All About Goats! Fall 2025 Webinar Series

by: Pressley Buurma, Ohio State University Extension in Seneca County, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator

Are you interested in learning more about goat production? Join Ohio State University Extension Small Ruminant Team for the 2025 All About Goats! Webinar. This webinar series is going to answer producers burning questions concerning their own herd and help new producers become knowledgeable herdsman. Whether you raise goats for dairy, fiber or meat production or as pets- this webinar is for you! All youth livestock exhibitors are encouraged to attend.

The topics and dates for this series are as follows:

  • September 22- Goat Health and Care
  • October 6- Farm Business and Management
  • October 20- Goat Processing
  • November 3- Livestock Marketing
  • November 17- Hay and Grain Production
  • December 1- Coyote Management
  • December 15- Open Forum: Ask Me Anything

Click here for the “All About Goats! Fall 2025” Flyer

The webinar is hosted via Zoom from 7-8 p.m. EST. Registration is required and can be completed by visiting go.osu.edu/allaboutgoats25

If you have any questions, please contact Pressley at 419-447-9722 or buurma.20@osu.edu

A Reminder of the Ohio September 1 Lease Termination Deadline

This  article was originally published at: https://farmoffice.osu.edu/blog/fri-08222025-710am/september-1-lease-termination-deadline-approaching-some-farm-leases

Written by: Peggy Kirk Hall, Attorney and Director, Agricultural & Resource Law Program

September 1 is fast approaching, and it’s an especially important date for landowners who lease cropland under an existing lease that does not address when or how the lease terminates. In those situations, September 1 is the deadline established by Ohio law for a landowner to notify a tenant that the landowner wants to terminate the lease. If the landowner does not provide notice by September 1, the tenant operator has a legal argument that the lease continues for another lease term because it was not terminated by the deadline.

Here are a few important provisions about the statutory termination law that are important to understand:

  1. The September 1 termination date applies only to leases that do not address when or how the lease ends–such as a verbal lease or a written lease that lacks ending date or termination provisions.  If a crop lease does include a termination date or a deadline for giving notice of termination, the statutory termination date law does not affect or change those agreed upon terms.
  2. The September 1 termination date applies only applies to crop leases.  It does not apply to leases for pasture, timber, farm buildings, horticultural buildings, or leases solely for equipment.
  3. To meet the law’s requirements, a landowner must give the notice of termination in writing and deliver it to the tenant operator by hand, mail, fax, or email on or before September 1.  While the law does not specify what the termination must say, we recommend including the date of the notice, the identity of the lease property being terminated, and the date the lease terminates.  The statutory termination law states that the date of termination will be the earlier of the end of harvest or December 31, unless the parties agree otherwise.
  4. Tenant operators of leased land are not subject to the September 1 termination deadline—the law applies only to the landowner.  Even so, it’s important for tenant operators to understand the new law because the law intends to protect a tenant if a landowner attempts to terminate a lease after September 1.  In those instances, the law gives the tenant a legal argument that the lease should continue for another term because the termination notice was provided past the statutory termination deadline.

Put leases in writing to avoid the statutory termination law. This law illustrates the importance of having a written farm lease that includes termination and renewal provisions. The parties can agree in advance when the lease terminates or renews as well as how and when to provide notice of termination or renewal of the lease.  Clearly written and detailed terms provide certainty for both parties and reduce the risk of lost inputs, lost rents and profits, and litigation due to a “late” termination. For resources on written farm leases, visit aglease101.org and refer to our farmland leasing resources in our ag law library.

Read more about the statutory termination law in our law bulletin and refer to Ohio’s “termination of agricultural leases” law in Section 5301.71 of the Ohio Revised Code

The Value of Peer Groups: The Power of People Helping Other People Succeed

MANAGER’S LIBRARY SERIES

John Foltz, Professor Emeritus, The Ohio State University; and Dean Emeritus, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and Professor Emeritus, Agricultural Economics, University of Idaho

Tracy Schohr, Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension

Lance Woodbury, Principal, Pinion (formerly KCoe Isom, LLP)

Originally published at: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/aede-0030

Peer groups have come into their own in the agricultural industry. They have been somewhat commonplace in business generally, yet less so in agriculture until recently. Peer groups are typically made up of like-minded farm or agribusiness owners who gather two to three times per year to discuss business challenges they face, and also to share solutions to these problems. They tend to work best when a facilitator assists in organizing the meeting, manages the agenda, and aids the flow of conversation in order to ensure that the time spent is efficient and impactful.

Why Should My Farm or Agribusiness Consider a Peer Group?

Davon Cook of Pinion, LLC states that peer group participants benefit in five basic ways:

  • Executive education and training.
  • Information sharing.
  • Resource sharing.
  • New idea sharing and “tough love” input regarding business challenges
  • Personal support.

These benefits become increasingly important as a family-owned business becomes more complex (Figure 1). This fact sheet reviews a number of the reasons why it may make farm-business sense to consider participating in a peer group, and some of the strategies to consider.

Information Sharing

Farmers or agribusiness owner/managers in peer groups exchange information about farming or business practices in their industry; crop management (in the case of farmers) or issues such as running a big floater sprayer (fertilizer business) or grain dryer (grain elevator); human resource management (finding good employees, keeping them motivated, and evaluating employees); and other best practices for running the business. This information sharing helps owner/managers think outside the box, apply new ideas to their operation, and find better ways of managing their business. The information sharing is reciprocal—what is important is not only that the group fits you, but also your fit with the group and what others in the group expect you to bring.

