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 industry faces and his hopes for the future as he grows his operation.

32:20 - Why are judges on Ohio’s Supreme Court elected? Justices DeWine and Fischer share how they feel about running for their seats?

42:20 - The Ohio Supreme Court Justices have suggestions for ways voters can research candidates to elect those who best match their ideals. Then, hear from Ohio Commercial Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield President, Jane Peterson, about the relationship between her organization and Ohio Farm Bureau and the health insurance options available to Farm Bureau members.

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 complicate some normally straightforward purchase and planning decisions. Planning ahead is more important than ever, especially when it comes to risk, according to Jason Berkland, Associate Vice President of Risk Management at Nationwide.

23:50 - On this “To the Beat of Agriculture”, meet this year’s Miss Ohio. Lora Current’s ag background and passion for social work easily make her stand out among a field of contestants. The royalty from eastern Ohio shares her story.

32:20 - Ohio’s agriculture groups have given Governor Mike DeWine and his Ohio Expo 2050 Task Force their recommendations for what the Expo Center and State Fair need in the short and long term in order to create a better fair experience for everyone. Ohio Farm Bureau’s executive vice president Adam Sharp talks about some of the asks from the state’s commodity groups.

42:20 - Some county Farm Bureaus have recently partnered with BetterHelp – the world’s largest therapy provider – in extending access to professional counseling for those dealing with farm stress and mental health challenges. Organization Director Ashley Rose shares the details.

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 her involvement in ag and her plans for the remainder of her reign.

32:20 - Darla Munroe, a professor and chair of geography at Ohio State, gives details about a recent study that found five types of rural communities in Ohio.

42:20 - Munroe shares what concerns came out of Ohio State’s study on rural Ohio and find out about the upcoming ‘Hoppin’ Around Darke County’ events planned for young Farm Bureau members.

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 Association of Agricultural Educators. Stephanie Jolliff shares her passion for ag education and her motivations after 26 years of teaching.

32:20 - Dr. Juan Leon, Chief of the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Division of Meat Inspection talks about the uptick in direct-to-consumer sales and how his team has adjusted to the shift in demand.

42:20 - Dr. Leon talks about the funding coming from the state and federal governments to help small and medium sized meat processors expand their to benefit local farmers and consumers.

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 this edition of “To the Beat of Agriculture”, hear from the recipient of the Charles Boyles Master Shepherd of the Year Award. Learn how Roger Cox comes from a long line of sheep herders and how his children are already picking up the mantle from him.

32:20 - Hirsch and Hartschuh share some of the challenges they have seen throughout their career and how important networking is to their success.

42:20 - Hirsch and Hartschuh cover some of the barriers that young and beginning farmers may experience and who influenced them the most in their careers.

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 how his background influenced the way he farms today.

32:20 - Secretary Vilsack told AFBF members that farmers need technology in order to be sustainable and how USDA is working to expand broadband across the country.

42:20 - Vilsack addressed the issues of price transparency and supply chain disruptions affecting America’s livestock producers.

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 dealing with nutrient runoff and conservation practice adoption.

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 winning the Cooperator of the Year and a more recent recognition from the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

32:20 - Leah Curtis, policy counsel with Ohio Farm Bureau, talks about possible Force Majeure happening in Ohio and gives details on the state’s new fireworks law.

42:20 - The American Farm Trail app is a new agritourism app from The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. Find out more about it from the Foundation’s Executive Director Daniel Meloy.

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 Professionals gathering.

32:20 - Applications for The Ohio Meat Processing Grant are now being accepted. Learn more about these grants from Brandon Kern, Ohio Farm Bureau’s senior director of state and national policy.

42:20 - Meet Jami Dellifield, the winner of the inaugural Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation’s “Y Prize” for her work on the issue of farmer mental health.

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 Vice President Agricultural Lending, Rudi Pitzer-Perry says it is critical to your long-term and short-term success as an operation.

42:20 - Jackson/Vinton County Farm Bureau Organization Director Kim Harless has all of the details on this year’s Drive-Thru Breakfast with Santa in the Barn.