Ask The Experts take the stage at FSR

By: Wm. Bruce Clevenger, OSU Extension Field Specialist, Farm Management

Agriculture is information driven and growers and industry always have great questions.  Who should you ask for trusted answers?  Ask The Experts at Farm Science Review!  Three days of Experts have been scheduled to take center stage again this year at the 2023 Farm Science Review.  This conversational dive explores hot/current topics between the moderator, Experts, and the audience.  The 30-minute sessions give 15-20 minutes of information from the Experts and 5-10 minutes of Q&A with the audience.  It is the best place to stop and take a sit-down break at FSR.  Grab some food and enjoy.  Experts include ag economists, weather scientists, Women in Ag leaders, veterinarians, agricultural attorneys, agronomists.

Topics include: weather whiplash, empowering Women in Agriculture, USDA Farm Bill, farm property insurance gaps, grain markets, beginning farmer education course, ticks on pasture effecting people and livestock, mold and feed, mental health, carbon markets, an average farm may not be profitable, farm labor, death’s impact on the family business, financial health of Ohio farms, and agronomy vs. economics.

Plan you day(s) at Farm Science Review at:

https://fsr.osu.edu/ , click Visitor Information, click Mobile App/Digital Directory.

 

2023 Ask The Expert Schedule

Date Time Speaker Topic
9/19/2023 10:00 Aaron Wilson Weather Whiplash – Dealing with Weather Extremes
10:30 Gigi Neal & Linda Vernon Celebrating 20 Years of Empowering Women in Agriculture – Annie’s Project
11:00 AEDE Dept The Farm Bill and Beyond
12:00 Barry Ward Economic View From The Farmgate
12:30 Robert Moore & Jeff Lewis Farm Insurance – Covering Your Assets
1:00 Seungki Lee How Is The Market Doing?
1:30 Eric Richer What is OSU’s Farm On Course?
2:00 Tim McDermott Managing Asian Longhorned Ticks on Pasture
2:30 Scott Kenney Is Hepatitis E Virus a Risk to Ohioans?
9/20/2023 10:00 Gustavo Schuenemann Molds and Mycotoxins in Cattle
10:30 Mike Estadt How Smart Are Your Commodities?  Carbon Intensity Scores and More
11:00 Clint Schroeder Utilizing Benchmarking Data: It Doesn’t Pay to be Average
11:30 Aaron Wilson Weather Whiplash – Dealing with Weather Extremes
12:00 Barry Ward Economic View From The Farmgate
12:30 Robert Moore & Jeff Lewis Farm Insurance – Covering Your Assets
1:00 Seungki Lee How Is The Market Doing?
1:30 Margaret Jodlowski Who is Working (or Will Work) Ohio’s Farms?
2:00 David Marrison Is Your Farm Business Ready for Your Death?
2:30 Margaret Jodlowski The Farm Bill and Beyond
9/21/2023 10:00 Luciana da Costa One Health and Livestock Farming
10:30 Ani Katchova How Are Ohio Farms Doing Financially?
11:00 Bridget Britton Sit down, Take a load off, and Let’s have a Chat. Life can be Stressful.
11:30 Aaron Wilson Weather Whiplash – Dealing with Weather Extremes
12:00 Barry Ward Economic View From The Farmgate
12:30 Robert Moore & Jeff Lewis Farm Insurance – Covering Your Assets
1:00 David Marrison Is Your Farm Business Ready for Your Death?
1:30 Lindsey, Ortez, Ward Agronomy + Economics = Agronomics. What Comes First in the Equation?

 

Ask The Experts is located at the corner of Kottman and Friday Avenues, Exhibit Area 425, across from the Firebaugh building.  Seating is available under the tent.

