Farm and Dairy Weekly Rundown Episode 55 (4-30-26)
Editor Rachel Wagoner and Reporter Liz Partsch give readers a rundown of the top stories in the Farm and Dairy the week of April 30, 2026.
Non-profit helps reclaim mine land, support declining white oak trees
A new partnership is breathing life back into former coal mines in Appalachia. Non-profit Bosland Growth, with support from Suntory Global Spirits, is reclaiming strip-mined land in West Virginia and Pennsylvania by planting thousands of native trees. The project focuses on the white oak—a species critical for wildlife and the bourbon industry—which is currently struggling to regenerate.
New state law could hamstring Ohio’s struggling hemp industry
Despite once being hailed as the next cash crop for the Buckeye State, new state regulations are making it harder than ever for Ohio hemp farmers to survive. With a new .4mg THC limit per container, many wellness products like CBD are being pulled from store shelves. Local growers say they need more support, not more restrictions.
Talking turkey: The history and future of Ohio’s wild turkey recovery
Wild turkeys were once thought to be gone from Ohio forever. It took birds from 7 different states (shipped by air and rail!) to restart the population we see today. Now, biologists are using GPS transmitters to solve a new mystery: Why are populations declining in some areas? Read Outdoors columnist Jim Abrams’ latest field notes on the past, present and future of wild turkeys in Ohio.
CWD detected in six Ohio counties during 2025-26 hunting season
Positive CWD samples were detected in Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Marion and Wyandot counties in Ohio. A total of 6,617 deer were tested for CWD during the 2025-26 hunting season.
Tuscarawas County cold case solved after 28 years
On Feb. 1, 1998, the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from a group of children who had found a suitcase in the middle of dense woods along Winkler Hill Road in Dover Township. Inside were the severed remains of an unidentified man. Six days later, a second suitcase more human remains was found in another remote area, along Boltz Orchard Road in Jefferson Township. For 28 years, the grisly discoveries yielded few clues, and the case went cold. But now, investigators say that subsequent DNA testing finally confirmed the identity of the remains and the person responsible for the crime.
Farm and Dairy Weekly Rundown: Episode 54 (4-23-26)
Reporters Liz Partsch and Paul Rowley give readers a rundown of the top stories in the Farm and Dairy the week of April 23, 2026.
‘Who Is My Neighbor?’ Woman on horse-drawn quest for common ground
Starting in Millersburg, Ohio, Sea Rhyder is trekking across America with two ponies and a Corgi to prove that real-life kindness still outweighs online hostility. Follow her "Who Is My Neighbor?" journey as she seeks common ground through slow travel and storytelling.
Spring rain equals runoff: How to protect local streams
Spring rains bring more than just flowers—they bring stormwater runoff. Ashland SWCD's Zoey Dudte talks about how soil, pollutants and nutrients impact our local waterways and shares simple steps you can take to protect our water quality.
US farm economy hits crisis point amid spiking fertilizer and fuel prices
American farmers are facing "generational headwinds" as spiking fertilizer and fuel costs threaten crop yields, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. With 70% of producers unable to afford essential inputs, the AFBF warns of a growing national security risk.
