If you stop by the office or call in you may notice a new person.  Kim West is from the Central Ohio area and currently lives in Granville, Ohio with her husband Terry, a retiree from The Ohio State University. Kim has a business background as both an owner and director for twenty years. More recently, she has enjoyed working in government and comes to the Extension Office with nearly eight years in higher education. Kim’s adult children, Robert (DeVry University B.S. Computer Information Systems), Meagen (Kent State University B.A. Marketing), and Kelly (senior Denison University) live in central Ohio as well. In her leisure time, Kim volunteers for area churches, senior living, and animal rescues. Of course, the animal rescue work has resulted in three wonderful pups who rule the home!  Kim will help fill the void from the recent departure of two associates.  Please help us make  her feel welcome.

Hay quality is impossible to know without a laboratory test.  Looking at the visual characteristics and smelling the hay may give some information but it is still a rough idea.  We had samples of different types and cuttings of hay, at the Farm Science Review, for people to look at and guess how they would line up compared to the laboratory analysis that had been performed on the samples.  Very few people were successful.  There are many factors that affect quality such as: variety of plants present, maturity when cut, moisture when baled, was it rained on, and how were the bales were stored to name a few.  Continue reading Do you really know the quality of the hay you are feeding – Hay and Forage Testing made easier. →

The new Farm Bill has passed both the Senate and House by large majority votes and is just waiting for a Presidential signature.  The following summary of the Farm Bill is from Ben Brown with Ohio State.  Ben does a great job at making legislative material understandable.

Farm Bill

Moving to the farm bill. This is the reason I have slept minimally the last two nights. I’m wondering if this is what it is like to have small children. It is 807 pages and can be found here. The Senate passed their version last night 87-13. That is largest margin for a farm bill in the history of farm policy. This is the first time since 1990 that the farm bill will be passed in the same year it was introduced and the first time since 2002 it was passed before any of the commodity programs expired. Continue reading The New Farm Bill →

Two great opportunities are available nearby to learn the status of technology in agriculture and how it can help your farm.

      Precision University: In-Season Decisions

The first is January 9th from 8:30-3:30 at Beck’s Hybrids in London.  Click on this link for the flyer.  OH.2019PrecisionUFlyer-2j8j2cl

The second is:

      Central Ohio Precision Ag Symposium

The Central Ohio Precision Ag Symposium will be held on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at All Occasions Catering 6986 Waldo-Delaware Rd., Waldo Ohio from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  This year’s program will feature the most current technologies available in precision agriculture. These topics will be shared by some of the leading university and industry Precision Ag experts.

This year’s program opens with a discussion regarding where we are in Precision Ag today – “The Adoption of Precision Ag Technologies” – Jack Zemlicka, Ag Division Content Director Lessiter Media and ends with a look into the crystal ball – “The Future of Precision Ag” – Dr. Scott Shearer, The Ohio State University.

Data management is a “hot “topic in today precision agriculture.  Dr. John Fulton will share his insights on “Data Considerations in Today’s Crop Production”.  You will learn about data security and who can/has access to your data at afternoon breakout sessions from Climate-Fieldview, Agleader–Agfinity, and My JohnDeere.  Learn about the value of your data and opportunities for selling your data at one of the Farm Mobile breakout sessions.

Artificial intelligence is changing our industry.  Tim Norris will discuss “AI” and share insights from Knox County’s first autonomous tractor.  “AI” will be part of several other afternoon breakout sessions as well.  New datum changes are scheduled for 2022.  Jeff Jalbrzikowski will explain how this change could potentially affect our current maps and GPS positioning files.

“To be the premier source of research-based information in the age of digital agriculture” is the vision of the Ohio State Digital Ag Program.  Dr. Elizabeth Hawkins will discuss the nearly 100 OSU on-farm research trials conducted throughout Ohio in 2018.  Everyone in attendance will receive a copy of the 2018 eFields Report.

Afternoon breakout sessions will include manufacturing and technology updates including how to get the most from your in-cab displays from John Deere, Case IH AFS, Precision Planting, Capstan, AGCO, New Holland and Soil Max.

The $50 registration fee includes a buffet lunch, breaks and a notebook containing all presentations.  Seating is limited, registration deadline is December 28, 2018.

This symposium will provide up to 11.5 Continuing Education Credits (CEU’s) for Certified Crop Advisors, S&W – .5, I.P.M. – 5.5, C.M. – 5.5.

This program is sponsored by The Ohio State University Extension, AgInfoTech, Advantage Ag & Equipment, Ag Leader, B&B Farm Service, Beck’s, Capstan, Centerra Co-op, Central Ohio Farmers Co-op, Channel, Clark Seeds, Climate Corp., Evolution Ag, Farm Credit Services, Farm Mobile, First Knox National Bank,  JD Equipment,  Ohio Ag Equipment, Precision Planting, Seed Consultants, Smart Ag and Soil-Max.

For more information or to download registration form, go to  CentralOhioPrecisionAg19 FNL-2nd6i8x

Written by Evin Bachelor, Law Fellow, Agricultural and Resource Law Program

The holiday season stands out as one of the most generous times of year as people give gifts to the people they love.  What better way to get into the holiday spirit than to talk about the tax implications of your gifts?  There are three shopping weekends left until December 25th, so here are three highlights about the federal gift tax that you should know: Continue reading Ohio Agricultural Law Blog–We bring you tidings of gifts and tax implications in this season of giving →

Here is a sneak preview of data that will be published in an article in January’s Country Journal.  Each year Extension professionals travel around the county, before soybean harvest, to see which weeds survived the spray programs in those fields.  Below is a list of the most common weeds observed throughout the state and also the ranking of those weeds in Licking County.  Continue reading Preview of weeds observed in soybean fields in Licking County. →