Day: August 22, 2025

September 1 lease termination deadline is approaching for some farm leases

By:Peggy Kirk Hall, Attorney and Director, Agricultural & Resource Law Program

September 1 is fast approaching, and it’s an especially important date for landowners who lease cropland under an existing lease that does not address when or how the lease terminates. In those situations, September 1 is the deadline established by Ohio law for a landowner to notify a tenant that the landowner wants to terminate the lease. If the landowner does not provide notice by September 1, the tenant operator has a legal argument that the lease continues for another lease term because it was not terminated by the deadline.

Here are a few important provisions about the statutory termination law that are important to understand: Continue reading September 1 lease termination deadline is approaching for some farm leases →

BEEF Cattle Letter: August 20

Four new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1461 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

Just because breeding season may be over and the bull has been pulled, this week John Yost explains why it’s important not to simply forget about him until next breeding season.

Articles this week include:

  • Don’t forget about the bull
  • Forage Analysis has likely never been so important
  • Open Cows and Mid-term Abortions – Could it be Neospora caninum?
  • Ground Beef Production and the Balance of Lean and Fat Trimmings

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

2024 Farm Commodity Program Payment Estimates, Ohio Counties, August 18, 2025

By: Carl Zulauf, Seungki Lee, and David Marrison, Ohio State University, August 2025

2024 crop year payments for corn and soybeans are estimated for ARC-CO (Agriculture Risk Coverage – County version) using August 2025 estimates of 2024 crop year prices from USDA, FSA (US Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency) (https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/arc-plc/program-data) and estimates of county yields from USDA, RMA (Risk Management Agency) (https://webapp.rma.usda.gov/apps/RIRS/SCOYieldsRevenuesPaymentIndicators.aspx).  Legislation requires FSA to give primacy to RMA yields when determining ARC-CO payment, but FSA can also consider other factors when determining ARC-CO county yields.

Our next report will be the final FSA payment rates for 2024 crop year corn and soybeans.  They are expected to be released in October 2025.  They could differ notably from these estimates.  Crop year prices and county yields are not final.  Moreover, they currently in a range where small changes can cause large changes in ARC-CO payments.  Use these estimated payments with caution. Continue reading 2024 Farm Commodity Program Payment Estimates, Ohio Counties, August 18, 2025 →

C.O.R.N. Newsletter: August 18-24

In this edition of the C.O.R.N. Newsletter: 

  • Northwest Agronomic Field Day 8/26- Nick Eckel
  • Identification and Management Tips for Southern Rust of Corn- Stephanie Karhoff, CCA, Ryan McMichael, Pierce Paul
  • Farm Science Review Agronomy College Sept 9- Amanda Douridas, CCA, Stephanie Karhoff, CCA
  • Battle for the Belt: Season 3, Episode 21 – Risks & Management During the Seed Fill Stage of Soybean- Diego Miranda, Taylor Dill, Maria Kessler, Laura Lindsey, Osler Ortez
  • Red Crown Rot Confirmed in Ohio Soybean Field for the First Time- Horacio Lopez-Nicora, Rob Leeds, Jacci Smith, Francesca Rotondo
  • What Insects to Watch For the Rest of the Season, and Lep Monitoring Network # 17- Amy Raudenbush, Nic Baumer, Ed Lentz, CCA, Curtis Young, CCA, Alan Leininger, JD Bethel, Mary Jo Hassen, Jordan Penrose, Beth Scheckelhoff, Frank Thayer, Kyle Verhoff, Jacob Winters, Emma Matcham, Andy Michel, Kelley Tilmon

C.O.R.N. Newsletter is a summary of crop observations, related information, and appropriate recommendations for Ohio crop producers and industry. C.O.R.N. Newsletter is produced by the Ohio State University Extension Agronomy Team, state specialists at The Ohio State University and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). C.O.R.N. Newsletter questions are directed to Extension and OARDC state specialists and associates at Ohio State.

Upcoming Webinar: Understanding the H-2A Program for Ohio Farms

By:Robert Moore

The labor needs of Ohio farms continue to evolve, and many producers are exploring new options to meet workforce demands. One of those options is the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program, which allows farms to hire seasonal labor from outside the United States.

The H-2A program is commonly used by labor-intensive farms such as fruit, vegetable, and nursery operations. However, it can also be an effective option for traditional row crop and livestock operations. This webinar will explain how the H-2A program works and discuss how it may be a good fit for row crop and livestock producers. The webinar will be hosted by OSU Extension Farm Office and the OSU Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics.

The online webinar will be held on Friday, September 12 at 10:00 am.  Free registration is available here: https://osu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__s5bd8oKQ3K0vLiTYuqSug

What You’ll Learn

This educational session will provide an overview of the current state of agricultural labor and explain the key aspects of the H-2A program, including:

  • What the H-2A program is and how it operates
  • Practical steps for farms interested in applying
  • The application process
  • Why H-2A may be useful for farms that have not traditionally used guest workers

Featured Speakers

The webinar will feature a panel of experts, including:

  • Margaret Jodlowski, Assistant Professor, Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, The Ohio State University
  • Jeff Lewis, Attorney, OSU Agricultural and Resource Law Program
  • Robert Moore, Attorney, OSU Agricultural and Resource Law Program
  • Representative from the U.S. Department of Labor

Together, they will share insights into how H-2A functions and answer questions about its potential role in Ohio’s farm workforce.

