Month: May 2023

Our upcoming webinar series on Solar Development in Ohio

By:Peggy Kirk Hall, Attorney and Director, Agricultural & Resource Law Program Wednesday, May 17th, 2023

Do you want to learn more about Ohio solar energy development?  If so, consider dropping in on our upcoming webinar series, where my colleague Eric Romich and I will discuss trends, procedures, and legal issues in Ohio solar development. The five-part webinar series covers solar development from start to finish and will take place May 23, 24, 25, 30, and 31 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The series includes the following sessions: Continue reading Our upcoming webinar series on Solar Development in Ohio →

Bad Looking Boxwoods?

We have been receiving many questions about boxwoods that are not looking good.  Many are suffering from more than one issue.  Click here for an article is from earlier this spring and shows lots of pictures of different problems.

 

A DAY in the WOODS celebrates its 100th educational event on June 9 at the Vinton Furnace State Forest

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A DAY in the WOODS began with a kickoff event on April 14, 2012, at the Vinton Furnace State Forest near McArthur.  June 9, 2023 will mark the 100th A DAY in the WOODS educational program for woodland owners and enthusiasts in Appalachia Ohio.  This event will begin at 11:30 AM with a brief ceremony hosted by Dan Balser, Chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Forestry, and Dave Apsley, Natural Resources Specialist with Ohio State University Extension to celebrate the occasion and to recognize all of the partners support the effort.

The ceremony will be followed by lunch and an afternoon filled displays, demonstrations and activities for woodland owners and enthusiasts organized and conducted by A DAY in the WOODS partnering organizations. Some of the activities planned include:

  • Tree identification walk
  • Chainsaw safety demonstration
  • Birding activities
  • Tours of  demonstration sites
  • Tour of the new Ohio Hills -Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change Research site.
  • Conversations with representatives from many of our partners
  • Tree measuring excercise

The 100th A DAY in the WOODS event celebration be held at the Vinton Furnace State Forest near McArthur on May June 9, 2023, from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM.  Many of the afternoon educational programs will take place in the woods so be sure to bring your hiking boots and dress accordingly.

There is no charge to attend this event, but you must register by May 31 to receive lunch. Continue reading A DAY in the WOODS celebrates its 100th educational event on June 9 at the Vinton Furnace State Forest →

Federal court approves settlement agreement in Lake Erie litigation

By:Peggy Kirk Hall, Attorney and Director, Agricultural & Resource Law Program Thursday, May 18th, 2023
Sunset over Western Lake Erie

What is the key to resolving disagreements over water quality issues in Lake Erie?  Cooperation, according to the federal court judge overseeing a legal battle over Lake Erie. The judge, U.S. District Judge James G. Carr, recently approved a plan that is the result of cooperation between the U.S. EPA, State of Ohio, Lucas County Commissioners, and the Environmental Law & Policy Center.  For almost six years, the parties have been in a legal battle over how to deal with water quality in Western Lake Erie.  But at the encouragement of the court, the parties developed and agreed to a Consent Decree to settle the case.  Judge Carr approved the Consent Decree on May 4, 2023.  Time will soon tell if the cooperation approach will satisfy the parties holding interests in Lake Erie’s water quality.

What led to the Consent Decree? Continue reading Federal court approves settlement agreement in Lake Erie litigation →

Weather Outlook and Licking County Rainfall Totals for April

The 6-10 day outlook from the Climate Prediction Center and the 16-Day Rainfall Outlook from NOAA/NWS/Ohio River Forecast Center show temperatures leaning toward warmer than average with near normal precipitation (Figure 4). Climate averages include a high-temperature range of 68-73°F, a low-temperature range of 47-52°F, and weekly total precipitation of about 0.85-1.15”.

weather map

weather map

Figure 4) Climate Prediction Center 6-10 Day Outlook valid for May 7  – 11, 2023, for left) temperatures and right) precipitation. Colors represent the probability of below, normal, or above normal conditions

A DAY in the WOODS starts May 12th

By Dave Apsley

We are excited to kick off our 12th season of A DAY in the WOODS with Reading Your Woods which will take place on May 12, 2023 at the Vinton Furnace State Forest near McArthur.  Reading Your Woods is designed to help you to understand the numerous factors that have influenced the woods that you have today and its potential to meet your goals in the future.

