Author: Clifton Martin

Ohio State Organic Grains Conference January 9-10, 2025

| Clifton Martin

Registration is open for the 3rd annual Ohio State Organic Grains Conference, January 9-10, 2025, at the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Sandusky, Ohio. The conference offers programming for experienced organic growers, growers transitioning to or considering organic, and consultants or educators who support these growers.

Link to Registration Page

Featured speakers for 2025 include Erin Silva, University of Wisconsin-Madison State Extension Specialist in Organic and Sustainable Cropping Systems; Damon DeSutter of DeSutter Farms in Attica, Ind., Osler Ortez, Ohio State Corn and Emerging Crops Specialist; Sophie Rivest-Auger, organic field crop advisor for Centre for Expertise and Transfer in Organic and Local Agriculture, Quebec; and David Marrison, Ohio State Farm Management Field Specialist. Additional farmer, researchers, and educators from Ohio and beyond will round out the two full days of agronomic and farm management sessions. Topics for this year include interseeding cover crops in organic corn, flame cultivation, the use of biological products in organic production, setting up weed control equipment for success, nitrogen credits from cover crops and manure, farm succession planning and a market end-users panel.

Take advantage of Early Bird pricing and register now. The cost of $140 per person includes two days of programming, meals throughout the event, and opportunities to network with organic farmers in the region as well as speakers and trade show vendors.

This event is planned by Ohio State University Extension and Ohio State’s Organic Food & Farming Education and Research (OFFER) program. Continuing education credits will be available for Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs). For more information, visit go.osu.edu/OrganicGrains.

Carbon Sequestration for the Farmer and Landowner Presented by: Ohio State University Extension Energy Outreach Program, October 29, 8am

| Clifton Martin

The overall goal of carbon sequestration is to reduce the amount of CO₂ and reduce the effects of climate change by mitigating the greenhouse effect.  Many large corporations and industries will pay landowners and farmers to implement practices that capture CO₂.  Such practices include, planting trees, no till farming, cover crop usage, and other agricultural practices that will move carbon from the air to the ground.

Come listen to our panel of experts discuss how carbon sequestration can impact the farmer and landowner on October 29, 2024, in a virtual webinar at 8 a.m.  Download a Program Flyer

Panelists include:

  • Peggy Hall: Attorney & Director, Agricultural & Resource Law Program
  • Michael Estadt: Assistant Professor & Extension Educator, Pickaway County
  • John Porter: Outreach & Partnership Liaison | Truterra, LLC

Join us on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 8 a.m. using the link:  go.osu.edu/carbon2024

Registration is not required.

Contact Dan Lima at lima.19@osu.edu or call the OSU Extension office in Belmont Co. (740) 695-1455 for more information. 

Corporate Transparency Act reporting deadline remains January 1, 2025: This applies to many farming entities

| Clifton Martin

Recent legislation may apply to your farm business entity.  Review the OSU Farm Office blog post: Corporate Transparency Act reporting deadline remains January 1, 2025 | Farm Office with information about the Corporate Transparency Act that applies to “any domestic or foreign corporation, limited liability company, or any other entity that is formed or registered to do business in a U.S. state.”  A few key highlights of this article:

  • The Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), enacted in 2021, requires “reporting companies” to file documents with the federal government indicating beneficial ownership information (BOI) for the business.
  • Despite the ongoing litigation, however, the initial filing deadline of January 1, 2025 remains in effect for businesses subject to the CTA.
  • “Reporting companies” subject to the CTA includes any domestic or foreign corporation, limited liability company, or any other entity that is formed or registered to do business in a U.S. state by filing a document with the secretary of state or other similar office.
  • Many farming entities should be uniquely aware of the new BOI reporting obligations of the CTA. The CTA does not have specific industry exemptions for agriculture but takes a broad sweep at any entity that may be formed as a shell company. However, notable exceptions to the mandates of the CTA that affect farming entities include sole proprietorships and general partnerships, which are exempt from CTA because they are not required to register with Ohio’s Secretary of State.