In addition to the Ask The Expert sessions, Review goers can explore OSU Extension Farm Management Resources in the Firebaugh building across from Ask The Expert area all-day, each day of the Review.  OSU Extension Farm Management resources can also be found online at: https://farmoffice.osu.edu/

 

Characteristics of Beginning Farmers in Ohio and Potential Impact of the Ohio Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program

By: PhD students Xiaoyi Fang and Zhining Sun and Professor Ani Katchova, Farm Income Enhancement Chair, in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE), and Chris Zoller, Associate Professor and Extension Educator, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension – Tuscarawas County

 

Click here to access the PDF version of this article that includes figures

 

Highlights

  • Ohio’s new and beginning farmers are individuals who intend to enter the farming industry or have less than ten years of experience as a farm owner/operator in Ohio.
  • Ohio’s new and beginning farmers compared to established farmers, tend to be younger, operate smaller farms, and less likely to state farming as their primary occupation.
  • The Ohio Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program supports new and beginning farmers by providing income tax credits to: 1) beginning farmers who attend a financial management program, and 2) landowners that sell or rent farmland to beginning farmers.

Profile of Ohio Beginning Farmers

According to the definition provided by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, a beginning farmer in Ohio must meet several specific criteria. An individual must be a resident of Ohio who intends to enter the farming industry or has less than ten years of experience as a farm owner/operator in Ohio. In addition, the individual must not hold any partnership, membership, shareholder, or trustee positions related to the assets they intend to acquire or lease.  The individual must have net worth of less than $800,000, among other requirements.

Analysis of the 2017 Census of Agriculture offers valuable insights on Ohio’s new and beginning farmers.  About a quarter of all farm and principal farm producers in Ohio are new and beginning farmers while the rest are established farmers. Contrary to a common assumption that new and beginning farmers are young, the age distribution of new and beginning farmers in Ohio spans a wide range of age groups (Katchova and Ahearn, 2016). While 32% of new and beginning farmers are 34 years of age or younger, a significant portion of them (9%) are 65 or older.  On average, new and beginning farmers are younger than established farmers but there are also older new and beginning farmers in Ohio.

Although males still dominate both groups, the proportion of males among new and beginning farmers is smaller (61%) than among established farmers (68%). Only 24% of new and beginning farmers in Ohio report their primary occupation as farming, indicating diverse income sources. Over half of new and beginning farmers in Ohio engage in off-farm work for more than 200 days, unlike established farmers who are less involved in off-farm work. New and beginning farmers in Ohio typically operate smaller farms in terms of operated acres.  Over half of new and beginning farmers operate less than 50 acres of farmland. New and beginning farmers in Ohio have a comparable percentage of owned or leased acres as do established farmers.

According to a USDA definition, economic class of farmers is defined as the market value of agricultural products sold and government payments.  There is a higher number of established farms in every economic class especially in the largest value economic classes, compared to new and beginning farmers.

The Census of Agriculture reveals that oilseed and grain farming is the most common specialty for new and beginning and for established farmers.   Most new and beginning farmers tend to specialize in oilseeds and grain farming (25%), other crops (21%), beef cattle (18%) and other livestock (17%).  Compared to established farmers, new and beginning farmers in Ohio tend to specialize more in specialty crops, other crops, beef cattle, and other livestock farms.

Potential Impact of the Beginning Farmers Tax Credit Program

In 2022, Ohio implemented a Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program to support new and beginning farmers in the state. This program aims to address the financial challenges faced by new entrants in the agricultural industry by offering two support mechanisms. The first mechanism provides a tax credit to new and beginning farmers who participate in a state-approved financial management program. By offering this tax credit, the program seeks to alleviate the financial stress of starting and managing a farm business. This incentive encourages beginning farmers to actively engage in financial planning and management, which can contribute to their long-term success.

Qualifying financial management programs provide information on a variety of topics including farm business planning, farm financial statements, cost of production, farm record keeping, farm taxes, farm financing, risk management, and farm business analysis. Beginning farmers who complete a qualifying financial management program pay the cost of the program but are eligible for a non-refundable tax credit upon completion of the program.