For more information and to register please visit http://u.osu.edu/seohiowoods

Also be sure to check out our ADIW-Brochure for our 2023 program schedule.  We are especially excited about our 100th A DAY in the WOODS event which will take place on June 9th, 2023.  Be sure to mark you calendar and plan help us celebrate this milestone. More details will be available in the coming weeks.  Registration information can be found in the brochure.

Our “Farm On” Farm Financial Management Course is Now Online!

By: Peggy Kirk Hall, Friday, April 07th, 2023

We’re excited to announce that our new farm financial management online course is now available.  Named “Farm On,” the self-paced, on-demand farm financial management course was created by our Farm Office team under the leadership of new Farm Management Field Specialist Eric Richer.  It is offered through OSU Extension’s new Farm Financial Management and Policy Institute.

We created the Farm On course to address the needs of Ohio’s new and beginning farmers who want to better prepare themselves to operate a commercial farm in Ohio and do that with a high level of economic stability while remaining profitable and responsible along the way.  What’s unique about the Farm On course is that, not only does it comply with the regulations of the new Ohio House Bill 95 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program, it also meets the borrower training requirements for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Loan Program.

The 10-module Farm On course includes video lessons, quizzes, and opportunities to apply knowledge gained through graded course exercises. Students can engage with the lead course instructor  through virtual office hours and scheduled appointments. The course covers the following topics:

  • Farm Business Planning
  • Balance Sheets
  • Income Statements
  • Cash Flow Projections
  • Calculating Cost of Production
  • Farm Record Keeping
  • Farm Taxes
  • Farm Financing
  • Risk Management
  • Farm Business Analysis

The Farm On course allows CFAES to serve the needs of all farmers through OSU Extension and our Farm Financial Management and Policy Institute, said Cathann A. Kress, Ohio State vice president for agricultural administration and dean of CFAES.

“We are excited to partner with ODA and USDA-FSA to address the farm financial training that is required for running a farm business,” Kress said. “Currently, we are the only educational institution in Ohio with a course like ‘Farm On’ that qualifies for ODA’s Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program and FSA’s Borrower Training Requirements.

“As part of our Land-Grant mission, CFAES educates not just college students but over two million individuals across the lifespan.”

The Ohio House Bill 95 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program went into effect in July 2022 and grants a 3.99% tax credit to landowners who sell or lease assets to a certified Ohio beginning farmer. The new law also allows an Ohio tax credit to the certified beginning farmer equal to the cost of the financial management course completed. The Farm On course costs $300 per person.

“OSU’s Farm On course is a great way to help Ohio farmers qualify for Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) new Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program, which is an important tool to help current beginning farmers and potential future farmers do what they do best,” said ODA Director Brian Baldridge. “We are thankful for this partnership that is helping to keep Ohio’s hard-working farmers at the forefront.”

According to Darren Metzger, Ohio Farm Service Agency Loan Chief, “The course is in-depth financial management training that can assist our borrowers to obtain and/or improve their knowledge in this critical area of farm management. OSU’s Farm On course is now 1 of 5 approved vendors for our borrowers in Ohio.”

CFAES’ new Farm Financial Management and Policy Institute was created last year with the goal of sharing resource-based knowledge and best practices to help Ohio farmers manage their businesses as the agricultural industry changes and evolves. Housed within OSU Extension, the goal of FFMPI is for the integration, translation, and communication of CFAES’ farm management and ag policy presence that addresses critical farm management and policy issues affecting Ohioans.

“Farm On is meeting a need of today’s modern crop farmers and it’s packaged in a way that respects the busy schedules of family farmers.  It’s this type of tangible benefit that earns the support of Ohio’s corn and small grains checkoff funds.  We are proud to partner with OSU Extension on this important new institute,” said Tadd Nicholson, executive Director of Ohio Corn and Wheat.

Farm On isn’t just for new and beginning farmers. The course provides an opportunity for any farmer in Ohio, whether you’re a new farmer, a seasoned farmer, a small farmer, or a large farmer.  For a long time, we’ve needed to have this course in Ohio because farm management is so critical to ensuring the future of our farms.

To learn more, view our video and to sign up for Farm On, go to go.osu.edu/farmon.