Ohio pioneers made cheese to preserve milk without refrigeration
Without refrigeration, early Ohio Country farmers relied on traditional cheesemaking to extend their winter milk supply. Historian Paul Locher breaks down the step-by-step pioneer process of using rennet, straining whey and pressing hard cheeses to preserve dairy for months.
Celebrate dairy farmers all month long
In celebration of June Dairy Month, Dwight Roseler reflects on the 250-year history of American agriculture. From a humorous "city boy" definition of a cow to the deeply moving words of Frank Mann’s Farmers Creed, discover why we owe so much gratitude to our hardworking dairy farmers.
Part four: Ralph’s father proposes a compromise on the water battle
In the early 1900s, drought pushed Colorado ranchers to the brink of a violent water war. Drawing from Ralph Moody’s autobiographical book "Little Britches," this article explores how his father, Charlie, proposed a peaceful 80% compromise that saved both crops and lives on the range.
What is this mystery wooden item?
We have a new item for Hazard a Guess this week, and its a twofer. Take a look and let us know what you think.
Screwworms eat flesh, screw-ups cost money
The flesh-eating New World screwworm has returned to the U.S. Southwest. While Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins blames the previous administration, critics point to early 2025 budget cuts made by the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency that halted critical livestock monitoring.
Cover crops build resilience into Ohio farms
Don't let another dry season catch you unprepared. Carroll SWCD's Lindsay Short explains how combining no-till farming with late-summer cover crops after your wheat harvest can dramatically improve soil water retention, suppress weeds, and provide high-quality winter forage for livestock.
What you can do to revive worn-out hay stands
Weather patterns left Ohio’s 2026 first-cutting grass hay short and low-yielding. If your long-term hay fields are struggling, OSU's Garth Ruff discusses how managing soil fertility, planning a late-summer reseeding or even transitioning the land to grazing can help maximize your returns.
Portal patient patience
You dutifully fill out your medical history on the online patient portal, only to be handed a 1992-style clipboard at check-in. Columnist Kymberly Foster Seabolt explores the frustrating redundancy of modern healthcare administration and asks: where is all that digital data actually going?
Part Three: The water war begins
In Part 3 of this series exploring Ralph Moody’s classic "Little Britches," a 1906 Colorado drought triggers a dangerous "water war." When upstream ranchers hog the vital irrigation supply, the Moody family must take a perilous late-night stand to save their newly planted crops.
Leaving the best flies behind
A fly-fishing trip to Michigan's Au Sable River brings humor, lost lures, and a deeper reflection on a late friend. Angler Jim Abrams shares a moving essay on the "best flies" left behind in trees and trout streams, and the holy waters of the Manistee River where memories endure.
