Even though new equipment and machinery dominate the Farm Science Review each year, economics and the bottom line should always play the major role in your decision making.
The Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics together with Ohio State University Extension will offer several new activities, exhibits, presentations and opportunities to interact with Agricultural Economists, Farm Management Specialists and Extension Educators at this year’s Farm Science Review, September 19th through the 21st at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center.
Input Cost Increases Focus of Display
Knowing your input costs and how to manage them are a big part of farm profitability. Examining fuel and fertilizer costs and their impact on the bottom line is the focus of an exhibit in the Francine Firebaugh Building at this year’s Review. OSU Extension Enterprise Budgets will be highlighted and 5 year cost increases will be illustrated along with detailed breakdowns for fuel, fertilizer and land costs. Newly updated “Ohio Farm Custom Rates – 2006” will be on display along with a comparison of the 2002 and 2006 rates. “Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rental Rates 2005-06” will also be a part of the exhibit and be available as a handout. “Building for the Successful Transition of Your Agricultural Business” will be another focus of this exhibit which centers on economic issues affecting the farm business. This part of the exhibit contains information on upcoming new educational materials and workshops to be held in January and February of 2007 on Farm Transition Planning!
The exhibit will also feature the Ohio Ag Manager Newsletter that is published to provide Ohio’s farmers and agribusiness managers the latest and best management and marketing information. The Ohio Ag Manager is a free monthly electronic newsletter, published by OSU Extension, available to everyone via listserv or web. The goal of the Ohio Ag Manager Team is to provide agricultural businesses with timely management information dedicated to improving efficiency and profitability. Focal issue areas discussed in the monthly electronic newsletter include financial, labor, legal and risk management as well as marketing and human resource development. Current and past newsletters along with subscription information can be found at the Ohio Ag Manager website at:
Farm Business Office in the Firebaugh Building
The Farm Business Office at the Farm Science Review is located in the Francine Firebaugh Building and will give Review goers the opportunity to interact one-on-one with Ohio State University Extension Farm Management Specialists, OSU Agricultural Economists, and OSU Extension Educators.
Review goers can seek advice on various farm business and management topics including farm transition planning, estate planning, retirement planning, farm record keeping and analysis, tax management, human resources management, budgeting, farmland rental and purchase issues, risk management issues and more.
Data Shed at Farm Science Review
How much more will you pay to buy farm inputs locally? Why are you at the Review? How much does your hired help make? Do you care where your food comes from? You might get asked these kinds of questions at the 2006 Farm Science Review. Researchers from the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics will be popping up in various locations on the grounds to ask you a couple quick questions. Your answers will help plan research and extension projects and the next Farm Science Review. You might even be invited into the “Data Shed” at the Ohio Farmer Building, corner of Friday and Kottman, to do a quick experiment to find out what your decisions are worth to the ag economy.
Energy & Bio-Fuels: Economic & Policy Issues Defining Agriculture
10-11 a.m. Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Tobin Building, Molly Caren Center
Hosted by OSU Agricultural, Environmental & Development Economics
This annual Farm Science Review discussion gives policymakers, farmers, and industry leaders tools for understanding and analyzing the future of agriculture in Ohio. This year’s discussion is about Energy and Biofuels – what needs there are and the true economics behind ongoing policy discussion. Brent Sohngen will moderate this year’s panel of economists from Ohio State and Purdue University.
“Question the Authorities”
Live interviews of Ohio State’s authorities on current economic, business and policy issues. OSU’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics sponsors this series of short interviews on the stage beside the Leaper Antique Building in Alumni Park on Friday Avenue. Stan Ernst leads the discussion, then opens things up for audience questions – your chance to question the authorities.
Each day of the Review, you’ll hear about timely topics – everything from current market behavior, marketing and economic performance, to welfare reform, trade policy and the impact of new technology on farms. Join the host in trying to stump the authorities with your toughest questions. This projected schedule is subject to change. Check the signboard along Friday Ave for daily lineups.
