Even though new equipment and machinery dominate the Farm Science Review each year, economics and the bottom line 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 activities, exhibits, presentations and opportunities to interact with Agricultural Economists, Farm Management Specialists and Extension Educators at this year’s Farm Science Review, September 16th through the 18th at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center .
Knowing your input costs and how to manage them are a big part of farm profitability. Examining 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 along with detailed breakdowns for fuel, fertilizer and land costs. Newly updated “Ohio Farm Custom Rates – 2008” will be on display along with a comparison of the 2006 and 2008 rates. “Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rental Rates 2007-08” will also be a part of the exhibit and be available as a handout. A new decision making tool – Flexible Cash Lease Agreement Calculator will be on display and available for Review goers.
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 budgeting, cash rents, flexible cash rent arrangements, land purchase issues, input buying, farm transition planning, estate planning, retirement planning, farm record keeping and analysis, tax management, human resources management, risk management issues and more.
This year’s edition of the annual Farm Science Review discussion of policy and economics looks at food prices…where they’ve been, where they’re going and why. With much discussion in both domestic and international markets on food costs, distribution systems and hunger, four Ohio State agricultural economists will debate the impacts of rising demand, oil prices, and a number of other issues charged with changing the world’s food situation. Expect some analysis, some predictions, and probably an argument or two. And take an opportunity to stump the panel with your perspective.
The Energy Education display returns to Alumni Park this year. It features informational displays and demonstrations from Ohio State , Purdue , Michigan State, and organizations/agencies with similar educational missions. Look for the wind turbine outside of the tent. On Wednesday there will be demonstrations of biofuel possibilities from scientists with Wright Patterson Air Force Base. A number of sessions at the nearby Question the Authorities program will be addressing the economics of energy markets, conservation, and new technologies.
“Question the Authorities” is a series of live conversations 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. Marketing specialist 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 energy economics, trade policy and new legal questions for rural America . This year’s lineup includes some special emphasis on energy-related topics with guests from OSU, Michigan State , the Air Force, and Green Energy Ohio . Join the host in trying to stump the authorities with your toughest questions. A few surprise topics are likely to be added at the last minute, so check the signboard along Friday Ave. for daily lineups.
Tuesday, September 16
8:00 Early Bird Outlook: Grain Markets & Biofuels – Matt Roberts & Stan Ernst
8:30 Farm Bill Update – Carl Zulauf & Stan Ernst
11:15 $100,000 Per Acre With High-Value Crops – Joe Kovach (OSU Entomology)
11:30 Farm Bill Update – Carl Zulauf (OSU AED Economics)
11:45 Economics of Wind Energy – Lynn Hamilton (MSU Ag Economics)
12:05 Cropland Values & Rents – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
12:20 Grain Market Outlook – Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
12:45 World Food Prices – Ian Sheldon (OSU AED Economics)
1:00 Aquaculture Opportunities – Geoff Wallat (OSU South Centers)
1:15 Farm Bill Update – Carl Zulauf (OSU AED Economics)
1:30 Grain Market Outlook – Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
1:45 Managing Farm Labor – Maria Marshall (Purdue Ag Economics)
2:10 Animal Ag & Ohio Law – Peggy Hall (OSU AED Economics)
2:30 Wind Turbine Sites and Contracts – (Lynn Hamilton, MSU Ag Economics)
2:50 Biofuels Outlook – Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
3:10 Budgeting for Farm Enterprises – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
Wednesday, September 17
8:00 Early Bird Outlook: Grain Markets & Biofuels – Matt Roberts & Stan Ernst
9:45 Cropland Values & Rents – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
10:00 Farm Bill Update – Carl Zulauf (OSU AED Economics)
10:15 New Ideas: Protect Your Local Farmland – Jill Clark (AED Economics)
10:40 From CRP to Corn? – Fred Hitzhusen (OSU AED Economics)
11:00 Wind Energy – Kemp Jaycox (Green Energy Ohio )
11:15 Economies of Biomass – Fred Hitzhusen (OSU AED Economics)
11:30 Experiments in Farmland Preservation – Jill Clark (OSU AED Economics)
11:45 Biofuels Outlook – Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
12:00 Cropland Values & Rents – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
12:15 Grain Market Outlook – Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
12:30 Farm Bill Update – Carl Zuluaf (OSE AED Economics)
12:45 Will Techonology Save Rural Retailing – Leslie Stoel (OSU Consumer Science)
1:00 New Ideas: Protect Your Local Farmland – Jill Clark (AED Economics)
1:20 Wind Energy – Kemp Jaycox (Green Energy Ohio )
1:40 Energy Costs and Ohio Households – Jeff Sharp (OSU Rural Sociology)
2:00 Animal Ag & Ohio Law – Peggy Hall (OSU AED Economics)
2:15 Rising Food Costs…More Gardeners? – Jeff Sharp (OSU Rural Sociology)
2:30 Transferring the Farm to the Next Generation – Don Breece (OSU Extension)
2:45 Budgeting for Farm Enterprises – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
3:00 Branding Ohio Foods – Stan Ernst
Thursday, September 18
8:00 Early Bird Outlook: Grain Markets – Matt Roberts & Stan Ernst
9:45 Biofuels Outlook – Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
10:00 Cropland Values & Rents – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
10:15 Branding Ohio Foods – Stan Ernst (OSU AED Economics)
10:40 Animal Ag & Ohio Law – Peggy Hall (OSU AED Economics)
11:00 Grain Market Outlook – Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
11:15 Budgeting for Farm Enterprises – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
11:30 Biofuels Outlook – Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
11:45 Transferring the Farm to the Next Generation – Don Breece (OSU Extension)
12:00 Grain Market Outlook – Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
12:30 Cropland Values & Rents – Barry Ward (OSU AED Economics)
12:50 Biofuels Outlook– Matt Roberts (OSU AED Economics)
1:15 Economics of biodigester – Dan Sanders & Matt Roberts
1:40 Branding Ohio Foods – Stan Ernst