With an estimated 2,709,128 Ohioans currently living in some sort of dry or drought conditions, times are not easy. Unfortunately, with no relief in sight, we could be sitting in this position for quite some time. The map below indicates where each county in Ohio stands in its current dry/drought condition.

Our team at OSU Extension and other professionals around the state of Ohio are working around the clock to monitor the situation and provide resources for on-the-ground support and daily observation of the weather outlook. Click here for more information and resources.

We often forget to check in on our mental health during this time of high stress and anxiety. While many people can cope with the everyday stress of farming, it is important to know it is okay not to be okay. Especially with extreme weather conditions, it can be difficult for any farmer.

There may be no way to control this drought, but we can control how we manage our stress. Here are a few simple ways:

• Recognize the signs of it, which manifest differently in everyone.
• Acknowledge and share with someone that you are feeling
• Ensure that you are getting enough sleep, eating properly, and maintaining good physical
• When you have the time to connect with loved ones, Spending quality time with others boosts your mental health.

What are some of the signs of stress:

• Poor sleeping and/or eating habits
• Feeling overwhelmed by life
• Overly anxious or stressed
• Increased use of drugs and/or alcohol
• Increase in risky behavior
• Overly tired and/or forgetful
• Thoughts of hopelessness

If you have been feeling any of these for more than a few weeks, please reach out to someone. We have your back, and you are not alone in these thoughts. Please talk with someone.

Resources that are available to you:

go.osu.edu/farmstress   go.osu/educountyresourceguide

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Call, Text, or Chat 24/7 365 Ohio Care Line 1-800-720-9616

Please reach out if you have any questions or need more information to Bridget Britton at 330-365- 8160.

Bridget Britton, MSW, LSW Behavioral Health Field Specialist

The upcoming Summer Tax School Webinar, featured by Income Tax Schools at Ohio State University, will focus on an overview of small businesses. Long-time instructor John Lawrence will be the primary instructor for this webinar.

This webinar is scheduled for July 31^st, and registration is now open. The registration page can be accessed at go.osu.edu/summertaxschool, and the flyer can be accessed here.

This Summer Tax School is designed to help tax professionals learn about tax issues related to:

• Selection and formation of a business entity
• Operation of the business entity
• Business entity transition and estate planning issues
• Relevant updates on federal tax law issues

By the end of this course, participants will have a thorough understanding of how to navigate the complex tax landscape, make informed decisions that optimize tax outcomes, and ensure the long-term success and sustainability of their businesses.

Webinar Agenda for July 31st:

9:00 Webinar room opens

9:20 Welcome and introductions

9:30 Session 1: Selection and Formation of the Business Entity: Tax Laws, Regulations, and Implications.

10:50 Break

11:00 Session 2: Business Entity Operation: Tax Planning for the Present.

Noon Lunch break

12:45 Session 3: Business Entity Transition and Estate Planning: Tax Planning for the Future.

1:45 Break

1:55 Session 4: Update on State and Federal Tax Law Rules and Regulations for Small Businesses.

2:50 Webinar concludes

Continuing Education Credit Hours: 5

Continuing Legal Education Hours: 4

Registration cost is $200 and includes 5 hours of Continuing Education (CPE) and 4 hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE).  Registration information and the online registration portal can be found online at go.osu.edu/summertaxschool

For more information, participants may contact Barry Ward at 614-688-3959, ward.8@osu.edu, or Jeff Lewis at 614-292-2433, lewis.1459@osu.edu.

2024 Tax Schools Save the Date Graphic

The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) will host the 2024 Urban Food Systems Symposium in Columbus, Ohio, from June 11 to 13. The event includes keynotes, a grower panel, 40 presentations, a reception with more than 30 posters, a choice of off-site educational tours, and dinner at The Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory, a unique 261-acre university facility for teaching, research, and community engagement.

This symposium will bring together a national and international audience of academic, non-profit, government, and research-oriented professionals. Join 250 like-minded people to share and gain knowledge on how to build coalitions to adapt to this changing world and how urban food systems contribute to these solutions.

Keynote Presentations and General Sessions Include: (see more details)

• Keynote Presentation: Let’s Get Dirty – Cultivating Collaboration, Policy, and Resiliency in Cities by Qiana Mickie, Executive Director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture
• General Session: The Intersection of Climate Change and Urban Agriculture by Trent Ford, climate scientist at the Illinois State Water Survey and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/ Illinois State Climatologist, and Carol Davis, Sustainability Manager for the Town of Blacksburg, Virginia
• General Session: Urban Grower Panel by Jerry Hebron, co-founder of the Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund, a member of the USDA Innovative Production Committee, a member of the state Farm Service Agency committee, and the Director of the Detroit Cultivator Community Land Trust; Vincent Peterson, President and CEO of VIGEO GARDENS; and Amanda Stanfield, owner/operator of Richland County’s only urban homestead farm – GrowFourth Urban Farm
• Capstone Presentation: Urban Farmers – A Great Benefit is Coming Our Way: A Mid Tunnel Climate Smart Growing System by Reverend Dr. Carl P. Wallace, chief operating officer of Abundant Life Farm (a non-profit entity in Akron) and serves as one of the 12 federal advisors to the Secretary of Agriculture for Urban and Innovative Agriculture Committee

Register now and book your hotel room! Registration prices increase on May 25, and hotel reservations close on May 21.
UrbanFoodSystemsSymposium.org

By: PhD student Rae Ju and Professor Ani Katchova, Farm Income Enhancement Chair, in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE), and Nanette (Gigi) L. Neal and Sarah Noggle, Extension Educators in Agriculture and Natural Resources in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Department of Extension at the Ohio State University.

