For the 100th episode of Kernels, we're talking to the head of Ohio agriculture himself — Brian Baldridge is the Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture and a farmer in Adams County. In this show Tadd Nicholson talks with Director Baldridge about the state budget, crop protection tools, land use changes, and telling the story of Ohio agriculture. Links: Corn Yield Contest: https://www.ncga.com/get-involved/yield-contest Join the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association: https://ohiocorna...
Jul 10, 2025•31 min
Farmers know that pesticides are some of the most heavily regulated products in the world. We know that these products are safe and necessary for the health of our food system. We know that the suggestion of childhood illness being due to the sound science we use on our fields is ridiculous. The MAHA Comission Report came out earlier this month and made some bold claims about pesticides and their impact on human health. On this episode of Kernels we are talking about the reality behind the scien...
Jun 24, 2025•15 min
The Ohio Corn Checkoff is serious about finding a solution for Vomitoxin. This episode of Kernels is all about one of the most exciting outcomes from this project — an interactive weather model that growers can use to determine their fields' risk of vomitoxin infection with just a little information. Tadd Nicholson talks with Dr. Pierce Paul, Chair of teh Department of Plant Pathology, to go over the science behind the model and what kind of impact it will have on Ohio agriculure. C.O.R.N. Newsl...
Jun 10, 2025•18 min
Vomitoxin is on every Ohio corn producer's mind with all this wet weather and the memories of years past. The Ohio Corn Checkoff has been funding research at Ohio State for years to fight the infection, and this episode is the first in a two-part series updating you on the status of those projects. C.O.R.N. Newsletter sign up: https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/corn-out About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain gro...
May 27, 2025•17 min
May is National Mental Health Month and this year we're committed to checking in on each other and ourselves. Farming is a profession filled with stressors. From the weather, production costs, politics, family life balance, and any number of further aspects, you're pulled in tons of different directions. It's important to recognize hwen you may need some help. Tadd Nicholson talks to Brice Acton this episode to get an on-the-ground perspective about the importance of taking care of your most val...
May 14, 2025•20 min
The first 100 days of the second Trump administration has left the farme conomy with questions and uncertainty. To help shine some light on the issues of tariffs, trade, taxes, and E15 legislation is the Vice President of Public Policy at the National Corn Growers Association, Lesly McNitt. About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain grower profitability. It is a strategic alliance of two checkoffs and one membership-bas...
Apr 29, 2025•25 min
As the Bird Flu is taking out flocks throughout the state and corn growers are feeling the pinch of an escalating trade war, demand for corn in the bins and about to be put in the ground is looking challenging. Tadd Nicholson, executive director of Ohio Corn & Wheat, sits down in this episode with Jim Chakeres, executive vice president of the Ohio Poultry Association. Jim has an outlook on the poultry industry that you're going to want to hear. Also on this episode of Kernels, Luke Crumley, ...
Apr 16, 2025•20 min
Nancy Martinez joins Tadd Nicholson on this episode of Kernels to talkabout the impacts of trade barriers and how the national organizations we work with are responding. Go to https://ohiocornandwheat.org/news/ to read more. About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain grower profitability. It is a strategic alliance of two checkoffs and one membership-based organization. The Ohio Corn Checkoff and Ohio Small Grains Check...
Apr 01, 2025•15 min
Tadd Nicholcon and Eric richer go over the purpose, origin, and application of the Farm On Financila Management couse offered by Ohio State Extension's Farm Office. New and beginning farmers are elligible for a tax credit through the state, but have to show financial management courses. Farm On fulfills that requirement. The next round of this course will start enrollemnt soon, so make sure to keep an eye on https://cfaesosu.catalog.instructure.com/courses/farm-on-osu-farm-financial-management-c...
Mar 18, 2025•12 min
President's Challenge: Take action now and send this link to 10 other people. Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Associaiton President, Tyler Drewes, and Ohio Corn & Wheat Executive Director, Tadd Nicholson, fill you in on what we're asking you to do. a few clicks right on your phone, tablet, computer, or other smart device can make a huge difference for the future of liquid fuels and you corn's demad in the global marketplace. Click here to tell Congress to pass year-round access to E15. About O...
