Thursday, February 5, 2026

Need something to listen to while you're shoveling snow today? Check out our podcast, the Weekly Rundown. Farm and Dairy Reporters Liz Partsch and Paul Rowley give a rundown of the top stories in the paper and some behind-the-scenes details about their reporting.

From the 1980s farm crisis to global agricultural mentoring, Jim Hershey’s journey to the $10,000 Leopold Conservation Award is one of innovation. Discover how his Lancaster County farm uses no-till, cover crops and buffers to lead Pennsylvania in regenerative agriculture.
frost

Prepare for a successful grazing season by auditing soil health, frost seeding, and infrastructure now. Plan your 2026 pasture strategy to maximize forage.

Also at the Ohio Auctioneers Association conference, James Yoder, of Kaufman Realty & Auctions, was crowned the 2026 Ohio Auctioneers Senior Division Champion. Jake Adelman, of RES Auction Services, was crowned the Junior Division Champion.
Anderson Creek

Pennsylvania stands to lose the most abandoned mine land funding (over $169 million) if President Donald Trump signs House Bill 6938 into law. West Virginia would see a reduction of $97 million in funding. The AML fund is crucial to cleaning up acid mine drainage that is widespread across Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, and continues to threaten local ecosystems.

In Salem, Ohio, Brenda Austin and a small group of volunteers are working tirelessly to give feral cats a second chance. Right now, there is an urgent need for farmers and property owners willing to adopt pairs of feral cats as "barn buddies." The program also needs financial support to continue its critical work.

Western Pennsylvania dairy farmer William Thiele was recognized in the Oval Office as President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025.

From improving crop yields to monitoring livestock health, AI has the power to transform farming—but it requires massive data centers to function. Discover the benefits and burdens of bringing this next-gen technology to rural America
Tannar, Kimberly and Tom Barton stand in their backyard in Alicia, Pennsylvania on Dec. 7, 2025. The former Robena Coal Mine site is further up the hill.

For decades, the Robena Coal Mine defined Alicia, Pennsylvania. Now, a proposed natural gas-powered hyperscale data center could bring jobs back—but at what cost to the peace and health of the community? Residents share their stories on the future of Greene County.

Reporters Liz Partsch and Paul Rowley give a rundown of the top stories in Farm and Dairy newspaper for the week of Jan. 15, 2026.