Trimble Agriculture recently received the Corporate Partner Award from the National Agricultural Alumni Development Association, recognizing its contributions to support agriculture or land-grant universities, as well as advocacy for agriculture and natural resources.

Trimble was awarded for its significant contributions to educating the next generation of AgTech, including generous contributions to Ohio State University’s ag program, namely the Trimble Ag Tech Lab that will open this fall.

Stockmanship and stewardship event coming to Ohio

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, in partnership with Merck Animal Health and the checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance program, is hosting four regional stockmanship and stewardship events, and one will be in Caldwell, Ohio.

These regional events are intended to bring together cattle producers from a large area for a two-day cattle-handling and educational program. Events will highlight proper stockmanship techniques, as well as local stewardship information.

The unique Caldwell event is set for Sept. 29-30. The event is focused on live low-stress cattle handling demonstrations, Beef Quality Assurance training and industry updates. Participants will gain an edge on learning about consumer concerns regarding beef sustainability and livestock welfare, how those concerns have affected the industry, and the role that Beef Quality Assurance plays in the conversation.

Stockmanship experts Curt Pate and Ron Gill are among the presenters. Producers who attend not only receive hands-on training in best management practices to help improve their operation, but also the chance to get BQA certified.

Find registration information and stay up to date as the detailed agenda develops by visiting stockmanshipandstewardship.org.

Ohio Pork Rib-Off winners named at state fair

Barbecue fans from across Ohio and beyond gathered Aug. 1 at the Ohio State Fair to see which top-notch barbecue competitor would come out victorious in the Ohio Pork Council’s annual Pork Rib-Off competition.

The participants vied for top honors in categories for ribs, pulled pork, people’s choice and barbecue sauce. Ale Yeah BBQ, Delaware, Ohio, was awarded Grand Champion Pork Ribs. Bark Brothers BBQ of Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded Grand Champion Pulled Pork. These winners were two of the nine contestants from across the state to compete in the annual event.

The grand champions and their competitors were scored by a group of four judges, including Virgil Strickler, Ohio Expo Center & State Fair general manager; state Rep. Bob Peterson, R-17; Jeff Reese, Ohio Ag Net; and Gregory J. Lestini, Bricker Graydon.

The Pork Rib-Off, which has now reached a milestone of 25 years, is hosted each year by the Ohio Pork Council on the first Tuesday of the Ohio State Fair.

Reserve Champion ribs were awarded to Bark Brothers. JR’s Place, Millersburg, Ohio, won Reserve Champion Pulled Pork. Smoke ‘Em If You’ve Got ‘Em of Middleport, Ohio won Champion BBQ Sauce. The People’s Choice Award went to Hickory River BBQ of Tipp City, Ohio.

Study shows Ohio's rivers improving in water quality

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director Anne Vogel recently announced that a comprehensive study of Ohio's largest rivers shows tremendous improvements in water quality over the past several decades. 

“This report not only shows the results of what farmers are currently doing to keep their soils healthy and nutrients in place to protect Ohio’s waterways through H2Ohio, it also highlights the efforts that have been done long before the program was an option,” says Adam Sharp, executive vice president of Ohio Farm Bureau.

“This data is proof that progress has been made on the water-quality front and that Gov. DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative and other conservation programs that give farmers opportunities to find new and better nutrient management practices are, and will, continue to make a difference in providing clean water for all Ohioans.”