Muskingum Ag Breakfast June 3, 8:00 AM

The next Muskingum Ag Network Breakfast will by Tuesday, June 3, 8:00 AM, at Friendly Hills Camp and Conference Center, 5880 Friendly Hills Road, Zanesville. We will be reviewing farm business analysis summaries from the Ohio Farm Business Analysis Program on current trends in farm profitability. Breakfast is $10.

Other headlines…Farm Bill Reconciliation, Employee vs. Independent Contractor, Pesticide Rule Changes, Commodity Program Payments

House Farm Bill Reconciliation Summary Overview | Farm Office 

Employee or Independent Contractor? Department of Labor’s Latest Guidance Signals Policy Shift | Farm Office 

How Ohio’s Proposed Pesticide Rules Could Affect Teens Working on Farms | Farm Office 

2024 Farm Commodity Program Payment Estimates for Ohio Counties as of May 2025 | Farm Office 

An Update on Ticks and Tick-borne Disease in Ohio, plus the Buckeye Tick Test Lab | Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter 

Concerning parasites, are you controlling what you think you are controlling? | Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter 

Ag Network Breakfast May 6 with Robert Moore, Attorney, OSU Agricultural and Resource Law Program

The Muskingum Ag Network meets the first Tuesday of each month, except for July and August, at Friendly Hills Camp and Conference Center, 5880 Friendly Hills Rd, Zanesville.  Our next program will be May 6, 2025, with Robert Moore, Attorney, OSU Agricultural and Resource Law Program.  Come with your questions for Robert about Ag Law including all things related to estate planning and farm transition. Breakfast is at 8:00 AM and costs $10.

2025 1st half schedule and more info.

Buckeye Tick Test Laboratory is now open for business

The Buckeye Tick Testing Laboratory at Ohio State University is up and running and now ready to accept samples!

The tick population, the number of tick species, and the associated tick-borne diseases in people and animals are rapidly increasing across the Buckeye State. Ohio now has six medically important tick species. These include blacklegged ticks, American dog ticks, lone star ticks, gulf coast ticks, Asian longhorned ticks, and brown dog ticks and each carry one or more pathogens that could be harmful to humans and/or animals (note: pathogens are germs that can cause illness).

The Ohio State University Buckeye Tick Test Laboratory is addressing this critical situation by offering cost-effective tick-borne pathogen testing for the general public with test results within 72 hours. After receiving the test results, individuals can share the information with their medical providers and/or veterinarians. Buckeye Tick Test has the potential to reduce tick pathogen disease for hundreds of people and animals and the data from the tick testing will provide much needed publicly available tick pathogen surveillance information.

The Ohio State University Buckeye Tick Test staff is committed to providing quality tick testing for you and your family (including pets and livestock). Find details on collecting and submitting ticks, and pricing for services, at the Buckeye Tick Test Laboratory at https://buckeyebugbite.osu.edu/

Virtual Beef School, session 4; Heifer Development and Implementing Genomic Testing on Your Farm

With feeder calf values at historical highs, now is not the time to save or improperly develop a replacement female that in coming years simply isn’t going to improve the overall productivity of the herd. With that thought in mind, session 4 of this year’s virtual Beef School will focus on properly selecting and developing only those heifers that fit the goals of the herd.

If you’re contemplating saving and breeding replacement heifers now or in the future make plans to join us during next Wednesday’s fourth and final session of this year’s Virtual Ohio Beef School. We’ll explore the use of genomic testing on your farm to aid in the seedstock selection process, and the proper development of those heifers that are selected and retained.

If you still need to register in order to receive free log-in details, visit: go.osu.edu/beefschool25.

News from around OSU Extension…Pay Stubs, Investing in Herd Expansion, Favorable Planting Weather…

Springtime Decisions | Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter 

Investing in Herd Expansion: Time Value of Money and Opportunity Cost | Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter 

Favorable Planting Weather | Agronomic Crops Network 

Alfalfa Weevils are Active Statewide | Agronomic Crops Network 

Lep Monitoring Network – Black Cutworm and True Armyworm Update # 1 | Agronomic Crops Network 

Understanding Forages and Feedstuffs | OSU Small Ruminant Team 

Gifting to Manage Estate Taxes | Farm Office 

Show Me the Money: Ohio’s New Pay Stub Law | Farm Office 

New Publication: “The Beginner’s Guide to Farmland Ownership”

Nearly 39% of the 880 million acres of farmland in the United States is leased, and in Ohio, this figure approaches 50%. Many individuals who inherit or purchase farmland have limited experience in agricultural management, creating uncertainty regarding effective land stewardship. To assist these novice farmland owners, Ohio State University’s Agricultural and Resource Law Program is pleased to announce the release of our latest publication, “The Beginner’s Guide to Farmland Ownership”, authored by Robert Moore, Attorney and Research Specialist at OSU. This practical, user-friendly resource is now available for download at farmoffice.osu.edu.

