling teams will be on the lookout for in the coming week. From yield estimates to season predictions, growers are getting into the fields and collecting data. 

Also in this week’s podcast:

Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions

Joel Penhorwood recaps the records and champions of the 2023 Ohio State Fair. 

Matt Bowers with Dye Real Estate

Matt Reese hears about current farmland prices, alternative energy sources, and evaluating your current land value. 

Between the Rows with Lawrence Onweller and Doug Miller 

Weekly farmer update from Fulton and Fayette counties, discussing best practices with recent rain. 

GNG Ambassadors at the Fair 

Joel Penhorwood speaks with Grow Next Gen Ambassador, Shelbie Snoke, about new STEM-based activities they are bringing to county fairs and classrooms. 

Home Town Tour with Julia Brown

The Ohio Grain Farmers Symposium looks a little different this year. Dale Minyo learns about localized meetings across the states in the month of August. 

Intro with Greg LaBarge

0:00

Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions

5:00

Matt Bowers with Dye Real Estate

8:55

Between the Rows with Lawrence Onweller and Doug Miller

14:31

GNG Ambassadors at the Fair

18:55

Home Town Tour with Julia Brown

23:52

2023 Crop Tour

28:21

The 310th episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast comes to you from the 2023 Ohio State Fair. Joel and Matt sit down with famed auctioneer Johnny Regula as they discuss county fair auctions, the Sale of Champions, memories from years past, and much more as the second week of the State Fair gets underway.

Also in this week's podcast:

Terry Mescher, ODA, on H2Ohio

Dusty Sonnenberg gets an update on the growing H2Ohio program from Terry Mescher of Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Farm Credit Mid-America Growing Forward

Dale Minyo talks with Farm Credit Mid-America's Scott LaGuire and Hilary Poulson about the unique opportunities offered by the Growing Forward program.

Congressman Max Miller on Farm Bill

U.S. Representative Max Miller of Ohio's seventh congressional district talks with Joel Penhorwood about his work on the House Ag Committee and work being done on the 2023 Farm Bill.

Intro with Johnny Regula

0:00.000

Terry Mescher of ODA on H2Ohio

3:58.639

Farm Credit Growing Forward

8:42.901

Congressman Max Miller on Farm Bill update

22:34.630

Storytime with Johnny Regula

29:00.665

Long-time Ohio Expo Center and State Fair General Manager Virgil Strickler is retiring after 30 years with the Ohio State Fair. In his tenure, major changes to the fair and junior livestock programs have taken place. In this podcast, Ohio's Country Journal's Matt Reese and Ohio Ag Net's Joel Penhorwood joins him to discuss the success of the Ohio State Fair under his charge, challenges along the way, and his perspective on leadership.

Other interviews in this episode of the podcast include...

Between the Rows highlight with Lawrence Onweller

Matt talks with Fulton County farmer Lawrence Onweller about the major rain variability in his part of the state and how the crop is shaping up in 2023.

Jed Bower re-elected to National Corn Board

Ohio Ag Net's Dusty Sonnenberg hears from Fayette County corn grower Jed Bower about his re-election to the National Corn Board.

Farmhand Mike

Mike Less of Darke County, better known as Farmhand Mike on social media, joins Joel from the recent Fennig Equipment ride and drive event to introduce their new offering of Deutz-Fahr tractors. In this fun chat, Mike talks his unique perspective of traveling to see agriculture all over the country, observations along the way, and even some recently seen hail damage.

Roger High on the Howard Wyman Sheep Industry Leadership School

The Ohio Sheep Improvement Association's Roger High recently helped welcome young sheep leaders from across the country as they took part in the Howard Wyman Sheep Industry Leadership School. He gives an update on what the attendees took part in and an update on the industry as a whole.

All that and more in the 309th episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast. 

Intro 0:00

Between the Rows 4:44

Jed Bower 9:43

Farmhand Mike 13:30

Roger High 24:01

Virgil Strickler 26:54

Some of the smallest organisms have one of the largest scientific following. Hosts of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Matt Reese, Dusty Sonnenberg, and Joel Penhorwood discuss nematode impact on crops and forests. The Society of Nematology recently met in Columbus to discuss everything from seed treatment to soybean impact and nematode role in our landscapes. Dr. Joe Boggs from The Ohio State University is the podcast guest to discuss poison hemlock, the dangers of wild parsnip, and economic impact of the Box Tree Moth. 

Dr. George Bird from Michigan State joins the conversation to discuss his leadership in the Soybean Cyst Nematode Coalition and his 40-year career in the field. From Auburn University, Dr. Kathy Lawrence talks with Dusty about the many growing trials that are benefiting growers and how nematode apply to all specialty crops, especially in the southern United States. 

From the University of Illinois, Champaign Urbana, Dr. Nathan Schroder, explores the intersection of nematode before the crop is even grown, through the seed treatments. The conversation will explore the advanced microscopic tools being used in the lab that are impacting farmers in the field. 

