Ohio's Country Journal and Ohio Ag Net

01/13/2026

Over 200 Ohio Farm Bureau members are in Anaheim, California for the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention. As OFBF President Bill Patterson tells Ty Higgins, Ohio is once again very well represented nationally for the work being done at the local level.

01/13/2026

In the latest installment from the Beck's Hybrids agronomic video series, Field Agronomist Luke Schulte takes a look at the profitability of adjusting starter fertilizer. Does greener or more vigorous looking corn in the early season always equate to higher profit at harvest, and what does the Practical Farm Research have to say about the matter?

Learn more from Beck's online at www.beckshybrids.com.

01/13/2026

By Greg LaBarge, Ohio State University

The range of products available to meet crop nutrient needs has never been greater, and each product comes at a different price point. To make good decisions for our operation, we need to understand the value of choosing one product over another. One place to start comparing products is to determine the price per unit of nutrient supplied.

Fortunately, fertilizer that makes a nutrient claim on the label is required by the Ohio Revised Code to provide a “Guaranteed Analysis,” which establishes a standard reporting unit for our use. Fertilizer analysis is reported as the minimum claimed percentage by weight of total nitrogen, available phosphate expressed as P2O5, and soluble potash expressed as K2O, listed in that order on the label. Additional plant nutrients on the label must be expressed as the percentage by weight of the claimed element.… Continue reading

By Greg LaBarge, Ohio State University The range of products available to meet crop nutrient needs has never been greater, and each product comes at a different price point. To make good decisions for our operation, we need to understand the value of choosing one product over another. One place t

01/13/2026

By John Fulton, The Ohio State University

As winter fades and spring approaches, Ohio farmers know that planter preparation is the foundation for a successful growing season. With seed costs rising and every bushel counting, taking time to ensure your planter is ready and your field conditions are optimal can make a significant difference in yield and profitability.

Agronomic readiness: Field conditions matter

Soil moisture and compaction
One of the most common mistakes is planting into soil that’s too wet. Wet soils increase the risk of compaction and sidewall smearing, which can restrict root growth and reduce yield. If your fields are dry, consider increasing planting depth to reach moisture, but always avoid planting deeper than necessary.

Soil temperature
For corn, wait until soil temperatures reach at least 50°F (10°C) and are trending warmer. Planting in cooler soils increases the risk of chilling injury, which can delay emergence and reduce stand uniformity.… Continue reading

By John Fulton, The Ohio State University As winter fades and spring approaches, Ohio farmers know that planter preparation is the foundation for a successful growing season. With seed costs rising and every bushel counting, taking time to ensure your planter is ready and your field conditions ar

01/13/2026

By Shelly Detwiler

“Frank! What are you doing?” It is a familiar scene from a typical evening at Frank and Marie Barone’s house on Everybody Loves Raymond. Frank sits at the table in a tank top, his fork plunged directly into a pan of lasagna. Marie, ever vigilant, scolds him in her unmistakable way, insisting that “now nobody can eat it” because his fork has been in the dish. True to form, Frank fires back that he is simply marking his food territory. The scene is classic Barone, blending irritation, affection, and humor around a family table. Few things capture that spirit better than Marie’s legendary lasagna. Its aroma, comfort, and familiarity remind us why lasagna has long been tied to shared laughter and lasting memories.

Contrary to popular belief, lasagna was born in early Greece. National Geographic states that this dish was known as Laganon, with its characteristic strips of wide pasta.… Continue reading

By Shelly Detwiler “Frank! What are you doing?” It is a familiar scene from a typical evening at Frank and Marie Barone’s house on Everybody Loves Raymond. Frank sits at the table in a tank top, his fork plunged directly into a pan of lasagna. Marie, ever vigilant, scolds him in her unmistakab...

01/13/2026

In the latest installment from the Beck’s Hybrids agronomic video series, Field Agronomist Luke Schulte takes a look at the profitability of adjusting starter fertilizer. Does greener or more vigorous looking corn in the early season always equate to higher profit at harvest, and what does the Practical Farm Research have to say about the matter?

