Town Hall Ohio

On this episode of the podcast, we explore how recruiting and empowering young leaders is a priority at Ohio Farm Bureau. We chat with a member of the Young Ag Professionals Committee about the upcoming Winter Leadership Experience and sit down with Executive Vice President Adam Sharp to discuss a recent trip to Washington, D.C., for YAP members and the current AgriPOWER class.

There is a lot of uncertainty for Ohio farm families right now. Margins are thin, markets and the weather are unpredictable, and input costs keep climbing. On this episode of the Ohio Farm Bureau podcast, we hear from Ohio State's beef cattle and livestock marketing field specialist on current market trends, learn about Nationwide's renewed focus on protecting cattle operations and talk with American Farm Bureau's communications manager about keeping the story of farmers front and center.

As the campaign trail for Ohio’s next governor gets underway, we talk with Vivek Ramaswamy and Dr. Amy Acton at the 2025 Farm Science Review. Both gubernatorial candidates share their early views on agriculture and a few other priority issues for Ohio voters.

Over the course of the county fair season, the Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association will have raced at 66 fairground tracks, helping to bring in over $2.7 billion to Ohio's bottom line and accounting for 10,000 jobs across the state. Get an update on the organization on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast and find out what the future holds for Ohio's standardbred industry.

For the past seven years, this podcast and various communications of Ohio Farm Bureau has had a steady voice guiding conversations, asking the important questions and connecting members to the general public. That voice belongs to Ty Higgins, former senior director of communications and media relations at Ohio Farm Bureau and incoming general manager of Ohio Ag Net and Ohio’s Country Journal. He joins us to look back on his tenure, share some fun memories and give some insight to where he’s headed next.

One term we don't hear very often in agriculture is what is ergonomics, but it is an important aspect to keeping farmers and farm workers safe from injuries that may take them off the farm for an extended period of time. On this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast, learn about ergonomics and get some tips on how to best utilize it from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Plus, what does the forecast look like for harvest and beyond? Find out from the state's Climatologist.

With the downturn in the farm economy, many farmers are looking for new opportunities for off-farm income. Agribusinesses such as Nationwide are seeking these individuals, who bring industry knowledge and experience gained from their work on the farm, to join their teams. On this episode of the Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast, we continue our series on exploring off-farm careers with Eric Brown, a Huron County farmer who also serves as a financial advisor for Legacy Capital Advisors.

No two succession plans look the same, but there are some guiding principles that can be used to make them all successful. Find out what some of the priciples are and how they are being used by Wright and Moore on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast.

When it comes to the economics of agriculture, we talk a lot about market prices, input costs, land values and cash rent rates, but what is the state of Ag Credit, an organization that serve 18 counties in Northern Ohio? Find out on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast. Plus, get a preview of this year's Farm Science Review.

If you are a farmer or small business in the agricultural sector, you need health coverage options that fit your unique needs and budget. That’s why the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation has taken action to help save on healthcare expenses. The Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan can offer rate stability and potential savings for Ohio farmers and small businesses. Learn more about the plan and new options coming for farm families on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast. Plus, with the harvest season quickly approaching, many farmers are also preparing for propane season. Propane, or LP gas, is a versatile fuel for farmers, not just to dry stored crops in the fall, but throughout the year. Get propane handling safety tips from Nationwide.

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.