Day: September 30, 2025

October 1 brings open burning restrictions

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

The warm, dry, windy months of October and November are upon us, and they bring increased fire risk across Ohio. That’s why Ohio law prohibits all open burning from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during October and November.  The risk of fire spreading is high during those times and  volunteer firefighters with daytime jobs aren’t readily available to respond to the higher fire risk.

Given current drought conditions across Ohio, any open burning at any time is highly dangerous and not advised; waiting to burn in Winter is the best strategy. But Ohio law does allow farmers and farmland owners to burn “agricultural waste” after 6 p.m. in October and November under certain conditions.  Some burns may require prior permission or notification to government entities, and burning some substances is illegal due to the environmental harms they cause, such as food waste and materials containing rubber, grease, asphalt and petroleum. Continue reading October 1 brings open burning restrictions →

C.O.R.N. Newsletter: Spetember 30-October 6

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

  • Title: Heavy Rain For Some, Status Quo For Others – Aaron Wilson
  • Green Fields Green Dollars Explores Drainage Economics in Season 2, Episode 2 – Rachel Cochran Henry, CCA/CPAg, Clint Schroeder
  • Battle for the Belt: Season 3, Episode 27 – Corn Stalk Quality Considerations – Diego Miranda, Maria Kessler, Taylor Dill, Laura Lindsey, Osler Ortez
  • Lep Monitoring Network – Fall armyworm, Last Update # 23 – Amy Raudenbush, Nic Baumer, Frank Becker, Don Hammersmith, Mary Jo Hassen, Seth Kannberg, Ed Lentz, CCA, Sarah Noggle, Jordan Penrose, Frank Thayer, Kyle Verhoff, Jacob Winters, Curtis Young, CCA, 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.

Farming by the Rules: An Employment Law Series

By:Jeffrey K. Lewis, Esq., Legal Associate, Agricultural and Resource Law Program, Income Tax Schools

Running a farm business is no small job. Between planting, harvesting, caring for livestock, and tracking markets, it’s easy to see why labor and employment laws might not be at the top of your list. But the reality is this: every agricultural operation, big or small, needs to pay attention to these rules. Ignoring them can create major headaches down the road.

We often write about labor and employment laws in agriculture, but we don’t always take the time to talk about the why. Why should farm employers care about compliance? The obvious answer is that failing to follow the law can lead to fines, penalties, or even criminal consequences. But there is another side to it: compliance is also about smart risk management. Too often, that part of the conversation gets overlooked.

In this post, we will dig into why labor and employment compliance matters for every farm employer, no matter the size of your operation, the number of workers you hire, or whether your team is made up of family, neighbors, or seasonal help. We will also be using this post to kick off a new series of posts, where we will break down labor and employment laws into bite-sized, practical pieces. The goal is to help Ohio producers understand their obligations and share best practices that can reduce risks and strengthen their businesses. Continue reading Farming by the Rules: An Employment Law Series →