Top Stories

PFAS contamination is a nightmare for farmers, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the road. In Maine, out of 111 farms where PFAS was detected, only six have had to close their doors. Why? The Pine Tree State devoted considerable money, time and resources to its PFAS problem. What can we learn from Maine's response in how to help farmers deal with PFAS when it's inevitably found on your farm?

National farm groups reacted with relief after the Supreme Court rules against global tariffs, citing record-high supply costs.

With over 7 million birds impacted by HPAI in the last 30 days alone—mostly in Lancaster County— PA Gov. Josh Shapiro has deployed more resources to help contain the spread. The outbreak is also putting 200+ dairy farms under mandatory surveillance.

The Ohio Pork Council’s most prestigious honor, the Pork Industry Excellence Award, was presented to the Hord Family of Hord Family Farms, headquartered in Bucyrus, Ohio

Reporters Liz Partsch and Paul Rowley give readers a rundown of the top stories in the Farm and Dairy the week of Feb. 19, 2026.

Ohio Farm Bureau’s 2025-2026 AgriPOWER Institute kicked off in December with 15 farmers and agribusiness professionals participating in Class XVI.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture issued a statewide quarantine for the invasive spotted lanternfly, effective Feb. 17.

PFAS—the "forever chemicals"—were once a hidden threat, but they are now creating an existential dilemma for the small-town water supplies and farmers. For years, many farmers used biosolids as a sustainable fertilizer in good faith, only to find out later that forever chemicals within can concentrate in the soil and move into crops and livestock. Now, farmers and impacted communities are caught between evolving science, changing regulations and the high cost of cleanup. This is part 1 of a 2-part deep dive into how PFAS is impacting our water, our soil and our food supply

There is nothing quite like a summer night lit up by lightning bugs. To ensure future generations get to enjoy that same magic, Pennsylvania is embarking on its first-ever statewide firefly inventory. Discover how this inventory will shape future conservation policies for PA's state insect and support local "firefly tourism."

In the high-stakes world of agriculture, a general weather report isn't always enough—especially for farmers stuck in Doppler radar "coverage gaps." This week, writer Jake Zajkowski explores how Ohio producers are shifting toward hyper-local forecasting to identify critical planting and spraying windows. From Ohio State Extension’s rollout of research-grade mesonet monitoring stations to private subscription services that offer direct access to meteorologists, the goal is the same: better data for better decisions. Learn how these precision tools are helping farmers navigate unpredictable seasons and secure the 7-day windows they need to get crops in the ground.