Tuesday, September 19
8:00 Early Bird Outlook: Grain Markets & Energy – Matt Roberts & Stan Ernst
11:15 Farm Bill Update – Carl Zulauf (OSU AED Economics)
11:30 Methamphetamines: Fighting a Rural Scourge – Karen Zotz (Purdue Extension)
11:45 How to Get Paid for Water Quality – Brent Sohngen (OSU AED Economics)
12:00 QUESTION THE AUTHORITIES: THE GAME (audience competes for prizes)
12:15 Increases in Direct Market Opportunities – Julie Fox (OSU South Centers)
12:30 Cropland Values & Rents – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
12:45 The Cost of Safety – Dee Jepsen (OSU Ag Health & Safety Program)
1:00 Transferring the Farm to the Next Generation – Don Breece (OSU Extension)
1:15 Renewable Energy Ideas – Fred Hitzhusen (OSU AED Economics)
1:40 Grain Market Outlook – Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
2:00 Wanna Be A Buckeye? (student opportunities) – Kelly Koren (OSU)
2:15 Healthy People, Healthy Communities – Karen Zotz (Purdue Extension)
2:40 Energy Outlook – Matt Roberts
3:00 Fertilizer, Fuel & Custom Rates – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
3:15 Kid Labor/Cheap Labor – Dee Jepsen (OSU Ag Health & Safety Program)
Wednesday, September 20
8:00 Early Bird Outlook: Grain Markets & Energy – Matt Roberts & Stan Ernst
9:45 Wanna Be A Buckeye? (student opportunities) – Kelly Koren (OSU)
10:00 “Zoning” is not a 4-letter word – Peggy Kirk Hall (OSU AED Economics)
10:15 Livestock Outlook – Brian Roe (OSU AED Economics)
10:40 Who Will Work for Me? – Dave Boulay (OSU South Centers)
11:00 What Ohioans Think of Agriculture – Jeff Sharp (OSU Rural Sociology)
11:15 Livestock Outlook – Brian Roe (OSU AED Economics)
11:30 Cropland Values & Rents – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
11:45 Energy Outlook – Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
12:00 QUESTION THE AUTHORITIES: THE GAME (audience competes for prizes)
12:15 Grain Market Outlook – Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
12:40 Finding & Motivating Good Workers – Dave Boulay (OSU South Centers)
1:00 Is Rural Retail Dead? – Leslie Stoel (OSU Consumer Science)
1:20 Transferring the Farm to the Next Generation – Don Breece (OSU Extension)
1:40 Fertilizer, Fuels & Custom Rates – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
2:00 The Cost of Safety – Dee Jepsen (OSU Ag Health & Safety Program)
2:15 Why is Free Trade So Misunderstood? – Stan Thompson (OSU AED Economics)
2:40 Neighbor Issues — fences & drainage – Peggy Kirk Hall (OSU AED Economics)
3:00 Aquaculture Opportunities – Laura Tiu (OSU South Centers)
3:15 Green Industry Economics – Jim Chatfield (OSU Extension/Horticulture)
Thursday, September 21
9:45 Wanna Be A Buckeye? (student opportunities) – Kelly Koren (OSU)
10:00 Budgeting for New Enterprises – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
10:15 Transferring the Farm to the Next Generation – Don Breece (OSU Extension)
10:40 Farmland Protection Priorities – Jill Clark (AED Economics)
11:00 Grain Market Outlook – Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
11:15 Green Industry Economics – Jim Chatfield (OSU Extension/Horticulture)
11:30 Fertilizer & Fuels Outlook – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
11:45 Energy Outlook – Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
12:00 QUESTION THE AUTHORITIES: THE GAME (audience competes for prizes)
12:15 Grain Market Outlook – Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
12:45 Cropland Values & Rents – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
1:00 The Cost of Safety – Dee Jepsen (OSU Ag Health & Safety Program)
1:15 Transferring the Farm to the Next Generation – Don Breece (OSU Extension)
1:40 Farm Custom Rates – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
2:00 Kid Labor/Cheap Labor – Dee Jepsen (OSU Ag Health & Safety Program)
2:15 TBA