Yearly Archives: 2026

The Ohio EPA scrapped a statewide general permit allowing data centers to discharge wastewater into local waterways after receiving 7,000+ public comments. Environmentalists and farmers applauded the move, citing PFAS and thermal pollution risks.

The Harrison County Junior Fair Sale, held on June 26, 2026 in Cadiz, Ohio, brought in $572,865.05. Find the full photo gallery and results here.

Pennsylvania legislators passed a bipartisan law to regulate food processing residuals on farms, aiming to protect air, water and communities while supporting agriculture.

Dairy-beef cross calves bring a big financial premium, but they require different management than standard Holstein calves. Ohio State Extension's Jason Hartschuh breaks down the latest research on beef genetic selection, managing early-life shipping stress, and optimized milk feeding programs.

Between a dog tracking white paint on the floor, raccoons decorating the deck with a wet paint roller, and heavy wildfire smoke rolling in, columnist Kymberly Foster Seabolt finds plenty to write about—and a perfect excuse to skip the vegetables and hide indoors with childhood snack cakes.

As summer temperatures rise, cool-season grasses slow down. Dylan Stine of the Tuscarawas Soil and Water Conservation District offers practical advice on slowing down livestock rotations, stockpiling fescue for winter, and keeping summer weeds in check to maximize your forage.

Cows need shade, too. That's one of the reasons why farmer Mark Harvey Smith decided to implement agroforestry practices on his 142-acre Pittsburgher Highland Farm in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania. With the help of Pasa Sustainable Agriculture and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Smith recently had 300 to 400 trees and shrubs planted on his farm for silvopasture and a riparian buffer.

Columnist Alan Guebert analyzes the rising dependency on federal subsidies as a new $11 billion request balloons 2026 farm program payments to $55.3 billion. The piece contrasts current tariff-driven taxpayer bailouts with historic net farm income data and export market trends.

Before modern washing machines, early Ohio Country pioneers faced the grueling task of cleaning clothes in creeks and iron kettles. Columnist Paul Locher dives into the smelly history of 19th-century laundry chores and the evolution of the scrub sticks and patented washboards that followed.

Looking for giant bluegills and aggressive largemouth bass? Former wildlife officer Jim Abrams shares humorous angling tales from northwest Ohio's Lake La Su An Wildlife Area, along with the specific rules, limits, and season dates you need to know before planning your next trip.