Public News Service

Weston Lombard, at his Athens County farm, uses regenerative practices funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. (Photo credit Sijie Yuan)

Ohio reacts to Biden's investment targeting rural electrification

President Joe Biden has announced a landmark $7.3 billion investment, the largest since the FDR New Deal, aimed at electrifying rural America…

Yellow Springs Development Corp. has applied for a $200,000 Department of Energy prize for the microgrid project. The prize winners will be selected by the end of August. (oasisamuel/Adobe Stock)

Solar microgrids bring energy and opportunity to Yellow Springs

The small community of Yellow Springs, Ohio, is leading an innovative effort to harness renewable energy while directly supporting low-income …

A life-size butter sculpture of a cyclist is included in this year's butter cow display at the Ohio State Fair. Sculptors built a hidden armature to convey the motion of the cyclist leaning to the side as he rounds a curve. (American Dairy Association Mideast)

At Ohio State Fair, butter sculpture highlights local dairy industry

This week at the Ohio State Fair, residents can view 2,000 pounds of butter sculpted into cows and elite athletes, honoring the state's dairy …

Ohio has more than 13 million acres of farmland and agriculture is responsible for about 3% of the state's gross domestic product. (Donley Desdain/Adobe Stock)

USDA invests millions for 'climate-smart' ag programs in Midwest

Farms in the Midwest should become more resilient to challenges created by climate change, with a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of …

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the Justice 40 Initiative's policy plan includes increasing job energy resiliency and energy democracy and decreasing environmental exposure for disadvantaged communities. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

USDA's climate action fellows to help Ohio farmers/small businesses access clean energy funds

Ohio will soon get a dedicated person to help farmers, ranchers and other landowners apply for federal grants to help fight pollution and climate …

The stress of farming is compounded for racial and other minorities, a new study suggests. (Adobe Stock)<br />

For beginning nontraditional farmers, stress is a constant

Women, LGBTQ, and minority farmers in Ohio face compounding stressors, according to a study from Ohio State University. Researchers surveyed and …

Farmers and ranchers steward about 44% of the United States' landmass. (ZoranZeremski/Adobe Stock)

Stalled farm bill will likely affect Ohioans

The once-every-five-year Farm Bill will likely be extended to six years this time around, as Congress seems months away from finding a path forward…

An estimated 2.4 million people work on farms and ranches nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Census of Agriculture. (Diego/Adobe Stock)

Ohio Falls Short in Protecting Outdoor Workers from Heat

By Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest/Report for America and Eva Tesfaye, Harvest Public Media for Investigate Midwest.Broadcast version by …

Jeff Duling walks in one of his corn fields in the summer of 2022. Duling, who lives in Putnam County southwest of Toledo, enrolled 134 newly acquired acres in Cargill's RegenConnect carbon sequestration program. (NewsLab photo by Baylee Sweitzer)

Ohio Farmers Try Out Early Carbon Sequestration Programs

By Baylee Sweitzer for Kent State News Lab.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration…

Kris Swartz, a farmer in Wood County, Ohio, says he's seeing more rain and hotter temperatures than he did 30 years ago when he started farming. (NewsLab photo by Baylee Sweitzer)

Climate Change Challenges Ohio Farmers

By Baylee Sweitzer for Kent State News Lab.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration…

In 2017, the United States had around 48,000 farmers who identified as Black, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. (Adobe Stock)

Collective Works to Boost FSA Registration Among Ohio’s Black Farmers

Many of Ohio's urban farmers and farmers of color are locked out of USDA programs because they are not registered with their local Farm Service Agency…

The 2018-2023 Farm Bill is projected to cost around $428 billion, according to the estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. (Adobe Stock)

Push to Rebuild Regional Food Systems as 2023 Farm Bill Takes Shape

Next week, Ohio farmers and their advocates head to Washington, D.C., to push for shifting federal programs toward growing nutritious food, as …

58 years old, according to the USDA. The owners of Meadow Farm and Preserve in Fayette County, Ohio, pictured above, purchased their farm from a retiring couple. (Sharon Maish)
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Land Transfers Offer Hope, Stewardship to Beginning Farmers

The cost of farmland has skyrocketed, putting the dream of working the land out of reach for many young farmers. In Ohio, land transfers between …

The Farm Labor Organizing Committee was founded in 1968 to defend the rights and basic human dignity of farm workers regardless of immigration status. (Adobe Stock)

In Ohio, Push to Expand Rights for Migrant Workers

A labor union representing agricultural workers in Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia says it isn't waiting around for federal immigration reform to …

The Farm Bill is a five-year spending measure that addresses the agriculture industry, food systems, nutrition programs and more. (Mike/Flickr)

2023 Farm Bill: Creating Healthier Future for Farming, Food

Congress must pass a 2023 Farm Bill before the end of the year, a measure which not only impacts farming but also what's on our plates. The Ohio …

