Farm and Dairy

07/14/2025

"For me, the night’s darkening cloak brings back the magical. Not the superstitious fears of our ancestors, but the thrill of a new world coming to life."
Embrace the magic of night with Jim Abrams in his column from last week's issue.

Retired game warden Jim Abrams considers the instinctual fear of darkness and the mysterious world of barred owls and their haunting nighttime calls.

07/11/2025

Watch Blacksmith Anna Koplik make a spatula at the Western Reserve Artist Blacksmith Association's annual conference in Burton, Ohio.

To read the full story, visit https://www.farmanddairy.com/news/western-reserve-artist-blacksmith-association-reignites-passion-for-blacksmithing/876927.html

07/11/2025

The Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance has always centered on farmers through phone calls, field days and farmer-to-farmer advice. Members offer practical knowledge on equipment to each other, build community and empower leaders to be unafraid to model sustainable farming, one neighbor at a time.

Since the phone chain and impromptu visits to talk to neighbor farmers started in the early 2000s, “Our participation and attendance have doubled in the last decade,” said alliance president and founding member Jim Hershey.

SALEM, Ohio — Jim Hershey gave up the plow long before no-till farming was credited with improving soil health. When he made the switch in the 1980s, it was a business decision. He started farming in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1977, using conventional tillage practices similar to those of ...

07/10/2025

The Ohio Farm Bureau expects to begin enrollment for its new health plans this fall, about 90 days after the bill’s signing.

OFBF has offered the Health Benefits Plan, specifically created for sole proprietors and small businesses, for some time. But the new law allows the organization to begin offering healthcare benefits directly to its individual members and their families.

Ohio becomes the 12th state to pass legislation creating such a program. The plans are designed to look and feel like typical private insurance.

Ohio Farm Bureau’s new health plans aim to offer affordable, comprehensive coverage for farm families, thanks to a law modeled after Tennessee’s success.

07/08/2025

Happy National Cow Appreciation Day! Come take a tour with us at Vale Wood Farms.

07/08/2025

After more than a decade combating food insecurity, StarkFresh, the Canton-based nonprofit known for bringing dignity and equity to food access, is closing its doors.

The shuttering, announced July 1, comes after what the StarkFresh’s Board of Directors called a difficult choice brought on by a combination of financial and operational challenges that ultimately made the organization unsustainable.

StarkFresh Executive Director Tom Phillips said he hopes the organization’s closure will make local leaders realize just how much they had come to rely on StarkFresh, often without fully recognizing its value or vulnerability until it was too late.

“You know, so many times we go into a discussion, a public health discussion, and they’re like, ‘Oh, food insecurity issues. StarkFresh will handle that,’” he said. “Now, maybe people are going to actually have to step up and do some stuff.”

StarkFresh, a Canton nonprofit fighting hunger for 12 years, is closing due to funding and operational challenges, leaving a vital gap in food access.

07/03/2025

For generations, Vale Wood Farms has continued to serve local communities with its dairy products and milk deliveries.

The farm has been delivering milk to customers since 1933 and has never stopped.

Spanning multiple generations, Vale Wood Farms continues to service the local community through its dairy products and milk deliveries.

07/02/2025

Kimber Koehler, of West Liberty, West Virginia, shot a 299 out of 300. She hit the center of the target 29 times in a row, scoring a 10 each time. Her last arrow was a 9.

It was good enough to earn her the title of National Archery in the Schools Program overall female world champion. She was the best shot out of 1,522 girls at the contest, which brought in archers from 40 states and one Canadian province. It was Kimber's last contest as a high school archer.

“She saved the best for last,” said Rick Thomas, Ohio County Schools Archery program head coach.

Kimber Koehler, of West Liberty, West Virginia, shot a 299 out of 300 at the National Archery in the Schools Program world championship in June.

07/01/2025

Another harmful algal bloom is on the way in Lake Erie. Researchers predict this year’s bloom will be mild to moderate, but fast-warming waters, phosphorus runoff and changing wind patterns could turn things toxic close to home soon.

Scientists forecast a mild to moderate algal bloom on Lake Erie as phosphorus runoff, rising temperatures and funding cuts complicate water quality efforts.

07/01/2025

Retired biologist Tami Gingrich explores the hidden lives of spittlebugs inside their unique homes — frothy blobs surrounding the stems of plants.

Retired biologist Tami Gingrich explores the hidden lives of spittlebugs inside their unique homes — frothy blobs surrounding the stems of plants.

06/26/2025

According to a new study out of Penn State, 108 out of 167 private water wells tested had detectable PFAS concentrations. Of those, 30 private wells sampled exceeded the maximum contaminant levels for drinking water set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Penn State researchers conducted a citizen science study of PFAS — forever chemicals — in 167 private wells across Pennsylvania.

06/25/2025

Whether the Trump Administration will conduct immigration raids on farms has been up in the air since ICE raids ramped up in January.

Recently, Ohio and Pennsylvania farm organizations expressed concern over the impact ICE raids would have on U.S. agriculture.

That's because over 60% of farm laborers on U.S. farms are Hispanic immigrants, many of whom are undocumented.

Photo by Farm Labor Organizing Committee - FLOC

The Trump Administration's ICE raids are sweeping across the country, but they underscore the importance of farm labor and reform to the H-2A program.