Knee High by the 4th of July-Hot Humid and Rainy Summer Drives Crops

Knee high by the 4th of July.

That's the old saying about how tall the field corn should be by Independence Day.

Last year the crops sizzled in the fields under a sun driven drought.

This year substantial rain combined with hot and humid conditions has made the fields lush, but far from perfect.

Some farmers have had to replant as the heavy rain washed out the rows.

A farmer from Fayette County told me this week that he'd rather have too much rain than not enough.

Last year the crops withered away, and the USDA designated multiple counties in northwest Ohio disaster areas from the drought. That made farmers in those counties eligible for emergency loans.

Agriculture remains the top industry in Ohio, as food and agriculture drives more than $120 billion into the state's economy every year.

The Ohio State Fair showcases that contribution, and the 2025 Rib Off is a perfect example of that.

Senate President Rob McColley and Senate Agriculture Chairman Tim Schaffer joined their colleagues in the House, Representative Bob Peterson and Representative Roy Klopfenstein for the 2025 Rib Off hosted by the Ohio Pork Council.

Catch our photos of the contest, and special interview with Senate President McColley about the importance of the Ohio State Fair, as it prepares to dedicate a brand new ag building next year.

This week the Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture joins the President's Podcast.

Brian Baldridge is a family farmer and a former state representative who brings a unique, real world understanding of why farming is everybody's bread and butter.