Yearly Archives: 2026

As input costs rise and climate threats grow, farmer Amanda Butterfield warns that deep cuts to USDA conservation staff leave family farms at risk.

Join Reporter Liz Partsch on a trek through the Pennsylvania woods to discover the world of ramps. Learn how to sustainably harvest these Appalachian spring greens and try her favorite ramp recipes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

As fuel and fertilizer prices soar, USDA’s 2026 planting report reveals record-low wheat acres and a growing trust gap between farmers and federal data.

Antique collector and historian Paul Locher explores the cultural divide of Ohio’s frontier coffee pots. From New England’s lighthouse designs to the intricate Germanic punchwork, Locher details the craftsmanship of local tinsmiths and the distinct styles of early American settlers.

From hand-milking to indoor plumbing, Judith Sutherland's parents build a life on a rented Ohio farm in the 1950s, finding joy in hard work and 36-cent gallons of milk.