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General House Plant Care at Perry Cook Memorial Library

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On January 28th from 6:00pm – 7:00 pm turn over a new leaf in the new year. Join OSU Extension – Morrow County and the Master Gardener volunteers to learn about general houseplant care at the Perry Cook Memorial Library in Johnsville, 7406 County Road 242, Mount Gilead, OH, United States, Ohio 43338.
In conjunction with the houseplant discussion, the library will be hosting “Adopt a House Plant” – share cuttings of your indoor plants, drop off an indoor plant you no longer want/need/can care for, and/or pick up a new-to-you indoor plant.

Long-Term Care Planning Update

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By:Robert Moore

A couple of years ago, we published a series of posts addressing Long-Term Care (LTC) issues affecting farm families. Although there haven’t been major legal changes in LTC, the costs have risen steadily, and eligibility requirements have adjusted to account for these higher expenses. We thought it would be a good time to do an update on LTC costs.

The table below illustrates the changes in LTC service costs between 2021 and 2023. In Ohio, home health care experienced the most significant percentage increase, now surpassing $75,000 per year, while nursing home costs have risen above $100,000 annually. It’s likely that LTC costs will continue to climb in the foreseeable future.

LTC Costs

*2023 Genworth Cost of Care Survey

Another important number is the Medicaid asset exemption limit.  This is the amount of wealth that a person or married couple may own and be eligible for Medicaid. For Ohio, this exemption amount increased slightly as provided in the table below:

LTC Assets

As these numbers indicate, to be eligible for Medicaid, an unmarried person can own almost no assets, and a married couple may own only a modest amount of assets.  For anyone not eligible for Medicaid, LTC costs must be paid out-of-pocket until enough assets have been spent down to qualify for Medicaid.  Due to the low Medicaid exemption amount, very few farmers will initially qualify for Medicaid without aggressive prior planning or spending down almost all their assets.

How can farming operations address the potential threat of Long-Term Care (LTC) costs? Unfortunately, for most farmers, there are no simple solutions. Covering LTC expenses out-of-pocket can strain the farm’s finances, while qualifying for Medicaid may not be feasible for many producers. However, there are several strategies that can help mitigate LTC risks:

  1. LTC Insurance: Long-Term Care insurance policies can cover some or all nursing home costs. Although these policies can be expensive, and not everyone may qualify, it’s worth exploring whether a LTC policy is a viable option.
  2. Gifting: Assets that are gifted more than five years before needing LTC services are exempt from being used to cover LTC costs. However, gifting means losing control over the asset and missing out on a stepped-up tax basis at death.
  3. Irrevocable Trusts: Transferring assets to an irrevocable trust can protect them from LTC costs after the five-year lookback period. While this approach offers more control over the assets than outright gifting, irrevocable trusts can be costly and require ongoing trustee management.
  4. Self-Insure: Some individuals choose to build up savings or other assets to cover LTC expenses. This strategy avoids complex planning and legal fees but ties up capital that could otherwise be used to expand the business.
  5. Wait and See: Some farm families prefer to wait and assess whether LTC costs will become a reality. They may then gift assets to protect them while retaining enough resources to manage through the five-year lookback period. This approach offers flexibility but risks five years of LTC costs.

Before choosing a strategy, it’s crucial to assess the actual risk of LTC costs to the farming operation. Some may have sufficient retirement income to cover LTC expenses, negating the need for extensive planning. For others, LTC costs could threaten the farm and its land, necessitating aggressive planning. Consulting with an attorney or advisor experienced in LTC planning can help determine the best course of action for you and your farm.

Don’t miss the Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council annual meeting and conference

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The Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council will be hosting their Annual Meeting on Friday, February 7, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at The Ohio Department of Agriculture (8995 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg OH 43068). This meeting serves as an opportunity to interact with forage growers of all backgrounds and interests and share with each other. Along with socialization you can listen to intriguing presentations, interact with vendors of forage growing supplies, and enjoy a delicious lunch.

The Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council is Ohio’s commodity organization for pasture and hay crops. The Ohio State University partners closely with the Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council to support forage education, research, and outreach throughout the state. It is the only organization of its kind, bringing together farmers, conservationists, academics, industry representatives, and service personnel into a shared environment to converse and build relationships that lead to more productive forage and grassland ecosystems and more profitable farm operations. The Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council is the state affiliate organization of the American Forage and Grassland Council. Ohio members are automatically extended membership to the national level for even more networking opportunities and learning experiences.

The 2025 meeting theme is “Feeding Forages ↔ Forages Feeding Us” and will feature information on how to manage forages following a record drought year, cutting edge research from The Ohio State University, producer insights from local hay, beef, and dairy farmers, information on solar grazing with sheep, special guests from the Nature Conservancy, and a session on hot topics in the forage industry.

Keynote speakers will include Dr. Chris Teutsch- Forage Professor from The University of Kentucky, new State Extension Forage Specialist- Dr. Emma Matcham, Dr. Marília Chiavegato- Agroecosystem Management for Food System Resilience Professor at The Ohio State University, Dr. Camren Maierle- Sustainability Director for the American Lamb Board, Jessica D’Ambrosio- Ohio Agriculture Project Director for the Nature Conservancy, and more!

Service and achievement awards will be announced at the annual meeting. There will also be opportunities to socialize with your peers and to visit with vendors of related agricultural products at the event.

Registration for members is only $40 and can be completed online at: https://ohioforage.com/annual-conference/

Not a member of OFGC? Not a problem. All people interested in pasture management and forage production are welcome to attend. Registration is due by January 31, 2025.

Paper registration can also be secured and submitted by contacting OFGC Executive Secretary- Gary Wilson at osuagman@gmail.com or 419-348-3500.

The Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council Annual Meeting is an opportune time to pick up inspiration for ways to improve pasture, hay, and livestock systems. Hearing the experiences of others is one of the best ways to find motivation to make changes for the better on-farm. Share your experiences with an OFGC board member and maybe you will be on the speaker list in future years!