Owning farmland is not only a rewarding opportunity but also a significant responsibility, particularly for new landowners with limited farming experience. Whether you’ve inherited farmland or recently purchased it, navigating complex decisions such as leasing, selling, or managing alternative land uses can be challenging. This 48-page, comprehensive guide was developed to help new landowners understand and manage their farmland effectively.

“The Beginner’s Guide to Farmland Ownership” addresses key areas that every new landowner needs to understand. Topics include understanding farmland valuation, exploring leasing arrangements (cash rent, share rent, and flex leases), considerations when selling farmland, managing tax implications, and assessing alternative land uses such as renewable energy or conservation easements. Additionally, the guide explores strategies for protecting farmland through legal instruments and minimizing risk through insurance and business entities.

Visit farmoffice.osu.edu to access this publication.


This was authored by Robert Moore, Attorney and Research Specialist at OSU, and first appeared at https://farmoffice.osu.edu/blog/fri-03142025-1223pm/new-publication-beginner%E2%80%99s-guide-farmland-ownership

 

Friday, January 17: Carbon market and agriculture industry trends

Friday, January 17 at Noon we will have our first “Pizza, Pop and Profit” lunch and learn program featuring Mike Estadt who will speak on carbon market trends and impacts to Ohio agriculture.  This is a hybrid program available in person or online through Zoom.  Our onsite location will be 225 Underwood Street, Zanesville.

This program is jointly sponsored by the Muskingum County OSU Extension Office and the Soil and Water Conservation District Office.  Find registration and more information here: https://www.muskingumswcd.org/Events/Pizza-Pop-Profits/

 

Additional programs in this series:

Friday February 21, 2025

Manbir Rakkar, Assistant Professor of Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management at The Ohio State University will be speaking on Drought and its impact to fertility.

 

Friday March 21,2025

Dr. Osler Ortez, Assistant Professor in Corn and Emerging Crop Production Systems at The Ohio State University will be discussing corn research highlights from 2024.

Planning for the Future of Your Farm Workshops

Each year, OSU Extension holds “Planning for the Future of Your Farm” workshops to help families with farm transition planning.  We offer both a webinar and in person workshops at several locations across Ohio.  This farm transition workshop challenges farm families to actively plan for the future of the farm business.  Learn how to have crucial conversations about the future and strategies and tools that can help you transfer your farm’s ownership, management, and assets to the next generation. Teaching faculty for the workshop are David Marrison, OSU Extension Farm Management Field Specialist and Robert Moore, Attorney with the OSU Agricultural & Resource Law Program.

Topics discussed during this series include:

  • Developing Goals for Estate and Succession
  • Planning for the Transition of Control
  • Planning for the Unexpected
  • Communication and Conflict Management during Farm Transfer
  • Legal Tools and Strategies
  • Developing Your Team
  • Getting Your Affairs in Order
  • Selecting an Attorney

We encourage parents, children, and grandchildren to attend together to develop a plan for the future of your family farm.

Webinar Version

Attend the workshop from the comfort of your home on February 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2025 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Because of its virtual nature, you can invite your parents, children, and/or grandchildren (regardless of where they live in Ohio or across the United States) to join you as you develop a plan for the future of your family farm. Pre-registration is required so that one packet of program materials can be mailed in advance to participating families. Electronic copies of the course materials will also be available to all participants. The registration fee is $99 per farm family.  The registration deadline is January 22, 2025.

Click here to access the registration link.

 

In-Person Programs

The following locations are hosting an in-person Planning for the Future of Your Farm workshop. Follow these links to learn more about these programs:

 

This content was originally posted at: https://farmoffice.osu.edu/farm-transition/planning-future-your-farm-workshops

Muskingum Ag Network Breakfast

The Muskingum Ag Network meets the first Tuesday of each month, except for July and August, at Friendly Hills Camp and Conference Center, 5880 Friendly Hills Rd, Zanesville.  Our next program will be January 7, 2025 and feature Ted Wiseman, OSU Extension Perry County, with a program discussing the basics of fencing on the farm.  Breakfast is at 8:00 AM and costs $10.