Month: December 2018

“Improving Your Grain Marketing Plan” Workshops to be Held

By: Chris Bruynis, OSU Extension Educator

Do you want to do a better job of pricing your corn and soybeans? Is grain marketing a confusing and daunting task? If so, this workshop is for you!

Ohio State University Extension is offering a three-session workshop focused on helping farmers become better grain marketers. Participants will have a better understanding of risk, marketing tools, and the development of written marketing plans. These workshops are funded through a North Central Risk Management Education Grant and being offered in six locations throughout Ohio. Additional information can be found at http://go.osu.edu/grainplan. Continue reading “Improving Your Grain Marketing Plan” Workshops to be Held →

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018: Initial review

By: Jonathan Coppess, Gary Schnitkey, Nick Paulson, Benjamin Gramig, Krista Swanson, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics University of Illinois and Carl Zulauf, Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics, Ohio State University

On Monday Dec. 10, 2018, the House and Senate conference committee released the conference report for the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018; the final version of the 2018 Farm Bill. On Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, the Senate moved quickly to pass the conference report with a final vote in favor of the farm bill of 87 to 13. On Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018, the House voted overwhelmingly to pass the farm by 369 to 47 (16 not voting). Given that it passed by veto-proof majorities, it is likely that the President will sign it and the Agricultural Act of 2018 will soon become law. Continue reading The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018: Initial review →

2019 Precision University: Ag tech for In-Season Management

By: Trey Colley, John Fulton, Jenna Lee, and Elizabeth Hawkins, OSU Extension Digital Ag Team

Digital agriculture technologies, connected devices, and sensor networks have enabled data-based decision making to be implemented at the farm level. The farm of the future will have increasing access to data and real-time analyses, allowing new insights related to in-season crop protection and nutrition management. Farmers of today already have many of these data sources at their fingertips through the use of connected smart phones. Continue reading 2019 Precision University: Ag tech for In-Season Management →

2018 Ohio Corn Performance Test: Regional Overviews

By: Rich Minyo, Allen Geyer, David Lohnes, and Peter Thomison

In 2018, 192 corn hybrids representing 24 commercial brands were evaluated in the Ohio Corn Performance Test (OCPT). Four tests were established in the Southwestern/West Central/Central (SW/WC/C) region and three tests were established in the Northwestern (NW) and North Central/Northeastern (NC/NE) regions (for a total of ten test sites statewide). Hybrid entries in the regional tests were planted in either an early or a full season maturity trial. These test sites provided a range of growing conditions and production environments. Continue reading 2018 Ohio Corn Performance Test: Regional Overviews →

Farm Tax Issues- What Tax Reform Means for Farmers

By: David L. Marrison, OSU Extension Extension Educator-marrison.2@osu.edu
Originally published in the Farm and Dairy

The goal of last year’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was to simplify taxes.  While simplifications were made, I would argue that farm taxes have become more difficult.  There have been major changes to equipment depreciation, like kind exchanges, and a brand new Qualified Business Income deduction.  Continue reading Farm Tax Issues- What Tax Reform Means for Farmers →

From Across the Field – Grain Marketing Education

Another cold and somewhat soggy week continues to delay the remainder of harvest here across much of the state. Hopefully everyone had a safe and successful deer hunting week. Back in the Southeastern corner of the state where I grew up, we always had that first day of deer gun season off from school. Someone a long time ago realized they might as well cancel classes for the day, as attendance was poor at best. Over the weekend I even made an attempt at Christmas shopping, which ranks extremely low on my list of things that have to be done. Continue reading From Across the Field – Grain Marketing Education →

A Look Back at the U.S. Hay Market Over the Last 100 Years

By: Carl Zulauf, The Ohio State University

Hay is the 3rd largest U.S. crop in terms of harvest acres.  It also provides environmental services, notably erosion control.  Understanding the U.S. hay market is therefore important for both market and policy reasons.  This article examines the U.S. hay market since 1919, or when the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistical Service began to report data separately for alfalfa hay. Continue reading A Look Back at the U.S. Hay Market Over the Last 100 Years →

Low-Quality Beans Ahead

By: Emily Unglesbee
DTN Staff Reporter

ROCKVILLE, Md. (DTN) — Growers should expect lower-than-average germination rates from their soybean seed next year, experts told DTN.

Much of the country’s soybean crop was plagued by unusually wet weather and a long, delayed harvest, which hurt final soybean quality despite overall high production. Continue reading Low-Quality Beans Ahead →

Non-Gm Soybeans Could Be Worth a Go In 2019

By: Bill Spiegel, Previously published by Successful Farming online

Seed dealers are already putting a full court press on you to choose soybean seed varieties for the 2019 crop.

Tighter margins may tempt you to follow a different path to prosperity – one in which you may choose to plant non-genetically modified soybeans. To some farmers, the notion is heresy. Seeds containing traits often have vastly improved options for weed control. But Jonathan Kleinjan, crop production Extension associate at South Dakota State University (SDSU), says farmers who choose non-GM soybean varieties may be able to save money and capture value in a specialty market that pays premiums for non-GM beans. Continue reading Non-Gm Soybeans Could Be Worth a Go In 2019 →