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 about food prices and inflation.

Guests - 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

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.

Guests - Randy Dickhut, senior vice president of real estate operations with Farmers National Company

Chip Carpenter, Auctioneer/Broker at United Country Real Estate & Auction Services

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.

Guests - Scott Bennett, Director of Congressional Relations with American Farm Bureau

Brandon Kern, senior director of state and national policy for Ohio Farm Bureau

Dr. Juan Leon, Chief of the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Division of Meat Inspection

There is always a lot to take in at the Ohio Farm Bureau Young Agricultural Professionals Winter Leadership Experience, with 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. On this Our Ohio Weekly, hear some of their advice to younger farmers.

Guests - Steve Hirsch, a fifth-generation owner of Hirsch Fruit Farm in Ross County and board member for Nationwide

Rose Hartschuh, an Ohio Farm Bureau board member who operates a dairy and raises grain crops, alfalfa and cover crops in Northwest Ohio.

An Ohio State University study found that 1 million Ohioans – nearly 12% – can’t get high-speed internet or are underserved where they live. Only 61% of rural residents have access to broadband. Rural Ohioans’ quality of life depends on technology. Whether it be for education, business, health care, or technology on the farm, our need for reliable internet access is critical. The Ohio Broadband Expansion Program is hoping to change that trend, but will it be enough?

Guests - Tom Reid, Broadband Consultant with Reid Consulting Group

Jenna Reese, Director of State Policy, Ohio Farm Bureau

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.

Guests - American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall

Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack

Show synopsis: 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? This week on Our Ohio Weekly, we ask those questions from an agricultural perspective and get the answers from an economist, an agronomist and an agribusiness leader.

Guests - Dr. Roger Cryan - Chief Economist, American Farm Bureau

Chris Henney – President and CEO, Ohio Agribusiness Association
John Brien – Eastern Agronomy Manager, AgriGold

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these past two years have been anything but normal. However, 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.

Guests - Tadd Nicholson, Executive Director, Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association

Kirk Merritt, Executive Director, Ohio Soybean Association
Jay Truitt, CEO, Policy Matters

We often hear the term “conventional agriculture”, but with so many advancements in technology, farmers of all shapes and sizes are far from conventional compared to just a few decades ago. One of the newest trends in agriculture is growing food “vertically”. 80 Acres Farms, located in southwest Ohio, is taking that approach. They are the world's first fully automated indoor farm, capable of producing an abundance of crop varieties year-round. No soil, no pests and complete control of the environment 24/7. On the next Our Ohio Weekly, find out how vertical farming works and how it will fit into the future of American agriculture?

Guests - Rebecca Haders, vice president of creative and marketing for 80 Acres Farms



Chieri Kubota, professor of controlled environment agriculture at Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences’ Department of Horticulture and Crop Science.

For generations it has been ingrained in our society that after you graduate high school, the next logical step is continuing your education at the college level. Although there is value in getting a degree in a specialty of your choice, many students are finding a different path to a successful career by foregoing 2 or 4 year universities and diving right into a career. Realizing that that thought process is growing, while the workforce is shrinking, Sunrise Cooperative created the RISE FFA Career Program, and from that, Sunrise University. On the next Our Ohio Weekly, meet the CEO of Sunrise and two of his newest employees who decided to fill out a job application instead of a college application.

Guests - George D. Secor, President/CEO of Sunrise