Ohio Ag Net Podcast - Ep. 420 - Ohio Officials Stress Vigilance as EHM Cases Rise Nationally
Release Date: 11/24/2025
Ohio Ag Net Podcast - Ep 424 - The Future of Biofuels
Ohio Ag Net Podcast
Biofuels have always sat at the intersection of agriculture, energy, and innovation. For our farmers, they represent not just a market opportunity, but a stabilizing force, adding value to crops like corn and soybeans, creating new demand streams, and supporting rural economies with local processing, transportation, and jobs. They help keep dollars circulating close to home. A recent event in northwest Ohio explored the future of biofuels. The Ohio Farm Bureau sponsored Biofuels Summit featured researchers, retailers and policy makers and you will hear from some of them this week, including...
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Ohio Ag Net Podcast - Ep 423 - A Farewell to Dale Minyo
Ohio Ag Net Podcast
In this week’s Ohio Ag Net podcast, we recap the incredible career of Dale Minyo. Dale will be retiring at the end of the year, and he shares some of his memorable moments with Ty Higgins, including an interview at a county fair that will forever be etched in his mind. Ty also talks with Dr. Leah Dorman to get the details on the newly created Protect OHIO initiative, which will deliver meaningful, measurable impact across our state by educating more veterinarians with a specific focus on enrolling more students from Ohio's rural communities, mentoring large animal and rural veterinarians,...
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Ohio Ag Net Podcast – Ep 422 - Leaders Talk About the Future of Ohio Agriculture
Ohio Ag Net Podcast
In this week’s Ohio Ag Net podcast, Dale Minyo and Ty Higgins visit with leaders of two Ohio agriculture organizations. Ty talks with Bill Patterson, president of Ohio Farm Bureau, about how the Ohio Farm Bureau's recent annual meeting was a great opportunity to celebrate the successes of 2025, while working on policies to take on the challenges that lie ahead in 2026 and beyond. Later in the episode, Dale meets with the new president of Ohio Corn and Wheat, Eric Tipton, about his path to leadership and the goals his association has as he begins his new role.
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Ohio Ag Net Podcast - Ep 421 - Record Donations, Smarter Machines, and Shifting Soy Demand
Ohio Ag Net Podcast
In this week’s Ohio Ag Net podcast, Dale Minyo is in Ross County with Farm Credit Mid-America’s Olivia Congrove, financial officer, and Rudi Pitzer Perry, Regional Vice President of Ag Lending. They spotlight FCMA’s statewide “Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer” initiative, which is a county fair food drive sponsored by Rural First that brought in 448,827 pounds of donations for local food banks. Ross County led the state with a record-setting 122,640 pounds. Congrove and Pitzer Perry break down the program’s purpose, its growth to 56 participating fairs, and the community impact...
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Ohio Ag Net Podcast - Ep. 420 - Ohio Officials Stress Vigilance as EHM Cases Rise Nationally
Ohio Ag Net Podcast
Ohio’s Country Journal editor Brianna Smith talks with Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Brian Baldridge and State Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Summers about the ongoing national concerns surrounding Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), which is caused by the equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) virus. While seven states are currently dealing with EHM, Ohio has no known clinical cases, though ODA is “heavily monitoring” the situation and working to keep the equine industry informed. Dr. Summers explains that early symptoms often look like a typical respiratory infection: nasal...
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Ep. 419 - The issues hitting Ohio fields
Ohio Ag Net Podcast
In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Dusty Sonnenberg talks with Brandon Kern of the Ohio Soybean Association about the latest from Ohio's House Bill 10. Tune in for details about what it means for applicators in the state and licensing requirements. After that, Dale Minyo sits down with Tadd Nicholson of Ohio Corn and Wheat to talk the big issues we're hearing about nationally. The chat includes a year-round E15 update, plus talk about delays in production reports by the government shutdown and its impact on grain farmers.
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Ep. 418 - Health Plans, Soy Immersion, and Wilmington College's Announcement
Ohio Ag Net Podcast
This week on the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Ty Higgins catches up with Trevor Kirkpatrick of the Ohio Farm Bureau to discuss the launch of the new Ohio Farm Bureau Health Plans, now open for enrollment, offering more affordable health coverage options for Ohio’s farm families and small businesses. Dusty Sonnenberg talks with Julia Brown of the Ohio Soybean Council about the inaugural Ohio Soy Immersion Experience, a new program designed to give farmers an inside look at how the soybean checkoff works to grow demand and build value. Dale Minyo wraps things up with a visit...
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Ep. 417 - HPAI Update and the American Star in Agriscience
Ohio Ag Net Podcast
In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, host Dusty Sonnenberg sits down with Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge and State Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Summers to discuss the state’s ongoing response to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The two share how Ohio handled last winter’s outbreak that impacted over 15 million birds, the lessons learned from those months, and how producers are preparing as migratory season begins again. They also touch on the far-reaching economic ripple effects across the state’s poultry and grain sectors, and offer practical advice...
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Ep. 416 - Planting professionals and big pumpkins
Ohio Ag Net Podcast
This week on the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Ty Higgins joins Ohio State students and industry leaders at the Planting Professionals Etiquette Dinner, sponsored by the Ohio Soybean Council and hosted by the CFAES Career Development Office. The event goes well beyond table manners, teaching students how to navigate professional settings over a meal while building connections for their future in agriculture. Then, Dale Minyo sits down with Seth Wilkerson, Regional Vice President for Farm Credit Mid-America in northeast Ohio. They discuss the financial pressures facing farmers today, what lenders are...
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Ohio Ag Net Podcast - Ep 415 - From Logan County to the Landscape Olympics
Ohio Ag Net Podcast
First up, Ohio Ag Net’s Joel Penhorwood rides along with Donna Turner of Logan County for a special Cab Cam, brought to you by Precision Agri Services, Inc. After battling cancer and undergoing a bone marrow transplant, Donna is back in her “happy place” — the combine. With her grandson Dawson running the grain cart, she shares how farming and family helped her through and what it means to be back in the field. Then, our own Dale Minyo talks with Gerry Puckett, Director of Communications and Industry Engagement for Ohio Corn & Wheat, and Rudi Pitzer Perry, Regional Vice President...
info_outlineOhio’s Country Journal editor Brianna Smith talks with Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Brian Baldridge and State Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Summers about the ongoing national concerns surrounding Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), which is caused by the equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) virus. While seven states are currently dealing with EHM, Ohio has no known clinical cases, though ODA is “heavily monitoring” the situation and working to keep the equine industry informed.
Dr. Summers explains that early symptoms often look like a typical respiratory infection: nasal discharge, coughing, and a sudden fever spike. Later cases can involve inflammation around the spinal cord and brain, leading to hind-end incoordination and even disorientation. He urges horse owners to be proactive with biosecurity and quick to report concerns.
Owners should contact their local veterinarian first, then reach out to ODA’s Division of Animal Health at 614-728-6220 to determine whether symptoms need to be reported. Director Baldridge and Dr. Summers emphasize that awareness and early communication are key to keeping Ohio’s horses safe.