Town Hall Ohio

The hot summer months can put a strain on our energy system, especially when everyone cranks their A/C for a little bit of relief from sweltering temps. This has been an active summer season for energy load control and a busy “peak alert” season. What are peak alerts, when do they happen and why do they matter? We visit with the CEO of Ohio's Electric Cooperatives on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast. Plus, hay season is in full swing. Still fresh in producers' minds is the 2024 drought and the impact it had on their operations. A Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage policy is one way to help mitigate unforeseen weather events to help protect your operation. Learn more from an expert with Farm Credit Mid-America.

As the 2025 growing season winds down, farmers are paying attention to the markets, weather and policies in Ohio and Washington that will directly impact their farms and their families. On this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast, hear what experts in all of those areas told farmers at a recent Ohio Soybean Hometown Tour stop.

The burden of estate taxes on family farms has been eased by permanently increasing the federal exemption, allowing more farmers to pass their agricultural legacy on to future generations without facing significant tax liabilities. Learn more about the positive implications this has for farm families on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast. Plus, at Ohio State’s CFAES, students learning about agribusiness law are gaining the skills to navigate those challenges without needing to become lawyers themselves. Find out why this angle of education is important for the future of Ohio agriculture.

The second annual Wyandot County Premier Farmer Field Day, held in early August, featured planter demonstrations from local dealers, precision agriculture, local agribusinesses and details about valuable resources for farm families involved with Ohio Farm Bureau. Get a recap of this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast Special.

There are over 600 agricultural businesses throughout the state seeing real benefits through The Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan, which offers potential savings for Ohio farmers and small businesses with 1-50 employees. On this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast we welcome the top broker in the state for this particular plan to share why members are excited about this option and some of the not-so-common benefits that he’s helped members take advantage of through joining.

What do leather polish, elevator lubricant, roof protectant, chain saw oil, fire suppressant, tofu and biodiesel have in common? They can all be made using Ohio soybeans thanks to the research being done by the Ohio Soybean Council. Now, you can add asphalt sealant to that list. Find out how a new product is being used by local governments to make roads last longer, taxpayer dollars go farther and soybeans more valuable on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast.

Modern agriculture is now powered by more than just machinery; it’s driven by data. And that data, collected through precision farming tools, has real value. Find out more about the use of data in today's agriculture from Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast. Plus, results of a recent survey showed drivers have a common belief that congested city streets are more treacherous than rural routes. Find out how the data tells a different story and what Nationwide is doing to make rural roads safer.

Farm Credit Mid-America’s Growing Forward™ program for young, beginning and small farmers provides this important segment of customers with access to sound and constructive credit through individualized programs and products. Learn more about it on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast. Plus, among a myriad of items included in the new state budget for Ohio, there are changes to pesticide licensing laws that Ohio Farm Bureau considers overly burdensome when it comes to the direct impact of Ohio agriculture. Get the details from Ohio Farm Bureau's Leah Curtis.

As many Ohio farmers endure a third year of pressure on net farm income, a lack of market clarity, and increased commodity competition globally, what priority sustainability initiatives and programs should farmers have in their business plan? Find out coming up on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast.

After months of grassroots policy work by Ohio Farm Bureau members and countless trips to the Statehouse by the organization’s members and state staff, Ohio agriculture faired well in the 2025-2026 state budget. Find out what is in (and not in) the over 3,000 page, $60 billion budget that will have implications, both good and not-so-good, for farmers and agribusiness professionals in this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast Special, as host Ty Higgins chats with OFBF’s Director of State Policy, Evan Callicoat.

Ohio soybeans are a significant export to South Korea, particularly for food-grade and non-GMO varieties used in products like tofu, soy milk, and soy sauce. Ohio farmers and the Ohio Soybean Council actively engage with Korean buyers to promote and strengthen trade relationships. Hear about the highlights of a recent trade mission on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast. Plus, with skyrocketing cattle prices, many producers are taking a closer look at risk management. Get tips to protect your risk in a volatile market.

Does your succession plan pencil out financially? Building a bridge between an attourney and a lender is key to having a viable answer to that question. Learn more coming up. Plus, working off the farm has become somewhat common in Ohio agriculture. In fact, nearly half of Ohio producers spend the majority of their year working a job away from the farm. That presents many opportunities for farmers to be part of the agriculture community in a different way. Coming up, we continue our series that explores options that may be available to those looking for a new career path in addition to working on the farm.

June is National Safety Month, an ideal time for employers and workers in the agriculture industry to refocus on elevating safety measures. On this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast, learn about a new program from Nationwide to help employers identify and close potential gaps in their worker safety plans.

The 2025 County Fair season is almost underway and that means livestock shows, deep fried food and plenty of harness racing action. Get an update on what to expect at the county fair tracks this year from the Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association. Plus, there are quite a few items that Ohio Farm Bureau is keeping an eye on when it comes to policies being developed in Washington. On this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast, find out about legislation in D.C. that will have a direct impact on farmers across Ohio.

Digital agriculture is transforming farm management thanks to the work of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ on-farm research program, eFields. Learn how on this Ohio Farm Bureau Pocast. Plus, summer brings dangerous working conditions for farmers. Get some very helpful tips from Ohio's Bureau's of Workers' Compensation when it comes to combatting heat stress.

Unleashing American energy has been part of President Trump’s first 100 days in office and Ohio’s Electric Cooperative representatives were on hand last month as the President signed some executive orders to solidify those efforts. Hear from their CEO Craig Grooms about what these changes mean for the state's electric grid on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast.

In a recent survey conducted by Nationwide, it was revealed that a staggering 65% of farmers do not have a plan to manage or mitigate risks, including severe weather. Learn about the growing complexities of farming risks, as well as how to assess your farm's storm preparedness on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast. Plus, there is a lot happening on the policy front at the Ohio Statehouse that impact agriculture. Get an update from Ohio Farm Bureau's policy team.

The food and beverage industry is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, workforce challenges, changing consumer preferences and new regulatory requirements. What challenges and opportunities do these shifts pose for Ohio farmers? We find out on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast from Rebecca Singer, president and CEO of CIFT. Plus, Ohio State's College of Veterinary Medicine is requesting funding in the state's biennial budget to help launch the Protect One Health in Ohio initiative. Find out more from the College's Dean, Dr. Rustin Moore.

The transfer of assets is often talked about when it comes to creating a succession plan, but the trasfer of knowledge is equally as important. Get experts tips on successful succession plans and the timing for moving assets to the next generation from Wright and Moore on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast. Plus, we talk a lot about CAUV as a farmland preservation tool, but there are some other tools in the law that landowners can consider. Learn about Ag Districts from Ohio Farm Bureau's legal expert.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recent decision to ban Red No. 3 may leave some food manufacturers searching for safer alternatives. On this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast, learn about groundbreaking research from The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) offers a promising solution. Plus, if you are looking for a unique camp experiece for your kids this summer, get the details of why Ohio Farm Bureau's ExploreAg camps might be the perfect fit.