Friday, September 18, 2026

Struggling with heavily weed-infested hay fields? Ohio State Extension educator John Yost breaks down the essential basics for successful field restoration—from soil testing and seed-to-soil contact to working backward from frost dates to build a realistic reseeding timeline.

Drawing lessons from Homer's Odyssey, Ohio State Extension's David Marrison explores the importance of intentional farm mentorship. Discover how combining traditional guidance with reverse mentoring prepares the next generation to lead family farm operations successfully.
Cows grazing

What is the difference between stock density and stocking rate? Ohio State University Extension Educator Josh Winters breaks down these essential grazing management concepts, explains how to calculate animal units, and shows how a grazing stick helps measure dry matter for optimal pasture output.
Coyote

In part one of a series on the history of the Ohio Division of Wildlife, Jim Abrams explores how 19th-century settlement, bounties, and the Great Hinckley Hunt depleted native species—leading to Ohio's very first wildlife protection laws in 1829.

Before electric appliances, pressing clothes was a backbreaking pioneer chore. Columnist Paul Locher explores the history of early laundry technology, from heavy cast-iron sad irons and interchangeable slug irons to specialized tabletop gophering irons used for fluting ruffles.

When asked what she does for fun, Kymberly Foster Seabolt's answer is simple: spending time with family. From "Team Seabolt" childhood days to watching grown kids navigate the adult world, she reflects on how fast time flies and why gathering together remains life's greatest joy.
green corn plant under white sky during daytime

Tight profit margins make evaluating input costs crucial. OSU Extension educator Lee Beers explains how tissue testing, the MRTN calculator, and fungicide ROI tools can help farmers determine if their fertilizer and crop protection strategies are actually paying off.

Jim Abrams embraces his status as an "oddball" while breaking down why unconventional gear choices often beat mainstream favorites. Explore the benefits of 16-gauge and 28-gauge twin-barrel shotguns, lightweight framing, and the ballistics behind effective square loads.

Give us your best guess for this new mystery item that sits outside a cottage on Kelleys Island in Lake Erie.

After learning that early hay harvest destroys bobolink nests, Jefferson County farmer Adam Costarella delayed cutting until July. By adjusting his grazing and haymaking schedule, he helped restore habitat for these long-distance migratory birds on his eastern Ohio farm.