For more information or questions, contact Robert Moore (moore.301@osu.edu).

BEEF Cattle Letter: August 13

Five new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1460 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

With feed quantity and quality still on the minds of many Ohio cattlemen, this week we explore the virtues of stockpiling feed in the coming weeks for grazing this winter.

Articles this week include:

  • Stockpiling Fescue and Orchardgrass
  • Cover Crops and Manure Following Wheat
  • FAQs: What Producers Should Know About Rabies in Cattle
  • Ground Beef Now or Calves in 2026?
  • Beef Demand – Key Producer Vitality Driver in 2025

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

C.O.R.N. Newsletter: August 11-17

In this edition of the C.O.R.N. Newsletter:

  • Battle for the Belt: Season 3, Episode 20: Corn and Zinc Deficiency in Grain- Maria Kessler, Taylor Dill, Diego Miranda, Laura Lindsey, Osler Ortez, Jim Ippolito
  • You Won’t Want to Ditch This Field Day!- Rachel Cochran
  • Cover Crops and Manure Following Wheat- Glen Arnold, CCA, Sarah Noggle, Kyle Verhoff
  • Lep Monitoring Network – More Counties Have Reported Fall Armyworm # 16- Evan Hodkinson, Trevor Mullen, Rosalind Holt-Frank, Amy Raudenbush, Nic Baumer, Curtis Young, CCA, Sarah Noggle, Frank Becker, JD Bethel, Lee Beers, CCA, Don Hammersmith, Mary Jo Hassen, Seth Kannberg, Ed Lentz, CCA, Kendall Lovejoy, Clifton Martin, CCA, Garth McDorman, Les Ober, CCA, Jordan Penrose, Beth Scheckelhoff, Trevor Corboy, Frank Thayer, Kyle Verhoff, Jacob Winters, Andy Michel, Kelley Tilmon

C.O.R.N. Newsletter is a summary of crop observations, related information, and appropriate recommendations for Ohio crop producers and industry. C.O.R.N. Newsletter is produced by the Ohio State University Extension Agronomy Team, state specialists at The Ohio State University and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). C.O.R.N. Newsletter questions are directed to Extension and OARDC state specialists and associates at Ohio State.

One Big Beautiful Bill Act Tax Provisions Important for Farms and Agriculture

Written by Barry Ward, Leader, Production Business Management and Jeff Lewis J.D., Legal Associate, Agricultural and Resource Law Program, Income Tax Schools

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act (H.R. 1), was passed, signed and became law on July 4th. This Act impacts taxes and agricultural policy among a long list of other important issues. In this post, we list important tax provisions that were included in this legislation. Many of the provisions were law as a part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and were extended and in some cases made permanent by this new Act. There were also a few new provisions that were included in this new legislation. This article will summarize the provisions that should prove to be most important to farmers and others with ag interests.

Qualified Business Income Deduction

The 20 percent Qualified Business Income Deduction (QBID) for sole proprietors and pass-through businesses under I.R.C. § 199A is made permanent by this Act. This includes the I.R.C. § 199A(g) deduction for agricultural cooperatives and their patrons.

This new legislation includes a new minimum $400 deduction for taxpayers with at least $1,000 in “active” qualified business income. Both amounts will be adjusted annually for inflation.

Estate and Gift Tax Exemption

This Act permanently increases the estate and gift tax exemption (basic exclusion or Unified Credit), beginning in 2026, to $15 million per person, indexed for inflation.

Individual Income Tax Rates

The OBBB Act permanently extends the tax rates and brackets enacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Continue reading One Big Beautiful Bill Act Tax Provisions Important for Farms and Agriculture →

BEEF Cattle Letter: August 6

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1459 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

Ohio weather offered few opportunities this spring for new forage seedings. A second window for planting forages is now upon us. That is a focus this week.

Articles this week include:

  • August is for seeding, so get your plan started now!
  • Priority One: Staging Forages
  • August is here . . . Spotted Knapweed is too!
  • The hidden cost of liver abscesses for the cattle producer
  • With Limited Heifer Retention, Beef Cow Slaughter Will be the Inventory Driver for the Rest of 2025
  • Tight Fed Supplies Well into the Year-End

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

State Operating Budget: additional changes affecting agriculture

By:Ellen Essman, Senior Research Associate

Over the past month, we’ve shared several blog posts examining aspects of the State Operating Budget, HB 96 and how it makes changes to agricultural law in Ohio. Below, we note some more assorted provisions in the bill related to agriculture.

Pork Marketing

HB 96 establishes a state “pork marketing program to promote the sale of pork and pork products,” but only if the National Pork Checkoff created under federal law ceases to operate.  Checkoff programs for agricultural commodities gather fees on products in order to better promote the products and to conduct research. If the National Pork Checkoff ends, the new law would require the Ohio Pork Council to accept nominees and hold elections for a state pork marketing program operating committee. The committee would consist of 12 members, including the Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the executive vice president of the Ohio Pork Council, four pork producers appointed by the director, and six members from each of the six districts established throughout the state.  The operating committee would be able to levy assessments on the value of animals, pork, or pork products sold or imported in the state. This provision of HB 96, which again, is only triggered if the National Pork Checkoff ceases to operate, was likely included in the State Operating Budget due to reports in February of this year that the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was reviewing and possibly cutting federal agricultural checkoff programs. Continue reading State Operating Budget: additional changes affecting agriculture →