Learn more from Beck’s online at www.beckshybrids.com.… Continue reading

In the latest installment from the Beck's Hybrids agronomic video series, Field Agronomist Luke Schulte takes a look at the profitability of adjusting starter fertilizer. Does greener or more vigorous looking corn in the early season always equate to higher profit at harvest, and what does the Pract

01/13/2026

By Doug Tenney, Leist Mercantile

U.S. corn had the biggest surprise today with the yield increased by one-half bushel and acres up 1.3 million acres. Traders had expected the corn yield to drop 2 bushels per acre. Both changes for corn were a big surprise.

Today’s day of reports is by far the biggest USDA report day for the entire year. Today was the January monthly WASDE Report or supply and demand. This report details 2025 production and yield for corn and soybeans. In addition, there was also a quarterly grain stocks report for US grain stocks as of December 1, 2025.

After the report was released, corn was down 16 cents, soybeans down 14 cents, and wheat down 8 cents. Prior to the noon report, corn was up 2 cents, soybeans up 7 cents, and wheat up 9 cents.

With the vast plethora of numbers out today it could result in huge price swings for both corn and soybeans within the first two minutes after the noon release.… Continue reading

By Doug Tenney, Leist Mercantile U.S. corn had the biggest surprise today with the yield increased by one-half bushel and acres up 1.3 million acres. Traders had expected the corn yield to drop 2 bushels per acre. Both changes for corn were a big surprise. Today’s day of reports is by far the

01/13/2026

By Ryan Martin, Ohio Ag Net Chief Meterologist

January 13, 2025 -- Mild today, but then our weather pattern turns...

January 13, 2025 -- Mild today, but then our weather pattern turns...

01/12/2026

Leasing portions of your land can be very beneficial, but signing that contract is not something you should take lightly. On this Ohio Ag Net Podcast, powered by Ohio Corn & Wheat , Ohio Farm Bureau's Director of Energy Development, Dale Arnold, visits with Dusty Sonnenberg about the dos and don’ts through the process of signing a lease.

Plus, if you haven’t been at the corner of Lane Avenue and Kenny Road in a while, you might not recognize that part of Ohio State’s campus, as major transformations have been happening at Waterman. Ty Higgins talks with the Dean of Ohio State - College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences , Cathann Kress, about the “Bring the Cows Home…and So Much More” campaign designed to keep the positive momentum going.

01/12/2026

By Doug Tenney, Leist Mercantile

By Doug Tenney, Leist Mercantile U.S. corn had the biggest surprise today with the yield increased by one-half bushel and acres up 1.3 million acres. Traders had expected the corn yield to drop 2 bushels per acre. Both changes for corn were a big surprise. Today’s day of reports is by far the

01/12/2026

For over 100 years, farmers have helped America and Ohio meet our energy needs. They have been the leading voices for energy independence and economic resilience. Now, with Farm-To-Power, they can be a part of preserving landowner rights and growing opportunities in rural communities. The Ohio Ag Net's Ty Higgins finds out more from Executive Director Joe Heinrich in today's Midday Broadcast from the trade show floor of the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention is Anaheim, California.

01/12/2026

By Brianna Smith, Dusty Sonnenberg and Joel Penhorwood

The 2025 harvest season provided the final chapter to a growing year that started with uncertainty and ended with yields that varied pretty widely depending on where you were in the state. Final yields were surprising in many areas. The results offer a unique chance to look back at August’s Ohio Crop Tour predictions and evaluate just how close the estimates were to what ultimately harvested. While counties varied widely in rainfall, planting dates, and late-season stress, the Tour’s overall narrative of a consistent, good-quality crop largely held true into harvest.

The 2025 Ohio Crop Tour, sponsored by Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Checkoff, took place on Aug. 5 and 6. Two teams crisscrossed the state over two days, covering both the northern and southern halves of Ohio. Scouts walked fields, assessed plant health, noted disease and insect pressure, took kernel counts, and calculated yield estimates.… Continue reading

By Brianna Smith, Dusty Sonnenberg and Joel Penhorwood The 2025 harvest season provided the final chapter to a growing year that started with uncertainty and ended with yields that varied pretty widely depending on where you were in the state. Final yields were surprising in many areas. The resul