Farmers

Columbus saw less than an inch of rain during the entire month of August. While that's led to some crunchy lawns and thirsty gardens, Ohio's state climatologist says it's still not as bad as last year's record drought.

Farmers across the state are having to pivot from drought conditions last year to heavy rainfall that has forced many to replant crops.

Farmers with unpredictable and self-employed jobs can have a tough time getting health insurance. Ohio is the latest state to change the law to let the Farm Bureau sell an alternative.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture canceled $420 million for a program called the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement, which helps food banks and other local groups provide food to their communities.

USAID bought more than 1 million metric tons of food from U.S. farmers in the 2023 fiscal year. Now many of those farmers may be out of major contracts.

The results of the Ohio farm stress survey are also helping counselors and mental health workers learn how to provide better care.

The Ohio Farm Bureau, Department of Agriculture and Ohio State University created a survey of stressors and coping mechanisms among farmers and other agriculture workers.

Lake Erie has been threatened by harmful algae blooms. But Ohio farmers are increasingly backing H2Ohio, a program to protect the lake and waterways around the state.

Ohio’s farmers are aging, but aspiring farmers sometimes struggle to break into the field, unable to afford the steep cost of land and equipment. A new program could help.

The Biden administration hopes changes to farming can help achieve its climate agenda. The Department of Agriculture has an additional goal: improving service to Black and other underserved farmers.