The second support mechanism focuses on providing tax credits to qualified farmland owners in Ohio. These tax credits are offered to landowners who sell or rent their farmland to beginning farmers. By incentivizing landowners to work with new and beginning farmers, the program aims to address the aging farmer population trend and promote farmland transition to the next generation. This provision helps to transition operated acres from established to beginning farmers, creating more opportunities for new farmers to start their farm businesses and grow.

The Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program benefits new and beginning farmers in Ohio. By providing opportunities for financial management program training, the program reduces the barriers to entry. It equips farmers with the necessary skills to navigate the financial aspects of running a farm business. By offering incentives for farmland owners to collaborate with beginning farmers, the program helps to increase access to land and resources for new entrants. The program addresses financial challenges associated with starting a farm business. Continued investment and expansion of such initiatives are crucial for ensuring the future sustainability of Ohio agriculture.

The implementation of the Ohio Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program holds promise in supporting new and beginning farmers’ entry in agriculture and addressing their specific needs. Continued support and resources are essential to foster the success of these beginning farmers and contribute to the success of Ohio’s agricultural sector.

References

  1. Ahearn, Mary. Beginning Farmers and Ranchers at a Glance. 2013. Economic Research Service (ERS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  2. Katchova, A. L., & Ahearn, M. C. (2016). Dynamics of farmland ownership and leasing: Implications for young and beginning farmers. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy38(2), 334-350.
  3. Ohio Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program, Ohio Department of Agriculture: https://agri.ohio.gov/programs/farmland-preservation-office/Beginning-Farmer-Tax-Credit-Program/Beginning-Farmer-Tax-Credit
  4. United States. (2007) U.S. Census of Agriculture. United States. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/lcwaN0022771/

 

OSU Extension Podcast bolsters Farm Management with new Co-Hosts

By Wm. Bruce Clevenger, OSU Ext Field Specialist, Farm Management

OSU Extension has surpassed 100 Episodes on the Agronomy and Farm Management Podcast with the leadership of Amanda Douridas and Elizabeth Hawkins.  Amanda Douridas is the OSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator in Madison County and Elizabeth Hawkins is an OSU Extension Field Specialist, Agronomic Systems.

On Episode 118, two new co-hosts began to alternate episodes between Agronomy and Farm Management.  Your new farm management co-hosts are Bruce Clevenger, OSU Extension Field Specialist, Farm Management and Josh Winters, OSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator, Jackson County.

Bruce Clevenger and Josh Winters will host Farm Management and Amanda and Elizabeth will continue with Agronomy.  “Farm management is important to your farming operations and Elizabeth and I are excited to partner with Bruce and Josh to enhance the farm management piece of the podcast,” says Amanda.

Episode 118 investigates Farm Insurance Policies with guest Robert Moore, J.D., Attorney, OSU Extension Agricultural and Resource Law Program.  “I would challenge you to find a more important component of farm management, that receives less attention than the farm insurance policy,” Robert Moore.

OSU Extension has many ag law resources available at https://farmoffice.osu.edu click on Law Library and Farm Office Blog.  Robert and Peggy Hall author weekly posts and write law bulletins are a wide range of topics from Agritourism to Zoning.

Visit https://go.osu.edu/afm to listen, subscribe, and suggest a topic for future episodes.  Listeners can also search their smart device app for Agronomy and Farm Management to listen and subscribe.

Farm Office Live Webinar Slated for April 21 at 10:00 a.m.

In this month’s webinar, the Farm Office Team will present the following topics:

Legislative and Case Law Update​ (Peggy Hall)

  • Farm Insurance Issues​ (Robert Moore)
  • “What is a ‘Taxable Gross Receipt’ under Ohio’s Commercial Activity Tax?”​ (Jeff Lewis)
  • Inflation and Interest Rates: An Update Including a Closer ​Look at Agricultural Machinery and Equipment​ (Barry Ward)
  • Crop Budgets/Income Outlook for ‘23​ (Barry Ward)
  • Avoid Chance by making 2023 Record Keeping Goals (Bruce Clevenger)

There is no fee to attend this webinar.  However, registration is required at go.osu.edu/farmofficelive

Check out farmoffice.osu.edu for all your farm management and ag & resource law needs.

