The Ohio Field Leader Podcast is a production of the Ohio Soybean Council and soybean checkoff. Podcast host, Dusty Sonnenberg, visits with agricultural leaders and researchers to discuss soybean production, best management practices, precision agricultural technology and environmental and water quality topics.
The month the Ohio Field LeaderPodcast is a doubleheader. The names Craftsman, Stanley Black and Decker, MAC Tools, and Dewalt all have immediate recognition. In this episode, Dusty is joined by Scott Porter, CEO and Founder of Dynamic Green Products. Dusty and Scott discuss how Dynamic Green Products is working in concert with those recognizable names to put more soybeans to use in everyday lives. Then Dusty and Matt Reese from Ohio's Country Journal are joined by participants on the recent Ohio Crop Tour (Sponsored by the Ohio Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Check-off) to share highlights from around the Buckeye state.
9/1/24 • 29:47
In episode 47 of the podcast, Dusty visits with Allen and Andrew Armstrong on the Ohio Field Leader Roadshow in Clark County. Allen and Andrew discuss their multigenerational family farm and how the operation has changed over the years. With a mind for business and finding the best practices and technologies that fit their operation, the Armstrong's analyze their farm by the bushel rather than by the acre. Through the years they have their grown farm and served their community, providing leadership to organizations and made an impact at the local, state and national level.
8/1/24 • 30:39
In the July episode, Dusty visits with Jeff McKanna and Robert Gray about the history of Shady Lawn Farms and the multiple generations involved today. They discuss the adoption of new technology on the farm and the financial side of growing an operation. The work of the Ohio Soybean Council is also multigenerational at Shady Lawn, as both Lyle McKanna and Jeff McKanna have served on the commodity organization's board of directors.
7/1/24 • 24:26
The Ohio Field Leader travels to northern Wood County and Eckel Grain Farms and Cattle Company located just outside of Perrysburg, Ohio. Dusty visits with Nathan and Nick Eckel about their operation and the challenges and opportunities that present themselves when farming on the edge of suburbia and near the epicenter of the water quality issues in the Western Lake Erie Basin and Maumee River watershed. Along with their brother Nolan, these farmers combine grain farming, raising livestock, and educational research along with service to the agriculture industry as a part of their everyday life.
6/1/24 • 46:15
The Ohio Field Leader Roadshow colides with social media influencer Farmwithzoe on Episode 44. Dusty visits with Zoe Kent to discuss soybean farming, social media and it's role in promoting production agriculture to the general public, and the importance of succession planning.
5/1/24 • 21:28
The Ohio Field Leader is hitting the road again in 2024 and the first stop is in Hardin County at the farm of Austin Heil. Learn how this 6th generation farmer gains inspiration from his Great-Great-Great Grandfather, Nicholas, who came to America in 1828, and started the farm in 1839. The family farm they still operate today. Dusty and Austin talk about agricultural technology and transitions and the future of the industry.
4/1/24 • 25:49
In 2023 the presence of White mold in soybeans across many parts of Ohio was very concerning. The negative yield impact caused many growers to ask serious questions about research and management practices that they could implement on their farms. Dr. Horacio Lopez-Nicora, Plant Pathologist and Nematologist at The Ohio State University, and Dr. Wade Webster, Plant Pathologist at North Dakota State University visit with Dusty to discuss the past growing season in Ohio, what we know about White mold in soybeans, and management strategies for farmers moving forward.
3/1/24 • 35:36
In Episode 41 Dusty visits with Ohio farmers who are serving in leadership capacities with Soybean Check-off organizations. Steve Reinhard serves as Chairman of the United Soybean Board, Bill Bayliss is the newly elected President of the Ohio Soybean Council, and David Clark serves as Vice President of the North Central Soybean Research Program. Each of the members share about the specific function of their respective organizations and their goals for the coming year.
2/1/24 • 27:10
Barry McGraw, founder and CLO of Airable Research Lab joins Dusty for the first podcast of 2024. They discuss the idea behind this one of a kind research facility housed at Ohio Wesleyan Univeristy and funded by Ohio Soybean Farmer's Check-off. Airable provides early-stage soy-based matierials research and is responsible for a number of new soy based products and pattents.
1/1/24 • 25:30
Dusty visits with Gary Baldosser on the final leg of the Ohio Field Leader Road Show in Seneca County. Dusty and Gary discuss the Baldosser's multi-generation family farm and how having a plan for the future is critical for sustaining the growth of both the physical operation and family involvement.