Feb 26, 2025•12 min
Women have played an undeniable role on the farm since agriculture began - it just hasn't always been pointed out. In this episode Tadd Nicholson, Wendy Osborn, and Jessy Woodworth chat about the role women play in agriculture from their perspectives, share stories from notable moments, and give some insight into how they treat gender in their careers. About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain grower profitability. It ...
Feb 18, 2025•18 min
Ohio Corn & Wheat's Execuitve Director, Tadd Nicholson, and Director of Public Policy & Sustainability, Luke Crumley, go through the initial plan for 2025's political landscape. They cover a few "what-if" situations surrounding tariffs, a tax study from the National Corn Growers Association thats coming out soon, and how we are approaching a 2025 Trump presidency. About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain growe...
Feb 04, 2025•19 min
Ohio Corn & Wheat had an incredible 2024! We are proud of the work done, and you should be, too. on this episode you will hear from board leadership as they term off and look forward to the year ahead. Trade Talk video: https://youtu.be/Ne06jOBGues Year in Review video: https://youtu.be/4TC4Mhnd7HQ About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain grower profitability. It is a strategic alliance of two checkoffs and one me...
Dec 17, 2024•16 min
Ellen Zimmerman is our special guest on this episode of Kernels talking all about the work happening at the U.S. Grains Council and her role as the Director of Industry Relations. So if you want to hear about a program with a 24:1 ROI, how the U.S. Grains Council helps facilitate trade relatinoships, and more, listen in. About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain grower profitability. It is a strategic alliance of two c...
Dec 03, 2024•25 min
Tadd Nicholson and Luke Crumley are on to talk about what happens post-election over the next few months. While you're putting away harvest and diving into your books, we're out in D.C. and at the statehouse for you. Tell the Ohio Senate that Ohioans need access to lower cost fuel with higher ethanol blends by visiting https://ohiocorn.quorum.us/campaign/82435/ About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain grower profitabi...
Nov 19, 2024•24 min
Tadd Nicholson, Executive Director at Ohio Corn & Wheat, chats with Scott Raber, Director of Field Operations at Bane-Welker, about equipment maintenance, reminders, and the state of the industry. Learn more about Bane-Welker at https://bane-welker.com About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain grower profitability. It is a strategic alliance of two checkoffs and one membership-based organization. The Ohio Corn Chec...
Nov 05, 2024•16 min
Producer Jessy sits down with Wendy Osborn, Director of Market Development, to go over why corn prices are the way they are and what Ohio Corn & Wheat is doing about it. About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain grower profitability. It is a strategic alliance of two checkoffs and one membership-based organization. The Ohio Corn Checkoff and Ohio Small Grains Checkoff work to develop and expand markets, fund resear...
Oct 22, 2024•11 min
Listen in as Tadd Nicholson talks with Brooke Appleton, Vice President of Public Policy at NCGA, and John Linder, a Morrow County grower and Board Member of the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association. They discussed Ohio Corn & Wheat’s Collegiate Policy Academy and the importance of the next generation of agricultural leaders. If you know a college student who’s passionate about agriculture and policy, share this episode to inspire their journey! Learn more about the Collegiate Policy Aca...
Oct 08, 2024•25 min
Host and OCW Executive Director, Tadd Nicholson, is talking with Rudi Pitzer Perry, the Regional Vice President of Ag Lending at Farm Credit Mid-America, to go over what the current state of farm economics looks like, what growers should do to prepare for the coming years, and how to set up for success. About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain grower profitability. It is a strategic alliance of two checkoffs and one m...
Oct 01, 2024•15 min
Tadd Nicholson and Jessy Woodworth gets controversial with Ohio corn producers Eric Tipton, Fayette County, and Ben Klick, Stark County, over opinions in Ohio agriculture. What Do you think of these opinions? About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain grower profitability. It is a strategic alliance of two checkoffs and one membership-based organization. The Ohio Corn Checkoff and Ohio Small Grains Checkoff work to deve...
Sep 24, 2024•28 min
Tadd Nicholson sits down with Dee Jepsen, PhD, State Agricultural Safety and Health Leader, and Ohio State Professor to talk about this unique year in farm safety. Links mentioned in the episode are below. https://agsafety.osu.edu https://com.ohio.gov/about-us/media-center/news/ohio-state-fire-marshal-ban-on-open-burning-expanded-to-additional-counties-as-drought-conditions-continue About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small ...
