The last three decades of Ohio soybean production have been good ones, marked by improved Phytophthora cultivars, a new market for tofu soybeans and one of the most popular soybean varieties ever grown in Ohio. Much of that success has been at the hands of Steve St. Martin, a soybean breeder at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. But on Jan. 1, St. Martin, who has headed the soybean breeding program at the center since 1991, will retire and pass the torch to a new faculty member.

OMAHA, Neb. — The 2008 Herdsman of the Year was honored with a trophy buckle in memory of Lawrence Grathwohl and sponsored by the Shorthorn Foundation during the North American International Livestock Exposition.

Josh Greenhorn

Two members of the Grathwohl family were in attendance as well as Jack Ragsdale, on behalf of the Shorthorn Foundation, to […]

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological Survey has released the 2007 report on Ohio mineral industries.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown received a Friend of Farm Bureau Award from the Ohio organization during its annual meeting Dec. 3-5 in Columbus. The award is given to legislators who have supported important agricultural issues. Brown serves on the Senate agriculture committee, marking the first time an Ohioan has done that in nearly half a […]

COLUMBUS — A Jefferson County couple who has tweaked a successful farm business to stay profitable and in business was lauded as Outstanding Young Farm Couple last week during the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting.
Robert and Autumn Morrison of Bloomingdale will represent Ohio next month at the national contest during the American Farm Bureau […]

COLUMBUS — With blessing from county delegates, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation staffers will push forth in 2009 with the state’s plan to implement a changed timeline for signing new members.
Some 341 county delegates convened in Columbus Dec. 3-5 to recommend policy and amend code of the organization.
During more than a day of policy review, those […]

DULUTH, Ga. — Building on a commitment to quality, and in an effort to streamline logistics for their dealer network, AGCO Corporation has built and opened three new tractor assembly centers in the U.S.
These centers are located near major ports, and close to markets with high demand for tractors manufactured and marketed by AGCO. […]

WASHINGTON — Low- and moderate-income workers can take steps now to save for retirement and earn a special tax credit in 2008 and the years ahead, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
The saver’s credit helps offset part of the first $2,000 workers voluntarily contribute to Individual Retirement Arrangements and to 401(k) plans and similar […]

PENNSYLVANIA FURNACE, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture opened the 2008-2009 State Bull Performance Testing Program at the Livestock Evaluation Center.
Beef producers from Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia have 120 bulls participating in the 112-day performance testing program.
Progressive breeders nominate some of their best bulls to be […]

PITTSBURGH — Two groups of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute have received a total of $10 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build automated farming systems.
One is for apple growers and one is for orange growers, but both are designed to improve fruit quality and lower production costs. […]