0:00 – Intro and opening discussion 5:27 –George Bird on Soybean Nematode  9:51 –Plant Pathology with Kathy Lawrence  11:51 –Technology with Nathan Schroeder   15:45 – Joe Boggs on Poison Hemlock 

Summer is usually a break for those in policy and politics, however, this week’s guests are staying busy with the state budget. Hosts of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Dusty Sonnenberg and Joel Penhorwood, discuss the recently passed state operating budget and the House Agriculture Committee. They’re joined by podcast guest, Director of State Policy for Ohio Farm Bureau, Evan Callicoat. The conversation will cover how agriculture is benefiting from lines in the state budget, improvements to H2Ohio Water Initiative, and what it takes to implement new Ohio funding.

Dusty sits down with Representative Rodney Creech, Chair of the House Agriculture & Conversation Committee, to hear his thoughts on the recently passed legislation and the goals of his leadership in agriculture. He brings a unique perspective as a Preble County farmer, landscape business owner, and legislator for Ohio.

Dale hears updates from Homan Inc. with Dale Everman about everything agriculture solutions. From grain handling, manure management, and livestock handling, Dale has been tracking down the newest technology trends relevant to agriculture.

0:00 – Intro and opening discussion

3:16 – Representative Rodney Creech

11:26 – Dale Everman with Homan Inc.

22:46 – State Budget with Evan Callicoat

On this week’s episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, a Champaign county operation is making a strong presence in dairy genetics. Matt Reese, Joel Penhorwood, and Dusty Sonnenberg welcome Jenny Thomas of Triple T Holsteins to end National Dairy Month. Their discussion highlights the value of small farms, the in-and-outs of livestock photography, and the busy schedule of a small herd. 

Rainfall has been looking different everywhere in the state; Matt visits with Laurence Onweller of Fulton County to get an update on the Northwest Ohio growing season and rainfall in his region. Dale visits with Olivia Pflaumer, environmental science educator, at the Grow Next Gen Ag Biotech Graduate Academy. Students are not leaving problems unsolved in Pflaumer’s science classroom. They discuss biotechnology in the agriculture classroom and its impact on students. 

Soybean-based pretzels, tomato juice, and bread are all workings of Ohio State researcher, Dr. Yael Vodovotz. Dale speaks with her about her interdisciplinary research with the agriculture college and medical school. They discuss her time as a food scientist researching how to make foods healthier, with one of Ohio’s top crops. 

0:00 – Intro and opening discussion

4:51 – Rainfall with Fulton Co. Laurence Onweller 

9:14 – Biotech Academy with Olivia Pflaumer 

15:11 – Soy foods with Dr. Yael Vodovotz 

24:45 – Triple T Holsteins with Jenny Thomas 

In this week's episode, join hosts Matt Reese and Dusty Sonnenberg on the Ohio Ag Net podcast as they dive into the challenges of golden agriculture. They will discuss growing updates of Ohio's golden wheat crop and the golden state of California’s proposition 12 regulation. The podcast guest, Pat Hord of Hord Family Farms, joins the conversation to shed light on the next steps for the hog industry and the future impact Prop 12 holds for Ohio producers. The conversation will cover the upcoming ballot initiative, state rights, and the significant work carried out by Ohio's Livestock Care Standards Board.

Matt takes a look at wheat breeding efforts of Grow Pro Genetics while speaking with Ken Davis. He also hears from Neil Horrom of Mercer Landmark on how wheat farmers are being incentivized for collecting data and utilizing the newest technologies to track sustainability. The talk of early wheat harvest and the current growing season is discussed by Stephanie Karhoff with Ohio State Extension. Dusty speaks with her about a split planting season and the potential of double crop beans this year.

Tommy Herr, a farmer in Fulton County, will be hosting the annual Breakfast on the Farm event, where thousands of attendees will have the opportunity to visit his grain and tomato operation. Dusty sits down with Tommy to learn about the importance of real world agriculture advocacy in Northwest Ohio.

0:00 – Intro and opening discussion

5:19 – Wheat Breeding with Ken Davis

13:26 – Neil Horrom with Mercer Landmark

23:42 – Ohio Wheat Update with Stephanie Karhoff

28:18 – Breakfast on the Farm with Tommy Herr

33:22 – Pat Hord on California’s Proposition 12

The newest Ohio Ag Net Podcast welcomes world travelers, auction updates, and policy experts. Hosted by Matt Reese and Dusty Sonnenberg, this episode starts with the Ohio Soybean Council to speak about some international market development missions that support Ohio soybean farmers. Madison Layman and Bill Bayliss discuss their recent trip and the value of beans abroad.

Dale Minyo speaks with Dale Everman of Homan Inc. about egg packing automation. From packaging technology, sourcing labor, and automating production, he speaks to the many solutions for Ohio — the second leading state in egg production. Equipment is a year round business and Dave Cornish of RES Auctions updates with Matt about current market trends and the most popular purchases of the season.

Ohio Farm Bureau’s Brandon Kern, Senior Director of State & National Policy, updates listeners on action in the state capitol. The upcoming state budget could be leaving out some important funding to H2Ohio programs. Brandon discusses possible changes and priorities for farm groups in the upcoming budget.

0:00 – Intro and opening discussion

6:28 – Dale Everman with Homan Inc.

16:02 – Auction Market Update with Dave Cornish

22:53 – Brandon Kern on State Budget Concerns

27:19 – International Missions with the Ohio Soybean Council