'We're All in the Trenches Here.' Ohio Farmers and Lawmakers Discuss Ag Industry

Apr 14, 2026

By Shay Frank

The loss of farmland, rising costs and lawmakers failure to pass a Farm Bill are among the top concerns Ohio farmers cited during a recent meeting with federal lawmakers.

Farmers from across Ohio gathered at Cherrybend Pheasant Farm in Wilmington last week to speak with U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Cincinnati) and U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan).

"We're all in the trenches here and we're also in the front line and it's very important to stay engaged," said Beth Ellis, co-owner of Cherrybend Pheasant Farm. "It's very important to be educated on what's going on and really dive down into it, to understand the deep rooted causes and long-term causes."

Representatives from the Ohio Farm Bureau, the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association and the Ohio Pork Council also attended.

Many of those representatives expressed concerns that have been shared throughout their organizations, including land use.

"Here in Ohio, I mean, the loss of farmland, the numbers are staggering," said Brad Bales, senior director of state and national policy at the Ohio Farm Bureau. "It's been a million acres over the past 20 years. It's been 500,000 acres since 2017 to 2023. A lot of it is placed on solar, but now we're also seeing data center development."

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Video: Our Own On-Farm Research Is the Best Source - Managing White Mold in Northeast Nebraska

If you assumed Nebraska was too hot and dry for white mold to be a problem in soybeans, think again.

This week we're featuring Galen Samuelson, a farmer and dealer from Wakefield, Nebraska, who knows all too well how devastating white mold can be.

"We don't have it consistently every year, but with our temperature and humidity, it can hurt us quite bad," Samuelson says. Looking for alternatives, he explains, "What I like about Heads Up is that it's non-harmful to the beneficial fungal colonies in the soil." Galen has been using Heads Up for several years now, after first hearing about it through a small ad in a regional newspaper. Watch below to hear about his journey.

When asked to write about Samuelson Seed, Galen said the following:

"Samuelson Seed is a 4th-generation, family-based company. It started with my grandfather, and I'm now starting to pass the torch to my son, Caleb."

"In the early 1990s, I started working with a company whose focus was on plant and soil health before those benefits were widely known. I've continued to keep plant and soil health the main focus in our farming operation decisions."