The Farm Labor Organizing Committee won a collective-bargaining deal covering workers on tomato farms in Ohio in 1983, after an eight-year campaign and boycott. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Farm Workers Still Shut Out of Federal Labor Protections

An organization defending the rights of thousands of farmworkers in Ohio and other states is creating its road map for the future. The Farm Labor …

Dozens of eastern and southeastern Ohio counties are considered distressed or at risk. (Dan Keck/Flickr)

RECOMPETE Act: a Hidden Gem for Rural Ohio

There's a hidden gem for rural communities in new federal legislation to boost semiconductor manufacturing. The CHIPS Act includes the RECOMPETE …

Farming practices that protect soil health can lead to climate resiliency. (Adobe Stock)

Senate Inflation Bill Features Strong Investments in Climate-Friendly Farming

While it's named the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation in the Senate actually goes a long way toward making agriculture more climate-resilient…

Visitors at the Stratford Ecological Center in Delaware, Ohio learn how agro-forestry, cover crops, pasture-raised livestock and soil health practices can help end the climate crisis. (Raul Castro-Dean)<br /><br /><br />

Tours Put Sustainable Farming Methods on Display

Some farmers in the region are taking time, even during the busy growing season, to give people a firsthand look at what sustainable agriculture is …

99% of Ohio's roughly 80,000 farms are family-owned. (Jamie Smed/Flickr)

Microgrants to Help Young Farmers Weather the Pandemic

Ohio is the sixth-largest state with beginning farmers, and new funding is available to help those just entering the business to survive the …

Pasture grazing cattle is a climate-friendly practice by cycling nutrients in the soil. (Drausin Wulsin)

Budget Bill Could Boost Climate-Friendly Practices in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As the contributor of 10% of greenhouse gas emissions, agriculture has had a profound impact on climate change. Legislation in …

Spotted lanternflies have been reported in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and several other states near the East Coast. (Ohio Dept. of Agriculture)

Ag Dept. Wants Ohioans' Help Finding Spotted Lanternflies

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio's Department of Agriculture wants help from nature enthusiasts or anyone else who can assist in eradicating an invasive insect …

Social isolation, financial challenges and emotional fatigue are among the stressors faced by people just starting out in agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Researchers Bring Social-Work Lens to Farming

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Researchers in Ohio are bringing a social work lens to agriculture by examining the challenges that affect farmers' mental health - …

OEFFA's 2021 Sustainable Food and Farm Tour will feature an organic dairy pasture walk. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Farm Tour Series Back after Pandemic Pause

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Some farmers and growers in Ohio are ready to share their knowledge and showcase the work they do to get food from the field to the …

Toxic algae blooms driven by excess nutrients give the waters of Lake Erie a greenish hue. (Adobe Stock)

Industrial Ag Runoff Seen as Major Threat to Lake Erie

TOLEDO, Ohio -- Groups advocating for clean water say they're facing an uphill battle trying to prevent animal manure and other pollution from …

The price of farmland frequently exceeds what can be earned by farming. (Pixabay)

Ohio Farmers, Young and Old, Could Benefit from Proposed Tax Credit

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio lawmakers are considering a measure to help give the next crop of farmers a strong start in the business. The Wall Street …

Groups are pushing for guest worker visa reforms that would prevent farm labor contractors from exploiting workers brought to the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Labor Group Calls for End to Farm Contractor Abuses

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A legal victory in North Carolina could open the door to reforms that would protect farm workers in the Buckeye State as well…

Lots of drug-forfeiture money in Ohio is held outside of public purview. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Drug-Seizure Accounts: Who's Watching the Money?

By Bonnie Jean Feldkamp Broadcast version by Mary Schuermann Kuhlman Reporting for the Eye on Ohio, the Ohio Center for Investigative Journalism-…

Cattleman Will Harris says his operation stores more carbon in its soil than its cows emit in production. (White Oak Pastures)

Holistic Farming: 'In Nature, There Is No Waste'

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- He's been called a "carbon cowboy" and an inspiration. Ohioans have an opportunity to hear from a legendary cattleman about how …

From record rainfall to drought, the effects of climate change on Ohio's weather patterns prompt plenty of uncertainty for farmers. (Adobe Stock)

New Alliance Motivates Ohio Farmers to Tackle Climate Change

COLUMBUS, Ohio - More than half of Ohio's land is used for agriculture, and there's a new effort to keep those lands resilient to the effects of …

There were 82,188 new COVID infections in rural America last week; a 16% increase.(AdobeStock)

31 Rural Ohio Counties Considered "Red Zones" for COVID

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- COVID-19 cases are on the rise almost everywhere, but the share of new cases in rural Ohio counties is outpacing the new caseload …

Alzheimer's rates are expected to rise more than 13% in Ohio by 2025. (AdobeStock)