Sep 23, 2024•17 min
Tadd Nicholson sits down with Kurt Shultz, senior director of global strategies for the U.S. Grains Council, to talk about how Ohio’s corn crop compares to other countries. Is our corn really better? Is there even a difference? The answer may surprise you. Learn more about the U.S. Grains Council here: https://grains.org/ About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain grower profitability. It is a strategic alliance of two ...
Sep 10, 2024•22 min
Liz Funderburgh, a corn producer in Union county, Ohio, is on the podcast this week with Tadd Nicholson, OCW Executive Director, to talk about what she and her team learned about Sustainable Aviation Fuel over their studying the last few weeks. Listen in for her hot take on the industry and where we go from here. About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain grower profitability. It is a strategic alliance of two checkoffs...
Aug 27, 2024•24 min
Tadd Nicholson sits down with the one and only Brad Moffitt, Ohio Corn & Wheat's Ethanol Specialist and 2nd-longest tenured employee. Brad has been actively involved in the Corn Yield Contest for many years, and has some words of wisdom for anyone who grows corn in Ohio. Visit https://ncga.com/get-involved/national-corn-yield-contest NOW to get registerted! About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain grower profitabi...
Aug 13, 2024•13 min
Tadd Nicholson and Luke Crumley are talking about Corn Congress — a.k.a. where the business of the National Corn Growers Association gets done. Ohio has a few reasons to celebrate, which means Producer Jessy got to push a sound effect button. Listen to this episode to find out more about Corn Congress, who the new First Vice President is, who got elected to the National Corn Board, and what on Earth PTAAT stands for. About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities...
Jul 30, 2024•22 min
Tadd Nicholson and Wendy Osborn get a friend from the other side of the globe on the phone to talk about how Ohio's corn crop ends up in South Asia and how they use it. Reece Canandy is the Regional Director for South Asia at the U.S. Grains Council and is blazing the trail for corn markets in that region of the world. Listen in to learn about a developing market, how we are involved, and what there is left to do. About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities fo...
Jul 16, 2024•26 min
The Wheat Checkoff has been investing in a nutrient management project for several years that just wrapped up. Glen Arnold, Professor and Field Specialist at Ohio State, has been studying the best ways to use manure on wheat, specifically in the Lake Erie Basin. What he found out has helped shape the H2Ohio program. P.S. - You have no idea how hard Producer Jessy had to fight the urge to insert a censored joke. About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for l...
Jul 02, 2024•16 min
Are you behind on episodes? Need to catch up? Well, here is a quick episode covering the biggest headlines for the OCWGA, OCMP, and OSGMP all in one! Listen to this episode of Kernels to get the digest, and stay tuned for the announcement at the end. About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works to create opportunities for long-term Ohio corn and small grain grower profitability. It is a strategic alliance of two checkoffs and one membership-based organization. The Ohio Corn Checkoff a...
Jun 25, 2024•28 min
This episode of Kernels includes: the Gilligan's Island theme song, inside info on The Institute, an Easter egg for next week's episode, and plenty of laughs. We welcomed Dave Marrison on this episode to tell us about the Farm Financial Management and Policy Institute, aka The Institute. He has some insights and behind the scenes info to share with you! Learn more at https://farmoffice.osu.edu/farm-financial-management-and-policy-institute About Ohio Corn & Wheat Ohio Corn & Wheat works ...
Jun 18, 2024•29 min
What's your preferred method of scouting? The 55 mph drive-by, the air conditioned office, or boots on the ground? Matt Hutcheson at Seed Consultants has a preference. Host Marlene Eick and Producer Jessy pick his brain to get all his tips and tricks. Ohio State University Extension Pocket Guide: https://ohioline.osu.edu/program-area/plant-pathology Digital Tape Measure: https://www.amazon.com/ACPOTEL-Digital-Tape-Measure-Rechargeable/dp/B09QPKSD7D/ref=sr_1_17?crid=1YNIIDJXOFB1M&dib=eyJ2Ijoi...
Jun 11, 2024•31 min
