Month: August 2021

IR-4 Survey for Specialty Crop Growers

| Nanette Neal

Attention Specialty Crop Growers!

IR-4 (https://www.ir4project.org/) is conducting their biannual Specialty Crop Growers & Extension survey to assess what disease, pest, and weed problems growers have a difficult time managing because they do not have sufficient management tools.

If you aren’t familiar with IR-4, we have included a link to their website above to learn more.

The deadline to complete the survey has been extended to September 1, 2021.

If you are a specialty crop grower or an Extension Educator working with growers, please take the time to complete the survey to provide your insight and experiences. You can find the link at: https://www.ir4project.org/ehc/ehc-registration-support-research/env-hort-grower-needs-2/

Building a Self-Help Network of Cooperatives: The Electric Co-op Story

| Nanette Neal

As communities and regions look to innovative models for economic and community development, the cooperative model, and particularly networks of cooperation have emerged as a strategy to build local ownership and wealth. The story of rural electric cooperatives across the United States is a story about the power of self-help networks. Doug Miller of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives will share how the rural electric co-op community has built connections among local cooperatives, state and national organizations, and co-ops of cooperatives to support over 900 rural electric co-ops serving over 50% of the nation’s landmass.

September 2, 2021, 3:00 p.m. EST, Online

No cost, but registration is required.

Learn more and register for the webinar at https://go.osu.edu/appalachiacooperates

Meet Our Speaker

Doug Miller is the vice president of statewide services for Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc., the statewide trade association of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, a position he has held since December 2014. On behalf of the 24 Ohio electric distribution cooperatives, Doug oversees safety training & incident prevention, lineman development training, legislative & government affairs, communications & member services, and director & employee training. Doug is a graduate of the University of Toledo and has been in the utility industry for more than 30 years. Prior to his current role, Doug worked at Logan County Electric Cooperative as manager of member services, before assuming the role of CEO, in which he served for 18 years. Doug has been a Touchstone Energy board member for six years and currently holds the office of president.

The Appalachia Cooperates Initiative is a learning network connecting cooperative, community, business, and economic developers and advocates in Central Appalachia. To learn more about the Initiative, connect with us directly by emailing osucooperatives@osu.edu!

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact gardner.1148@osu.edu.

Farm Office Live…August 27

| Nanette Neal

“Farm Office Live” returns August 27, 2021, at 10:00 AM with special appearances by Ben Brown and attorney Robert Moore! Tune in to get the latest outlook and updates on ag law, farm management, ag economics, farm business analysis, and other related issues. Targeted to farmers and agri-business stakeholders, our specialists digest the latest news and issues and present it in an easy-to-understand format.

Special Guests

Ben Brown – A former member of the OSU Farm Office Team, Ben’s areas of expertise include farm management, commodity markets, and agricultural policy.

Robert Moore, Esq. – A former OSU Extension employee, Robert now practices agricultural law at Wright & Moore, with a focus on farm succession planning, estate planning, and business planning.

August Topics: 

  • Tax Proposals
  • Tax Planning in the Midst of Uncertainty – Robert Moore, Esq.
  • Ohio Cropland Values & Cash Rents
  • FSA Program Update
  • Grain Marketing Update – Ben Brown
  • Your Questions

To register or to view a previous “Farm Office Live,” please visit https://go.osu.edu/farmofficelive. You will receive a reminder with your personal link to join each month. 

The Farm Office is a one-stop shop for navigating the legal and economic challenges of agricultural production. For more information visit https://farmoffice.osu.edu or contact Julie Strawser at strawser.35@osu.edu or call 614.292.2433

Who’s on the Farm Office Team? — Our team features OSU experts ready to simplify farm management issues and make farm ownership less stressful:

Peggy Kirk Hall – Agricultural Law
Dianne Shoemaker – Farm Business Analysis and Dairy Production
David Marrison – Farm Management
Barry Ward – Farm Management and Tax

Tell us what makes you a Woman in Agriculture

| Nanette Neal

Get your video on! Tell us why you are a woman in agriculture….educator, lawyer, business owner, farm owner or operator, veterinarian, pharmacist, researcher, community gardener, etc.