Study Raises Concerns About Alzheimer's in Ohio's Rural Appalachia

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The impact of Alzheimer's disease in Ohio is expected to rise dramatically in coming years, and researchers say Appalachian …

With the average farming age in Ohio of 59, the successful transfer of land will be an important issue in coming years. (OEFFA)

"Succession School" to Help Ohio's Elder Generation of Farmers

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The future of our food system depends on the successful transfer of land to the next crop of farmers. However, it can be an …

By some estimates, the U.S. Postal Service could run out of funding by fall 2021. (AdobeStock)

Senate Urged to Save Postal Service, "Fabric of the Country"

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Postal workers will be flooding phone lines today to urge Senate leaders to act quickly to provide emergency funding for the U.S…

Ohio Farmer Dennis Reer checks his cover crop for soil health. (David Ike/The Nature Conservancy)

Ohio Farmers Embrace Conservation to Mitigate Spring Flooding

SENECA CO., Ohio -- The prospect of heavy spring rains -- linked to climate change -- has led some farmers to use conservation measures to protect …

Groups are urging Ohio officials to establish social-distancing rules for the state's farmers' markets to keep them open during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Wikimedia Commons)

Groups Urge OH Officials to Help Small Farms Survive Pandemic

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Concern over the survival of family farms during the COVID-19 crisis has spurred food policy and farm groups in the state to urge …

The pesticide chlorpyrifos has been linked to brain damage and other health defects in children.<br />(AdobeStock)

Maker of Controversial Pesticide to Stop Production

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio farmers who use a controversial pesticide on their corn, soybeans and other crops will need to find another product next year …

Farmers can play a crucial role in fighting climate change by adopting practices that improve soil health and capture carbon, but a new report suggests the federal government isn't doing enough to help them. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Climate Investments Could Bolster Rural Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Climate change may be hurting rural communities in Ohio and other states, but new research says federal investments could help turn …

Nearly 80,000 people have signed an online petition protesting changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (AdobeStock)

Rural Ohio Could Bear Brunt of SNAP Work Requirements

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Rural areas of Ohio and other states could bear the brunt of upcoming changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program…

People can learn about how agriculture can be part of the solution to the climate crisis at OEFFA's 41st annual conference. (OEFFA)

Ohio Farming Event Focuses on Creating Climate for Change

COLUMBUS, Ohio — After a planting season plagued by extreme weather, Ohio farmers now have an opportunity to better explore the concept of …

About 20% of Ohioans live in a rural community. A new report says many rural areas haven't yet returned to pre-2008 employment levels. (Mike/Flickr)

Rural vs. Urban: Similar Challenges, Unique Strengths

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Research has shown that, since the end of the Great Recession, rural areas in Ohio and other states haven't shared in the same …

Ohio's farmers were challenged by an unusually wet spring. (Christian Collins/Flickr)

Report: Ohio Farmers Can Help Solve Climate Crisis

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio farmers are all too familiar with the impact of climate change, and a new report highlights the urgent need to help …

Higher temperatures in the future could have a negative impact on corn and soybean production in rural areas, and public health in urban communities. (typographyimages/Pixabay)

7-in-10 Ohio Adults Believe Climate Change Impacting U.S.

CINCINNATI – As Ohioans sweat through record high October temperatures this week, new polling suggests many people are connecting the dots …

Historic rains across Ohio this spring resulted in a record number of unplanted acres and late planting, according to Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. (Adobe stock)

Ohio Farm Aid Welcomed but Permanent Solutions Sought

LIMA, Ohio — Ohio farmers looking for relief for lost crops due to extensive flooding this year can now apply for disaster aid from the …

Farmers grew more than 78,000 acres of hemp in the United States in 2018, but it's still too soon for Ohio farmers to jump onto the bandwagon. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Farmers Begin Navigating Hemp, CBD Production

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Now that Gov. Mike DeWine has signed a bill legalizing CBD oil and hemp production, many Ohio farmers are wondering when they …

Ohio now is home to 77,000 farms, the highest number since 1997. (Don O'Brien/Flickr)

Census Reveals Bright Spots, Challenges for Ohio Farming

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The latest Census of Agriculture confirms the continuing trend of an aging farming population. However, next-generation …

Ohioans can learn about organic dairy production during a farm tour series this summer. (OEFFA, Sweet Grass Dairy, Henry Leiter Foto)

Getting Back to the Land; Reflecting on Ohio’s Sustainable Roots

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Certified organic farming in Ohio is a growing business, and an annual opportunity to peek inside some of these sustainable …

Incentive programs could boost the use of agricultural practices that reduce the nutrient runoff linked to algal blooms. (Zachary Haslick, Aerial Associates Photography Inc./Flickr)

Reducing Harmful Lake Erie Algal Blooms: What Will It Take?

COLUMBUS, Ohio – With the waters of Lake Erie starting to warm, concerns are rising about the possibility of toxic algal blooms over the summer …

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