By: Julie Wayman, Community Development Educator -OSU Extension Ashtabula County

Ohio State Extension announced plans to host a Small Farm Conference in Senecaville, Ohio on April 6, 2024. The theme for this year’s Mid-Ohio Small Farm Conference is “Sowing Seeds for Success.”

Click here to access 2024 Small Conference Brochure

Conference session topics are geared to beginning and small farm owners as well as to farms looking to diversify their operation. There will be five different conference tracks including: Horticulture and Produce Production, Business Management, Livestock, Natural Resources and new this year The Farm Kitchen.  Some conference topic highlights include: Raising Meat Rabbits, Making Goat Milk Soap, Timber Harvesting and Marketing, Basics of Growing PawPaw’s, Food Preservation Basics, Herb Vinegars, Organic Pest Management, Growing Produce with Hydroponics, Starting and Setting up a business, Solar and Wind Leasing.

Anyone interested in developing, growing or diversifying their small farm is invited to attend including market gardeners, farmers market vendors, and anyone interested in small farm living. Attendees will have the opportunity to browse a trade show featuring the newest and most innovative ideas and services for their farming operation. The conference provides an opportunity to talk with the vendors and network with others.

The Conference will take place from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Mid – East Career Technical Center – Buffalo Campus located at 57090 Vocational Road Senecaville, Ohio 43780

The registration fee for this all day conference is $100 per person. For conference and registration information call OSU Extension Morrow County 419-947-1070, or OSU Extension Knox County 740-397-0401.

Please follow this link to register for the conference: https://go.osu.edu/2024osusmallfarmconference

By: Mike Estadt, OSU Extension estadt.3@osu.edu

Ohio State University Extension will present its 2024 Regional Agricultural Outlook and Policy Meetings starting in late January and continuing into February. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, and the main sponsor of the meetings. Economists from the CFAES Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, Extension specialists in tax policy, ag law and meteorology, along with other college specialists and invited guests, will serve as speakers.

Held throughout the state, the outlook meetings will address agricultural topics of interest not only in Ohio, but across the Corn Belt as well. Programs will include presentations on grain market outlook; the dairy industry; agricultural law updates; Ohio’s changing climate; energy outlook, international economic outlook, farm real estate values and cash rent trends; grain transportation infrastructure; agricultural input price projections; and federal tax updates. Bearish price projections, world conflicts and lower farm income projections make these program important as you plan for the year ahead. University experts and industry representatives will give the latest information on what to expect.  “Outlook meetings have useful take- aways that I have seen farm managers use directly for the upcoming season and planning for the future of the farm business.  Farmers are the CEOs of their farm and collecting unbiased information and putting it into action is essential for success”, according to Bruce Clevenger, Extension Farm Management Field specialist.

Here is a current list of Extension opportunities for ag policy, outlook and grain marketing topics. Check with the local contacts for more information regarding specific topics and times.

January 22, 2024- Friendly Hills Camp and Conference Center, Zanesville, Ohio.

Contact: Clifton Martin (martin.2422@osu.edu)

https://go.osu.edu/2024dinner

January 23, 2024- Jewell Community Center, Defiance , Ohio

Contact: Kyle Verhoff (Verhoff.115@osu.edu)

https://defiance.osu.edu/events/2024-farm-outlook-meeting

January 23, 2024- Napoli’s Pizza, Belpre, Ohio

Contact: Ed Brown (brown.6000@osu.edu)

https://go.osu.edu/SEcrops

January 25th, Plaza Inn, 491 S. Main St. Mt. Victory Ohio.

Contact Mark Badertscher (Badertscher.4@osu.edu)

https://hardin.osu.edu/sites/hardin/files/imce/Tillage%20Club%20Flyer%202024.pdf

January 30, 2024, 2022- Emmett Chapel, Circleville, Ohio.

Contact: Mike Estadt (estadt.3@osu.edu)

web: https://go.osu.edu/pickawayoutlook

February 6, 2024 Allen County Fairgrounds-Youth Activities Building.

Contact: Nic Baumer (baumer.15@osu.edu)

https://u.osu.edu/allenanr/upcoming-programs/ag-outlook-and-agronomy-day/

February 23, 2004- Der Dutchman Restaurant, Plain City, Ohio.

Contact: Wayne Dellinger (Dellinger.@osu.edu) web:

https://go.osu.edu/TriCountyOutlook

The OSU Extension Farm Office Team is pleased to be offering a “Farm Office Live” Zoom webinar on Friday, November 17 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

This month’s webinar will feature the following topics:

• Ohio’s role in organic grain production – Eric Richer, OSU Extension Field Specialist, Farm Management  
• Using Charitable Remainder Trusts – Robert Moore, Attorney and Research Specialist, OSU Agricultural and Resource Law Program
• Agronomy and Farm Management Podcast – Josh Winters, OSU Extension Educator and Bruce Clevenger, OSU Extension Field Specialist, Farm Management 
• Farm Business Analysis — Clint Schroeder, Program Manager, OSU Extension Farm Business Analysis Program
• Farmer Mental Health Concerns and Resources — Bridget Britton, Behavioral Health Field Specialist, Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Foreign Ownership of Farmland – Panel discussion — Peggy Hall (Attorney and Director, OSU Agricultural & Resource Law Program) with Micah Brown (Attorney with National Agricultural Law Center)

To register for this program (or to access replays of previous programs):

go.osu.edu/farmofficelive

More information about this program can be accessed at farmoffice.osu.edu

The OSU Extension Farm Office Team is pleased to be offering a “Farm Office Live” Zoom webinar on Friday, October 20 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

This month’s webinar will feature the following topics:

Federal Farm Program Assistance Update

Legislative Update

A Look at Upcoming Farm Management Programs

Crop Input Outlook for 2024

Handing an Insurance Claim

Farm Bill Update

Featured Farm Office Team members include Bruce Clevenger, Jeff Lewis, David Marrison, Eric Richer, and Barry Ward.

To register for this program (or to access replays of previous programs):

go.osu.edu/farmofficelive

More information about this program can be accessed at farmoffice.osu.edu

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

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/