Don’t Miss the March Madness Edition of the Farm Office Live on March 17

The OSU Extension Farm Office team invites you to attend the March Madness Edition of the “Farm Office Live” Webinar on Friday, March 17 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. This monthly webinar allows Ohio farmers and agribusiness personnel to learn more about current farm management and agricultural law issues.

In this month’s webinar, the Farm Office Team will present the following topics:

  • Federal & State Legislative Update (Peggy Hall)
  • New Postnuptial Agreement Legislation (Robert Moore)
  • Marital and Non-Marital Assets (Robert Moore)
  • Selling Timber- Call Before You Cut (Dave Apsley)
  • Update on Crop Input Costs and Crop Budget Outlook for 2023 (Barry Ward)
  • Sales Tax Exemption Issues (Jeff Lewis)
  • 2023 Spring Crop Insurance Update (Eric Richer)
  • Emergency Relief Program (David Marrison)

There is no fee to attend this webinar.  However, registration is required at go.osu.edu/farmofficelive

Check out farmoffice.osu.edu for all your farm management and ag & resource law needs.

Farm Office Live Webinar to be Held on February 17 at 10:00 a.m.

Ohio’s farm and agribusiness industry are invited to attend OSU Extension’s  “Farm Office Live” webinar on Friday, February 17, 2023 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.  The Farm Office Team providing farm management and agricultural and resource law updates during this webinar.

This month’s session topics and featured speakers include:

Ohio Land Values and Cash Rents- Barry Ward

Making the 2023 Farm Bill Decision- Chris Bruynis

Legislative Update- Peggy Hall

Understanding Farm Insurance Policies – Robert Moore

Farm Accounting: Chart of Accounts with a Purpose- Bruce Clevenger

Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) & USDA Disaster Declarations- David Marrison

There is no fee to attend this session. Register or watch replays at: go.osu.edu/farmofficelive

Farm Office Live Webinar Slated for December 16

The Farm Office Team of OSU Extension will be holding their December Farm Office Live Webinar on Friday, December 16 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. via Zoom. Farm Office Live is a monthly webinar of updates and outlooks of legal, economic, and farm management issues that affect Ohio agriculture.

In this webinar, the teaching team of Peggy Hall and Robert Moore (Attorneys from the OSU Agricultural and Resource Law Program) and Eric Richer and David Marrison (Field Specialists, Farm Management) will share the following topics:

  • Federal and State Legislative and Legal Updates
  • Time to Review Estate Plans
  • Year End Balance Sheet Strategies
  •  Federal Farm Program Updates
  • Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program
  • Emergency Relief Programs
  • House Bill 95 Beginner Tax Credit Update
  • Upcoming Programs

The webinar is free.  Registration and more details can be made at go.osu.edu/farmofficelive

OSU Extension to Hold Planning for the Future of Your Farm Webinar Series in 2023

OSU Extension will be hosting a four part “Planning for the Future of Your Farm” webinar series on January 23 and 30 and February 6 and 13, 2023 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. This workshop is designed to help farm families learn strategies and tools to successfully create a succession and estate plan that helps you transfer your farm’s ownership, management, and assets to the next generation.

Topics discussed during this series include: Developing Goals for Estate and Succession; Planning for the Transition of Management; Planning for the Unexpected; Communication and Conflict Management during Farm Transfer; Legal Tools and Strategies; Developing Your Team; Getting Your Affairs in Order; and Selecting an Attorney.

The instructors for this series will be:

Robert Moore, Attorney with the OSU Agricultural & Resource Law Program. Prior to joining OSU, Robert was in private practice for 18 years where he provided legal counsel to farmers and landowners.

David Marrison, OSU Extension Field Specialist, Farm Management. David has worked for OSU Extension for 25 year and is nationally known for his teaching in farm succession. He has a unique ability to intertwine humor into speaking about the difficulties of passing the farm on to the next generation.