Review the entire article at: Corporate Transparency Act reporting deadline remains January 1, 2025 | Farm Office

Carbon Capture and Storage: Coming Soon to Ohio?

| Clifton Martin

Among the many headlines discussing carbon, Carbon Capture and Storage is a potential future market in Ohio.  The OSU Agricultural and Resource Law program is beginning a series of posts to explain the background and interest for our region. See the entire first blog post here: Carbon Capture and Storage: Coming Soon to Ohio? | Farm Office.

Key points to know:

  • CCS technology captures CO2 from airborne emissions and injects it into geologic formations beneath the land surface.
  • Though some are hearing of CCS for the first time, CCS technology has existed for decades, as have many studies on its safety, sustainability, and the amount of carbon that can be stored in different formations and regions.
  • CO2 injection wells are regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act by the EPA through the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program. The category of wells relevant to CO2 for geological storage is “Class VI” wells.
  • A more recent (and arguably more prominent) factor driving CCS is the current federal tax incentive. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) expanded the tax credit known as “Section 45Q,” first enacted in 2008 and extended in 2018.
  • Can we do CCS in Ohio? No, not without legislation. Two legal changes are necessary to enable CCS technology in Ohio. (1) Ohio law must define and clarify property rights to the pore space in geological formations beneath land surfaces, and (2) the state must allow the establishment of CCS injection wells in Ohio. Clarification on these two requirements will come in future OSU Farm Office Blog posts.

Muskingum SWCD to Host Jim Gerrish on Grazing Management and Drought Conditions on Monday, September 30, 6:00 PM

| Clifton Martin

“Jim’s extensive experience with grazing management and drought conditions will give us a variety of ideas to be able to manage through this drought and the future impacts. He is concerned about the sustainability of family farms and speaks at producer-oriented workshops, seminars and field days He consults on grazing across the United States and Canada.”

More information and registration: Surviving the Drought of 2024 and Beyond (muskingumswcd.org)

 

 

 

Winter Feeding Options for Beef Cows October 29 in Zanesville

| Clifton Martin

OSU Extension will be hosting a program to address feeding options with limited forage supplies, comparison of supplementation options, and a discussion managing herd numbers as the impacts of the 2024 drought persists into fall and winter.

October 29, 2024

6:30 to 8:00 PM

Muskingum Livestock Auction, Zanesville, OH.  Additional dates and locations avialable.

For more information, visit beef.osu.edu or contact ruff.72@osu.edu

No RSVP required.

Program Flier

 

 

Beef Quality Assurance on September 24: Farm Service Agency will be present to discuss drought assistance programs

| Clifton Martin

A Beef Quality Assurance programs is scheduled for September 24, 2024 at Muskingum County Livestock Auction, 7:00 PM.  A representative from the Muskingum/Morgan USDA Farm Service Agency will be present at this event to address drought-related assistance programs available to agricultural producers related to the ongoing regional drought.

 

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Program starts at 7:00 PM

Location: Muskingum Livestock Auction

No cost, no RSVP needed.

Soil Testing Program

| Clifton Martin

Autumn is one of the better times to collect a soil sample and get it sent to the lab.  The Extension Office is just one of many resources to help get this done.  We have soil test kits ready at the office available for $12 which will covers your lab fee.

Stop by to pick up test kits between 8:00am and 12:30 pm or 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm.  

 

 

Resources to help include:

Soil Testing for Ohio Lawns, Landscapes, Fruit Crops, and Vegetable Gardens

Interpreting a Soil Test Report

Fertility Management of Meadows

Soil Testing for Ohio Lawns, Landscapes, Fruit Crops, and Vegetable Gardens

Soil Acidity and Liming for Agronomic Production

Corn, Soybean, and Alfalfa Yield Responses to Micronutrient Fertilization in Ohio

Articles and resources for management decisions in a drought

| Clifton Martin

Drought and Dust: Preparing for Winter Feed Shortages | Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter 

Alternative forage option when the rain finally comes | Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter 

Drought Stressed Corn for Corn Silage | Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter 

Drought, an early harvest, and fall herbicide applications | Agronomic Crops Network 

Dry Conditions in Corn & Stalk Quality Concerns | Agronomic Crops Network 

Still Be Mindful About Fall Armyworm, Especially in Forages and Turf | Agronomic Crops Network 

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Has Assistance Programs for Ohio Farm Operations Impacted by Drought | Farm Office