Educational Programs and News

All About Sheep! Webinar

| Nanette Neal

Cheviot

The Management Continuum: Calendar-Based Management
Feb 3rd
During this session, Extension Specialist, Dr. Brady Campbell, will review sheep management and husbandry as it relates to stage of animal production. Stages of maintenance, breeding, gestation, and lambing will be discussed, and management considerations provided.

Feed My Sheep: Nutrition 101
Feb 17th
This session will be led by Extension Educator, Dr. John Yost, and Specialist Jacob Copelin. They will discuss how to read forage analysis results, how to determine the nutrient requirements for sheep of all production stages, provide an overview of potential ration ingredients, and discuss formulating a ration for your flock.

Setting Operation Goals and Marketing Accordingly
March 3rd
OSU Extension Educators Jacci Smith and Tim Barnes will help participants identify their goals for owning and raising sheep. They will offer guidance on marketing their sheep based on those goals and include information on responsible flock culling.

Flock Health “Spring”ing Forward
March 17th
Dr. Nikki Jolliff, DVM, will discuss timely spring health concerns, including coccidiosis, ringworm, pneumonia, and sore mouth. She will also offer her insights on how to build the best relationship with your veterinarian.

This is a free program offered by Ohio State University Extension.
Webinars are hosted via Zoom (7-8 p.m. EST). Register at: go.osu.edu/allaboutsheep26

Ohio State Organic Grains Conference

| Nanette Neal

Registration Open for 2026 Ohio State Organic Grains Conference
The fourth annual Ohio State Organic Grains Conference will be January 7-8, 2026, at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Sandusky, Ohio. The conference offers programming for experienced organic growers, growers transitioning to or considering organic, and consultants or educators who support these growers.

Featured speakers for 2026 include Willie Hughes from W. Hughes Farm in Janesville, Wisc.; Dr. Matt Ryan from Cornell University; Dr. Aaron Wilson, Ohio State climate and agricultural weather specialist; and Nate Powell-Palm from the Organic Agronomy Training Service (OATS). The two-day event will feature additional panelists and speakers covering a wide range of agronomic and management topics related to organic grain farming.

The conference is presented by Ohio State University Extension’s Farm Office and Ohio State’s Organic Food & Farming Education and Research (OFFER) program, with input from a planning committee of land-grant staff and researchers, and organic farmers from Ohio and surrounding states.

Pre-registration is $140 per person through December 5, and $175 from December 6 through December 26. Attendees can also pay at the door, subject to an additional fee.

Continuing education credits will be available for Certified Crop Advisors. For more information, visit go.osu.edu/OrganicGrains.

Winter Seed Sowing

| Nanette Neal

Missing the warmer months? We may not be able to bring warmer temperatures, but we can bring a little warmth by starting seeds during our Winter Seed Sowing Workshop. Join OSU Extension Pike and Scioto County Master Gardener Volunteers for an evening of learning, laughs, and gardening. During this program, participants will learn about the basics of Winter Sowing.

This program is free to attend, pre-registration is required, and can be completed by going to go.osu.edu/pikeandsciotomgvwintersowing

For more information, contact Amanda Perkins at perkins.715@osu.edu or by calling OSU Extension Pike County at 740-289-4837

December 10, 2025     6:00-7:00 pm

Pike County Fairgrounds, 313 Mill Street, Piketon, OH 45661

Southwest Ohio Beekeeper School – Registration is Open

| Nanette Neal

Saturday, February 28, 2026

NEW LOCATION
Ohio State University Extension
Butler County
1802 Princeton Road
Hamilton, OH

LOWER PRICE: $35 / PERSON
Pre-registration required. Limited to the first 150 registrations. No walk-ins permitted. Registration opens December 1st. Registration closes February 18th or whenever we reach 150 registrations, whichever comes first.

Click here for additional information and registration.

Small Farm Financial College scheduled for January 2026

| jagger.6

Cortland, Ohio- The Trumbull and Ashtabula County offices of the Ohio State University Extension announce plan to hold classes designed to help Small Farms learn business basics.  Scheduled for January 10th and 17th, 2026, this two-part class series entitled Small Farm Financial College will provide landowners with the tools they need to plan their farm-based business.

Small and beginning farmers in Ohio and Pennsylvania are encouraged to participate in this in-depth farm management educational program. The college will consist of two Saturday courses that will run from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM and lunch will be included with registration.

This course will offer 10 hours of farm management education that will help start your farm on the path to financial success. The college is designed to help landowners examine potential ways to increase profits on their small acreage properties. The program is open to all new or aspiring farmers, new rural landowners, small farmers, and farm families looking for new ideas.

During this college, participants will be challenged to develop realistic expectations for their new farm business. They will receive information on getting started, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of their property, and developing a farm business plan. Information on farm finances, insurance, liability, labor and marketing will be covered during the college.

Registration is $50 for the first farm member. Additional farm family members are encouraged to attend at a reduced rate of $25/person. This reduced rate is made possible by generous contributions from the Hertzer Family Trust, Kacerski Tax & Business Services, and the Risser Farm Management Fund.

This program also qualifies attendees for the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program. Those interested in receiving this credit would be subject to additional requirements and fees (More information is available later in this release and online). Those interested in participating in this college or those seeking more information are encouraged to check out our website at: go.osu.edu/smallfarms26

For more information contact Lee Beers at beers.66@osu.edu or call 330-638-6783.