12/1/23 • 25:52
Dusty visits with Jack Sommers at Mark IV Farm in Champaign County to discuss their family heritage in the pork business, and their use of no-till and cver crops in the Mad River Valley. There are some similarities between feeding hogs and feeding the microbes that live in the soil and Jack shares some of the insights he learned in his time as an OSU Extension Agent and implementing the practices on his own farm.
11/1/23 • 20:33
This episode features Rusty Goebel, Williams County farmer and Vice President of the Ohio Soybean Council. Dusty and Rusty discuss crop and livestock production in the Northwest corner of the state, and the importance of teamwork on the farm and with family members, employees and commodity organizations.
10/1/23 • 23:04
On this special episode of the podcast, Dusty is joined by Dr. Horaico Lopez-Nicora, Soybean Pathologist and Nematologist at The Ohio State University, to discuss soybean diseases from the past growing season, and things to pay attention to for as we go into harvest.
9/25/23 • 21:43
Farming near an urban center has unique challenges. Dusty is joined in this episode by Matt Sullivan of Circle S Farms in Franklin County. Matt along with his wife Amy and their sons Caleb and Timothy and Caleb's wife Claire operate Circle S Farms serving the greater Columbus, Ohio metro area. Over the years the operation has evolved from a traditional crop and livestock farm in the 1950's, to a large turkey farm, to a traditional cash grain operation, to a diversified vegetable operation, to now an agritourism farm. The Sullivans still grow corn and soybeans, but also pumpkins and sunflowers. Join Dusty and Matt as they talk about the journey of this family farm and the opportunitites and challenges of farming near a large metro area.
8/31/23 • 26:54
In episode 34 of the Ohio Field Leader Podcast, Dusty visits with Roy Klopfenstein, Paulding County Farmer, and member of the Ohio House of Representatives. Dusty and Roy discuss the current growing season and some of the unique production and marketing opportunities the Klopfenstein's utilize. They also discuss the importance of service to the community and agricultural industry as well as the recently passed Ohio state budget and agricultural provisions included.
8/1/23 • 26:25
The OFL Podcast for this month is on the road again with the latest Ohio Field Leader Road Show. Join Dusty at the Farm of Bob Suver in Clark County. Bob is a member of the Ohio Soybean Council and serves on the Market Development Committee. Along with being a 35 year no-till soybean producer, Bob also travels abroad developing markets for Ohio soybeans. He explains the ongoing work of USSEC and WISHH. Dusty and Bob discuss no-till soybean production as well as market development both at home and abroad, and how check-off dollars make it happen.
7/1/23 • 35:39
On this episode, the Ohio Feild Leader Roadshow makes a stop in Crawford County at the farm of Steve Reinhard. Steve is a soybean farmer and seed dealer, and also serves as Vice Chair of the United Soybean Board. Dusty and Steve discuss the spring planting season of 2023 and also the important work of the United Soybean Board leaveraging check-off dollars for farmers in Ohio and all across the country.
6/1/23 • 29:41
The Ohio Field Leader Roadshow is back for another year, and takes center stage for the podcast as Dusty visits with Jed Bower, a fifth generation farmer from Fayette County. Dusty and Jed discuss the past year as well as the early spring and upcoming planting season. They discuss the multiple markets available to corn and soybean farmers in Southwest Ohio. They also talk about some of the land use challenges faced all across the State of Ohio with industrial development taking prime farmland out of production, and what that means for rural communities and to farmers in the future.
5/1/23 • 24:49
Dusty is joined by Ohio State University Soybean Pathologist and Nematologist, Dr. Horacio Lopez-Nicora discussing the latest research into soybean pathogens, and in particular the work being conducted investigating Soybean Cyst Nematode. Dr. Lopez-Nicora explains the importance of knowing if a soybean field has a population of SCN and if it does, what the number is and also identifying the specific population in order to be able to plan an effective management strategy. They also discuss the continued resistance that is developing within the SCN populations to various resistance traits, such as PI 88788.
4/1/23 • 23:50
Soybean research does not happen in a vacuum. Often times it is interdisciplinary. On this episode of the OFL Podast we will visit with Dr. Horacio Lopez-Nicora, Soybean Pathologist and Nematologist, and Dr. Mitch Roth, Molecular Mycologist. Both of these gentlement work for Ohio Soybean Farmers every day to try to improve the health of Ohio's Soybean Crop. They analyze soybean pathogens form the genetic level all the way up tothe field level to help farmers make better management decisions.