Click here to access the pdf version of the report.

Using data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture, the characteristics of female farmers in Ohio are examined and compared to the overall farming population.

Profile of Ohio Women Farmers

The majority of agricultural producers in Ohio are male farmers, constituting approximately two-thirds of the total, while female farmers represent about one-third. The percentage of female farmers has remained stable, with a minor decrease from 33.6% to 33.1% between 2017 and 2022.

The geographic distribution of female farmers throughout Ohio’s counties was also examined. Counties in Northwest and Southeast Ohio have a lower number of female farmers, with the number of female farmers being less than 500. However, the counties in Southeast Ohio had a relatively high proportion of female farmers, exceeding 33% of the total farming population. In contrast, the counties in Northwest Ohio had a lower percentage of female farmers (less than 33%).

The average age of female farmers in Ohio was 55.4 years, while the average age of male farmers was slightly higher at 56.8 years in 2022. Regarding the age distribution of female farmers, the data suggest a predominant concentration of farmers in the 55-64 age range. In age groups below 55 years old, the percentage of female farmers is slightly higher than that of male farmers. On the other hand, the percentage of male farmers is slightly higher than female farmers for farmers that are 65 or older. Overall, the age distribution pattern is similar for female and male farmers.

The farming occupation and off-farm employment reveal distinct differences between male and female farmers in Ohio. Only 31% of female farmers in Ohio considered farming their primary occupation in 2022, suggesting a reliance on various income sources. Additionally, 40% of female farmers in Ohio were actively involved in off-farm work for over 200 days per year.

Characteristics of Farms Operated by Female Producers

In 2022, there were 40,269 farms operated by female farmers and 72,184 farms operated by male farmers. The average size of farms operated by female farmers was 132.9 acres, in contrast to the larger average of 185.4 acres operated by male farmers. Female farmers were more likely than male farmers to operate farms that are smaller than 50 acres, while the reverse is true for farms greater than 50 acres.

Female farmers in Ohio operate a variety of farm types, including crop production, animal production, and aquaculture. Over half of the farms operated by female producers in Ohio specialized in crop farming. Specifically, 24% of the farms operated by female producers specialized in oilseed and grain, followed by 22% in other crop farming. In addition, 15% of the farms operated by female producers specialized in beef cattle ranching and farming and 14% specialized in aquaculture and other animal production in 2022. Female and male producers are more likely to specialize in crop production than livestock production.  About 55% of farms operated by female farmers in Ohio specialized in crop production which is lower than the 63% of farms operated by male farmers.

Examining land ownership patterns, full ownership was more common among female farmers, with 80% holding full ownership of their operated acres. On the other hand, 17% of female farmers were part owners of the operated acres compared to 26% for male farmers.

Female farmers predominantly appear in the lower sales categories, specifically those with sales under $25,000. Conversely, in the higher sales brackets, the representation of female farmers decreases significantly. Only 9% of female farmers had sales between $100,000 and $499,999, and 6% had sales above $500,000.

Farms with female producers in Ohio had $146,744, while farms with male producers had $213,060 in market value of agricultural products sold and government payments in 2022. Using the USDA’s definition of economic classes, the average market value of products sold from farms operated by female farmers was $145,313 on a per-farm basis. A higher percentage of female farmers than male farmers belonged to the lower economic class, specifically in the category with less than $5,000 in market value of all products sold. In contrast, the distribution pattern for male farmers is the opposite, with a more significant percentage of male farmers than female farmers in the higher economic classes.

References:

United States. (2022). U.S. Census of Agriculture. https://www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus/

Ohio State Extension announced plans to host a Small Farm Conference in Senecaville, Ohio on April 6, 2024. The theme for this year’s Mid-Ohio Small Farm Conference is “Sowing Seeds for Success.”

Conference session topics are geared to beginning and small farm owners as well as to farms looking to diversify their operation. There will be five different conference tracks including: Horticulture and Produce Production, Business Management, Livestock, Natural Resources and new this year The Farm Kitchen.

Some conference topic highlights include: Raising Meat Rabbits, Making Goat Milk Soap, Timber Harvesting and Marketing, Basics of Growing PawPaw’s, Food Preservation Basics, Herb Vinegars, Organic Pest Management, Growing Produce with Hydroponics, Starting and Setting up a business, Solar and Wind Leasing.

Anyone interested in developing, growing or diversifying their small farm is invited to attend including market gardeners, farmers market vendors, and anyone interested in small farm living.

Attendees will have the opportunity to browse a trade show featuring the newest and most innovative ideas and services for their farming operation. The conference provides an opportunity to talk with the vendors and network with others.

The Conference will take place from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Mid – East Career Technical Center Buffalo Campus 57090 Vocational Road Senecaville, Ohio 43780

For conference and registration information call OSU Extension Morrow County 419-947-1070, or OSU Extension Knox County 740-397-0401. Please follow this link to register for the conference: https://go.osu.edu/2024osusmallfarmconference