Small Farm Financial College 2026

Livestock Mortality Composting Workshop

| Nanette Neal

December 11, 2025

5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Crawford County Extension Office, 808 Whetstone Street, Bucyrus, OH 44820

Animal agriculture today faces the need to find innovative ways to handle and dispose of livestock mortality. This need has been driven by the disappearance of rendering plants, concerns over carcass burial and groundwater pollution, and the economic costs and other issues associated with incineration. Composting deceased livestock is now an option that needs to be done correctly. This free program is intended to provide livestock producers with Mortality Composting Certification.

For more information, contact Kendra Rose at rose.1919@osu.edu or call 419-562-8731

RSVP by December 4, 2025, visit go.osu.edu/crawfordmcw or call 419-562-8731

EVENT SPONSORS Walnut Grain Farm, Linn Acres Farm, and MKB Farms LTD

Tri-State Green Industry Conference Registration is Open

| Nanette Neal

Thursday, February 5th, 2026

Sharonville Convention Center
11355 Chester Rd
Cincinnati, OH  45246

Don’t miss this premier Tri-State Green Industry Educational Event

  • Ten education tracks with sessions on horticulture, tree care, lawn care, and more
  • Networking opportunities
  • Trade show
  • Professional credits for ISA and pesticide applicators in OH, IN, and KY

More details at go.osu.edu/gic_info

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Early Bird Registration (until the end of the day, January 10th) $150.00
Late Registration (January 11th-17th) $200.00
On-Site Registration (at the door, February 5th; Lunch not included) $200.00
Educator Registration (email Amy at coors.15@osu.edu for discount code) $90.00
Student Registration

(email Amy at coors.15@osu.edu for no lunch discount code)

$90.00 with lunch

$50.00 no lunch

Register at go.osu.edu/gic2026

For bulk registration (over 5 attendees), email Amy at coors.15@osu.edu.

Support a legacy conference: Become a sponsor!

Consider increasing your company’s visibility and helping this cornerstone industry event thrive. Opportunities start as low as $250!

Learn more at go.osu.edu/gic_sponsor

Trade Show Vendors

Join the trade show and get in front of hundreds of regional attendees from the nursery, greenhouse, arboriculture, retail, landscape maintenance, construction, and design industries.

Visit our Trade Show Vendor Information page for more details on what’s available.

Deadline for trade show registration is December 8, 2025.

The Tri-State Green Industry Conference is a collaborative educational effort between the following organizations, arboreta, and botanical gardens, as well as Green Industry leaders:

  • Ohio State University Extension
  • Purdue University Extension
  • University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension
  • Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
  • University of Cincinnati
  • University of Wisconsin
  • The Boone County Arboretum
  • Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
  • Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum
  • Natorp’s
  • Eason Horticultural Resources, Inc.
  • Gressley’s Horticulture Consultation Service

Questions? Email Amy at coors.15@osu.edu

Ohio Soybean Association Scholarship

| Nanette Neal

The Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) is excited to announce that applications are now open for two $1,000 scholarships for the 2026–2027 academic year. These scholarships are designed to support students who are passionate about the soybean industry and agricultural advocacy.

New this year! The scholarship is open not only to current full-time college, university, or technical school students, but also to high school seniors planning to enroll full-time. All majors are eligible. Applicants should demonstrate leadership, agricultural involvement (e.g., FFA or 4-H), and a strong interest in the soybean industry.

Eligibility: Ohio residents who are OSA Student or Young Adult Members (SYA), or the child/grandchild of a current member.

Application Requirements: Two letters of recommendation, a short video essay, academic information, and details about community involvement, awards, and honors.

Deadline: Friday, January 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST

For questions about the scholarship, contact Mackenzie Joseph at mjoseph@soyohio.org

Click here to learn more.

The Ohio Community Wildlife Cooperative Conference

| Nanette Neal

November 20, 2025 @ Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center

Is your community dealing with wildlife issues? If so, this conference is designed for you.

Join Ohio community leaders and planners for a one-day conference focused on helping cities and communities manage human-wildlife conflict. Get the information and resources you need and a chance to network with other Ohio communities working to resolve conflicts with wildlife.

Agenda (attached and online) includes topics on addressing ticks in urban landscapes, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza update, establishing a bird trail in your community, surveying wildlife in your municipality, Ohio bats update, and BMPs when finding injured/orphaned wildlife.

Register HERE by November 14th.

$45 for the day – lunch and materials included.

Join our email list to receive updates on our annual conference and wildlife conflict resources.

Visit our website for more info and access to our 2020 and 2021 virtual conference recordings.

Farmer and Farmland Owner Income Tax Webinar

| Nanette Neal

Are you interested in learning more about recent tax law changes that impact agriculture under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act? If so, join us for a special Farmer and Farmland Owner Income Tax Webinar on Friday, November 14, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, as part of our Farm Office Live Series.

This live webinar will cover key tax issues affecting farmers and farmland owners, including an update on Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV), tax provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, tax planning in low-income years, residual fertility/excess fertility deduction, and much more! Our OSU Extension tax team will walk through key updates, answer your questions, and share practical insight to help you prepare for questions that may arise in your office!

📅 Friday, November 14, 2025

⏰ 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

🔗 https://go.osu.edu/register4fol

Farmer Tax Webinar 2025

We also encourage you to share this information with any of your clientele you feel may be interested.