Hold your video device horizontal and tell/show us in 30 seconds or less your story. This will be used at Farm Science Review and other women in agriculture events throughout OSU Extension. Upload your MP4 video at this link https://go.osu.edu/womeninagvideo. Save the file as your first and last name and town. Ex. Gigi_Neal_Georgetown .

Video submissions are needed by September 3!

Small Scale Pasture Pork Videos Available

| strawser.35

OSU’s Small Farm Team just released a series of videos addressing small scale pasture pork production. These short videos are available to view below or on our YouTube channel where all of our Small Farm videos are located at https://go.osu.edu/smallfarmvideos.

Part I is an introduction and reviews considerations for raising pasture pork. Part II focuses on challenges to pasture pork production, while Part III looks into feeds and feeding strategies. The series concludes with Part IV covering swine housing types in pasture pork production.

Tony Nye, Agricultural & Natural Resources Educator for Clinton County, presents these videos in an easy-to-understand format. If you are raising or considering raising pasture pork, don’t miss this video series!

Part I Part II
Part III Part IV

Ohio Virtual Pruning Training & Hands-On Workshop

| Nanette Neal

Looking to brush up on your tree pruning skills?  Learn pruning for free with your ODNR Urban Foresters, Alan Siewert, Wendi Van Buren, Ann Bonner and special guest, Bill Fountain from University of Kentucky for the Ohio Virtual Pruning Training & Hands-On Workshops.  Join us from your break room, office or kitchen on Wednesday, October 27th from 9 am – noon.  We will cover everything you need to know about proper arboricultural pruning techniques as well as Tree Anatomy, Tree Biology, How to Make the Right Cuts, Where to Make the Cuts, and Young Tree Structure Pruning.

Wednesday, October 27th  

9:00   Tree Biology for Pruning and How to Properly Prune
           Dr. Bill Fountain, University of Kentucky
10:30 Structural Pruning: Knowing Which Branch to Prune and Why
           Alan Siewert, ODNR Division of Forestry

SPECIAL IN-PERSON TRAINING OPPORTUNITY – All participants who join the FREE ONLINE training may choose a location where we will do on-site demonstrations and young tree trainings in a town near you. Sign up for this in-person opportunity when you register.

Register by clicking here  *ISA continuing education credits will be available for this meeting but you must register to receive credits

Warmly, Ohio Urban Foresters

ODNR Division of Forestry

The legal roundup: ag law questions from across Ohio

| Nanette Neal

I recall sharing my concern with a professor when I was in law school:  how will I ever know all the answers to legal questions?  No worries, he said.  You can’t know the answer to every legal question, but you do need to know how to find the answers.  I think of that advice often as legal questions come across my desk.

We’ve had a steady stream of them this summer, and the questions provide a snapshot of what’s going on around the state.  Here’s a sampling of questions we’ve received recently, complete with our answers—some we knew and some we had to find. Read more…

  • What do you know about the $500 million to be set aside at USDA for meat processors—who will administer it and what is the timeline?
  • If I enroll my land in the Wetlands Reserve Program, does the land still qualify for Current Agricultural Use Valuation tax treatment?
  • Are there any special requirements for a cottage food producer for selling “gluten free” or “vegan” products?
  • Are there regulations pertaining to online sales of perennial plants?
  • Does a “Scenic River” designation by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources allow the agency to take my property that’s along the river?
  • Do I need a license to make and sell egg noodles from the farm?
  • Is raising and training dogs considered “animal husbandry” for purposes of d the agricultural exemption from township zoning authority?
  • Can both landowners be assessed half the cost of removal of noxious weeds that are growing in a partition fence?

BY  | AUGUST 10, 2021, Associate Professor and Director, OSU Agricultural & Resource Law Program