How to tailor cover crops to solve specific soil health problems
Cover crops are not one size fits all. Discover how to tailor grasses like rye and oats to reduce compaction, or plant legumes like clover and vetch to fix nitrogen. Plus, get details on the upcoming Carroll and Columbiana County soil health field day in Lisbon, Ohio.
Follow these essential fall steps for healthy spring pastures
Preparing pastures in the fall is critical for cool-season forage survival. OSU Extension outlines key management practices—from soil testing and fertilizer to weed control and proper grazing height—to protect plant roots and ensure strong pasture regrowth next spring.
Autumn glory
We romanticize autumn with flannel and foliage, but the reality brings Ohio weather roulette, furnace standoffs, and reluctant dogs. Kymberly Foster Seabolt embraces the chaos of soup season, frost, and chilly days in this humorous look at the true fall experience.
Part 3: Tragedy befalls the family
In the late 1890s, a Pittsburgh family's thriving life was shattered by a typhoid epidemic and sudden loss. After losing his sister and father, 12-year-old Charlie Myers boarded a train to an Ohio farm to begin life anew. Read Part 3 of the Myers family history.
What to consider before planting late-season cover crops this fall
Harvest delays don't mean you've missed the cover crop window. OSU Extension breaks down the pros and cons of planting cereal rye, winter wheat, triticale, and rapeseed late in the season, including seeding rates and termination tips for Northeast Ohio farms.
Call it hatcheling, hackeling or hetcheling — you’ll get the point
Before flax could be spun into fine linen thread, early craftspeople relied on hatcheling. Learn about the specialized hatchelsmiths who built these spiked iron tools and how decorated hatchels evolved from essential farm equipment into prized early American folk art.
Former Ohio wildlife pilot shares stories from a sky-high career
For 25 years, pilot John Clem flew missions for the Ohio Division of Wildlife—from tracking serial killers and radio-tagging otters to flying through the Appalachians. Learn how aviation transformed state wildlife management, law enforcement, and conservation in Ohio.
The invisible org chart: Who holds real influence on your farm?
While a formal chart shows who reports to whom, a farm's invisible organizational chart reveals where trust and influence truly reside. Ohio State University Extension specialist David Marrison explains why identifying these informal leaders can improve farm communication and transition planning.
The Miscanthus mistake: Hidden risks of popular privacy grasses
Popular non-native privacy grasses like Miscanthus can quickly escape landscaping and hunting plots to become invasive pests. Learn about the hidden ecological risks of Miscanthus and explore native alternatives like switchgrass and big bluestem for effective screens and wildlife habitat.
Fall can be an effective time to control troublesome weeds
Fall provides a prime window to control perennial and biennial pasture weeds like Canada thistle and poison hemlock. Applying systemic herbicides while weeds are actively growing targets roots before winter, but watch out for residual impacts on spring legume seeding.
