Month: February 2025

East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference Celebrates 10 Years

WOOSTER, OHIO-For the 10th year, Ohio State University (OSU) Extension will empower women, high school-age and beyond through its East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference. The event will take place on March 21, 2025, from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Shisler Conference Center 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691.

 This year’s program will feature 24 break-out sessions in 6 tracks including: Plants, Animals, Business & Marketing, Home & Family, Special Interest, and Personal Development. These informative and interactive sessions are presented by Ohio State University Extension educators, farmers, industry professionals, and partner agencies.

We are thrilled to have international speaker, author, and farm coach, Elaine Froese, at our conference this spring. She’s on a mission to guide farm families, across North America, to get unstuck, communicate better, find harmony through understanding, and secure a profitable farm legacy. Elaine is traveling from her home farm in Manitoba, Canada to speak with us! She will share a special keynote about Living an Intentional Life, will teach a breakout session to help tackle tough family conversations, and will have Coach on Call individual sessions available throughout the day. Every participant will also receive two of Elaine’s books in electronic format and a hard copy of Elaine’s book, “Farming’s In-Law Factor.” You can learn more about Elaine Froese at elainefroese.com.

“This conference connects women of all ages to not only each other but also to meaningful informational resources for their journey in agriculture.” Kelsie Mannasmith, Ohio State student said, “Through Elaine Froese and other guest presenters the 10th anniversary will help women continue, or even begin their paths in agriculture.” Continue reading East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference Celebrates 10 Years →

It’s time again for Online Fruit Pruning School!

The Ohio State University South Centers is hosting its popular Online Fruit Pruning School on Tuesday, March 4. This is a FREE online event that will be conducted virtually via the Zoom communications platform.

All three parts will be held on March 4 beginning with apple tree training and pruning at 9:30 a.m. followed by peach tree training and pruning at 10:30 a.m. We will briefly break for lunch before wrapping up with small fruit pruning beginning at 1:15 p.m. We will cover small fruits like aronia, currants, elderberries, gooseberries, grapevines and hardy figs.

Simply visit the link below and fill out the registration form. We also plan on offering on-demand recordings afterward, so you can access the event on-demand, as we know this fits some people’s schedules better.

 Register here: http://go.osu.edu/pruningschool

For even more information, consult the attached flyer.

Looking forward to seeing you (virtually) again this year!

 

Join us for our FREE, online Ohio Berry Production Series!

The Ohio State University South Centers is bringing its Ohio Berry Production Series to an online virtual format to reach even more growers in Ohio and beyond! Join us on February 20 beginning at 9:30 a.m. for this FREE online event via the Zoom communications platform.

This webinar will feature information to benefit both beginner and advanced growers, and to teach you proven techniques to maximize production and quality in your plantings and vineyards.

Schedule

9:30-10:30 a.m. Growing Blueberries in Ohio

10:45–11:45 a.m. Raspberry Growing in Ohio

Break for lunch

1:15-2:30 p.m. Growing Grapes in Ohio

Simply visit the link below and fill out the registration form. We also plan on offering on-demand recordings afterward, so you can access the event on-demand, as we know this fits some people’s schedules better.

 Register here: go.osu.edu/ohioberries

For even more information, consult the attached flyer.

Looking forward to seeing you virtually this year!

Property owners and suspicious drone activity: what laws apply?

By:Peggy Kirk Hall, Attorney and Director, Agricultural & Resource Law Program Tuesday, February 04th, 2025
Drone flying against blue sky, photo by Erdal Ozkan

Drones, or more accurately named Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), have helped provide new methods of pesticide applications and agronomic data collection to assist farmers with productivity and efficiency. Yet the possibility of unknown drones flying over a farm property can cause concerns.  Recent conversations and sightings of drones in rural areas have producers raising questions such as “what can I do about suspicious drone activity” and “can I shoot down a drone over my property?”  Federal and state laws provide answers to these questions. Here are several points farmers need to know about dealing with UAVs traveling over their properties. Continue reading Property owners and suspicious drone activity: what laws apply? →

Principles of Government: Tariffs

By:Robert Moore, Thursday, January 30th, 2025

This article marks the beginning of a new series, Principles of Government, where we explore key legal concepts shaping public discourse. Our goal is to provide a clear, unbiased, and nonpolitical explanation of these issues, allowing readers to form their own opinions on the social, political, and economic impacts. As new developments arise, we will continue expanding this series to keep you informed.

Tariffs have been a widely discussed issue recently, particularly as President Trump considers implementing new or increased tariffs on imported goods. More broadly, tariffs have played a central role in U.S. trade policy for centuries, shaping economic growth, international relations, and domestic industries. While they are often used to protect American businesses from foreign competition, tariffs can also lead to higher prices for consumers and retaliatory measures from other countries.

Agriculture, in particular, has long been sensitive to tariffs. Farmers and agribusinesses rely on imported equipment, fertilizers, and other inputs, meaning tariffs can raise production costs. At the same time, American agricultural products exported abroad can be subject to retaliatory tariffs, making them more expensive and less competitive in foreign markets. Understanding how tariffs work, who pays them, and the legal authority behind their implementation is crucial for assessing their broader economic and political impact. In this article, we will break down the fundamentals of tariffs, their role in U.S. trade policy, and the source of authority to impose tariffs. Continue reading Principles of Government: Tariffs →