Yearly Archives: 2026

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."

Hazard a Guess at our latest item. It looks like a long wooden paddle with a flap on it. Do you know what it might have been used for? Let us know!

Ohio hunters checked 232,142 white-tailed deer this season, marking the fourth consecutive year the total has topped the 200,000 mark and the seventh-highest harvest on record. Find out the top 10 counties, the impact of the unprecedented EHD outbreak in southern Ohio and which hunting implement is the most popular with Ohio hunters.

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.

Find out what Delta FFA, Black River FFA, Mount Vernon FFA and Northwestern Wayne FFA have been up to lately.

Relive the magic of winter on the farm, from hand-me-down skates and heavy snow to the warmth of hot cocoa after a day of skating on the frozen pond.

Learn how to make a classic chocolate gob (whoopie pie), a cake-like cookie sandwich that is commonly eaten in homes across Pennsylvania.

Reporters Liz Partsch and Paul Rowley give a rundown of the top stories in Farm and Dairy newspaper for the week of Feb. 12, 2026.