3/1/23 • 21:15
Ohio's soybean farmers invest everyday in research to improve production and protect the environment. The Ohio Soybean Council, through the soybean check-off, funds numerous research projects taking place at The Ohio State University. On this episode we will get an update from Dr. Kelley Tilmon, Dr. Scott Schearer , and Dr. Laura Lindsey about the latest updates on their check-off funded research projects. Dr. Tilmon will update us on the latest stink bug information. Dr. Schearer will provide an update on the use of ag drones to detect and treat for crop stress in soybean fields. Dr Lindsey will share the results of a two year study looking at early soybean planting dates and the possible interaction wtih cover crops.
2/1/23 • 27:46
For the first podcast of 2023, the Ohio Field Leader looks ahead to the future. This is a look beyond 2023 to the needs of agriculture in future generations with the help of the Ohio Soybean Council's check-off funded GrowNextGen program. Dusty visits with Jane Hunt to learn more about this educational program that takes science into the classroom to educate and inspire young people to consider agriculture and the soybean industry in their future. Dusty and Jane look back at the last 10 years of GrowNextGen and what is ahead in terms of hands-on learing, educational activities, careers, and resources for teachers and students alike.
1/1/23 • 27:42
This edition of the podcast features the final stop of the Ohio Field Leader Roadshow for 2022 at the farm of Keith Kemp in Preble County. Dusty and Keith talk about growing soybeans in a drought, the value of precision agriculture and new seed technologies, and the booming soybean oil market and "green oil".
12/1/22 • 25:20
The Ohio Field Leader Podcast followed the OFL Roadshow to Buck Farms in Marion County to talk about the use of biologicals in crop production and the importance of on farm trials and following the data.
11/1/22 • 28:15
The OFL Roadshow traveled to Wyandot County and Hord Farms for this issue of the podcast. Dusty visits with Pat Hord to disucss soybean's number one customer, livestock. Hord Farms is comprised of both crop production as well as hog and cattle production. Hord is a multigenerational farm and utilizes the lastest technology in both livestock and crop production including environmental stewardship parctices.
10/1/22 • 29:39
In this special episode of the podcast, Dusty visits with Dr. Horacio Lopez-Nicora about important fall pre and post harvest activities farmers should keep in mind when managing SCN and other soybean diseases for the future.
9/21/22 • 25:19
The Ohio Field Leader Roadshow is the focus of this month's podcast as Dusty traveled to Fulton County to visit with Les Seiler about the conservation practices they implement on their farm. Dusty and Les discuss cover crop production, conservation tillage and no-till, and a two-stage ditch that was constructed to reduce erosion and improve water quality. Along the way they also discuss having a continuously growing crop, planting green, soil health, water quality, and pollinator habitat created by the two-stage ditch. All these practices working in conjunction to benefit to the total environment.
9/1/22 • 23:04
This episode of the podcast follows the Ohio Field Leader Road Show to Jenera, Ohio and the farm of John Motter. Dusty and John discuss raising low linoleic soybeans and the switch to high oleic soybeans. They also discuss the history, present and future of soybean oil and the over 864 different ways soybean oil is currently used for both food and industrial applications, many of which have been generated by research funded by the Ohio Soybean Council and soybean checkoff.
8/1/22 • 23:47
This episode features the Ohio Field Leader Roadshow stop in Ashtabula County at the farm of Jeff Magyar. Jeff is currently Chairman of the Ohio Soybean Council. Jeff discusses the unique aspects of farming in Ashtabula County, water quality efforts in the Northeast corner of Ohio, and the work of the Ohio Soybean Council, as well as what he learned from a tower grain dryer fire last spring.
7/1/22 • 22:35
The Ohio Field Leader Roadshow visits Shelby County and Knouff Farms, where Dusty visits wtih Patrick Knouff, President of the Ohio Soybean Association. Patrick is a farmer, seed dealer, and has served in several leadership roles with the Ohio Soybean Council and Soybean Association. They discuss the current planting season, Shelby County recently being included in H2Ohio, and the future of the soybean industry and work of the Ohio Soybean council and Ohio Soybean Association.
6/1/22 • 26:34