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 a packet of program materials can be mailed in advance to participating families. The registration fee is $75 per farm family.  Electronic copies of the course materials will also be available to all participants. The registration deadline is January 16, 2023.

OSU Extension appreciates the support of the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association in sponsoring the mailing of these materials.

More information and on-line registration can be obtained at go.osu.edu/farmsuccession

More information about this program can be obtained by contacting David Marrison at marrison.2@osu.edu or 740-722-6073.

Join OSU Extension for Annie’s Project series this fall in Chillicothe, OH in Ross County.

Annie’s Project is an educational program dedicated to strengthening women’s roles in modern farm enterprises.

This 6-week workshop focuses on five key areas of risk management: human, financial, marketing, production, and legal. Women learn about argi-business practices from experts in their fields. They also form valuable networks with others in the class.

Registration http://go.osu.edu/rossannies2022
Cost is $75.00 per person
Registration deadline is October 24, 2022

Brochure

Session 1: October 27, Rm D

  • Welcome and Introductions
    •Real Colors Personality Test
    •Intro to Risk Management

Session 2: October 31, Rm C

  • Identifying & Managing Legal Liability on the Farm

Session 3: November 3, Rm D

  • Direct Marketing
    •Social Media Presence
    •Overview of Rules & Regs
    •Commodity Marketing
    •Knowing Your Production Costs
    •Different Marketing Tools

Session 4 November 7, Rm D

  • Record Keeping
    •Financial Statements
    •Budgeting & Benchmarking

Session 5: November 10, Rm D

  • Communication and Stress
    •Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate
    •Estate Planning Strategies

Session 6: November 17, Rm D

  • Farm Services Agency
    •Natural Resources Conservation Service
    •Soil and Water Conservation District
    •Crop Insurance

Event Sponsors

Kingston National Bank
Farm Credit Services of Mid America
Atomic Credit Union
LCNB National Bank

 

 

Social Security Announces 8.7 Percent Benefit Increase for 2023

Source: Social Security Administration.

News Release: October 13, 2022

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 8.7 percent in 2023, the Social Security Administration announced today. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January.

The 8.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 65 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2023. Increased payments to more than 7 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2022. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits). The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Medicare premiums are going down and Social Security benefits are going up in 2023, which will give seniors more peace of mind and breathing room. This year’s substantial Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is the first time in over a decade that Medicare premiums are not rising and shows that we can provide more support to older Americans who count on the benefits they have earned,” Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi said.

To view a COLA message from Acting Commissioner Kijakazi, please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgm5q4YT1AM.

Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $160,200 from $147,000.

Social Security and SSI beneficiaries are normally notified by mail starting in early December about their new benefit amount. The fastest way to find out their new benefit amount is to access their personal my Social Security account to view the COLA notice online. It’s secure, easy, and people find out before the mail arrives. People can also opt to receive a text or email alert when there is a new message from Social Security–such as their COLA notice–waiting for them, rather than receiving a letter in the mail. People may create or access their my Social Security account online at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Information about Medicare changes for 2023 is available at www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, their new higher 2023 benefit amount will be available in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security’s Message Center.

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information for 2023

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 8.7 percent in 2023.

The 8.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 65 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2023. Increased payments to more than 7 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2022. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits)

Read more about the Social Security Cost-of-Living adjustment for 2023.

The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $160,200.

The earnings limit for workers who are younger than “full” retirement age (see Full Retirement Age Chart) will increase to $21,240. (We deduct $1 from benefits for each $2 earned over $21,240.)

The earnings limit for people reaching their “full” retirement age in 2023 will increase to $56,520. (We deduct $1 from benefits for each $3 earned over $56,520 until the month the worker turns “full” retirement age.)

There is no limit on earnings for workers who are “full” retirement age or older for the entire year.

Read more about the COLA, tax, benefit and earning amounts for 2023.