Objective Advice

Peer groups allow the owner/manager to meet people who are typically removed from their home operation or business. Where to look for a peer group that can provide this independent input is provided later in this fact sheet. People who are outside your organization can serve as an informal, external board of directors if your business does not have one (learn more at ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/aede-0019), because a peer group does not have an emotional or financial stake in your business. As a result, peer group members can offer objective and unbiased opinions that are typically not provided by family who are involved in your business or from co-workers. As relationships within peer groups evolve over time, an informal, external board of directors’ perspective can help professionalize an operation (Figure 2.). In addition, an informal board of directors consisting of a peer group can help owners/managers to stay focused and not lose sight of what they are doing, while also providing candid, unsolicited advice to help farming practices, business systems, and family relationships.

Financial Accountability

As agri-businesses grow and evolve, accounting and business management practices need to adjust. Some peer groups are founded on fiscal management and benchmarking. Other peer groups treat these financial areas as a component of their oversight expertise. With trusting relationships, members can share their farm’s production data such as yield, inputs, labor, and equipment, along with core financial rations such as liquidity, solvency, profitability, and efficiency. These farm financial metrics can be compared to other farms in the group or to individual farms. Peers then act as an informal board of directors by identifying the strengths and areas for improvement for the participating members’ farms. Peer groups can also provide a forum to discuss processes and systems that can improve crop tracking, accounting, depreciation, equipment maintenance, and more.  A multitude of farm-specific financial programs are available to purchase or customize, however, the opportunity to learn the trials, tribulations, and successes from your peers on systems in a similar operation can help you confidently choose what will work best for your farm or agribusiness.

Professionalizing Your Operation

Peer groups can help farmers and ranchers improve their skills and strategic thinking around professionalizing their operation. Professionalizing farm or ranching operations requires a more structured approach with formal tools, strategies, and processes (Figure 1). Professionally implementing structured farm financial systems requires key elements:

  • implementing structured farm financial systems (separate from personal and hobby financials)
  • clarifying roles and responsibilities
  • establishing regular communication
  • formalizing key employee talent development and feedback
  • developing written policies
  • engaging outside advisors
  • prioritizing succession and estate planning

Professionalizing a farm does not mean removing the family from the farm, it means building a business that works for the family and can last for generations.

Marketing and Purchasing Power

A core pillar of many peer groups is to focus on marketing and purchasing strategies, challenges, and successes. Through the group, members can gain insight into marketing tactics for crops like corn, soybeans, and livestock. Members discuss pricing data, planting strategies, market intelligence, and timing, including hedging, forward contracting, and futures. Peer group forums create a trusted space to share approaches and insights, helping peers make more informed decisions to increase profitability.

Diversifying Income

Some peer groups create opportunities to invest in farm and non-farming business ventures. Members or group facilitators can help identify or even create opportunities to diversify a farm or agribusiness through investments in land, adjacent agribusinesses, farming ventures, or other assets outside of core business area. This diversification and expansion of business enterprises can help diversify income streams, leverage resources, and bring new insights that may offer additional value to a core farming operation. Furthermore, these relationships may help secure additional acres for farming in a region or provide other valuable opportunities.

Understanding Politics, Policies, Programs, and Regulatory Compliance

During semi-annual gatherings or when attending webinars, peer-group members can invite guest speakers to share insight into federal policies, programs, and regulatory compliance. Insights may also be gained through a peer groups’ experience, guidance, and wisdom. For example, a peer group member can share how they utilize Farm Bill programs offered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to invest in water efficiency and nutrient management. Such conversations inspire others to seek out funding to improve their farming and ranching operations. Agricultural regulations are often burdensome, time-consuming, and complex, but peer groups can play a valuable role in helping navigate the rules and requirements of agricultural regulations.

Reducing Risks

Many peer group members share how their group has helped their family farm reduce risk. These risk-mitigation measures are diverse, ranging from employee training, farm safety, disaster preparedness, and employment-law compliance, to liability insurance coverage, legal strategies, and crop insurance programs. One family noted how their peer group exposed them to a new insurance company with a greater understanding of risk coverage options, allowing them to reduce farming risks where they needed it most by using coverage their local crop insurance agent never discussed with them.

Outside Support System

Farmers and ranchers deal with emotional stress from many issues, such as drought, wildfire, markets, trade policies, economic conditions, and time pressures (Pinzón, et al., 2025; Woodmansee, et al., 2025; Kohlbeck, et al., 2023; Rudolphi, et al., 2024). While coffee shop talk may keep you connected with neighbors and other business owners, it is typically not the place to share business wins and struggles. Trust and confidentiality are critical components in healthy peer groups. In fact, peer-group participants list trust and confidentiality as being among the most helpful aspects of their group, noting that they feel supported and heard.

A peer group can create forums for deeply emotional topics such as death, addiction, suicide, and divorce within a family-agribusiness operation. Opening the door to conversations centered on emotional trauma can help participants recognize, process, and cope with the effects of trauma on the mind, body, and family. In a number of peer groups, these conversations include training from outside professionals. This can lead to new protocols on the farm, rebuild relationships, and thereby reduce future risks. In short, peer groups allow members to be open about their successes, setbacks, and struggles—and provide a forum to ask for help.

Succession Planning

Many businesses, including family farms and ranches, or closely-held agribusinesses, encounter significant challenges when it comes to transitioning from one generation to the next. This phenomenon is often referred to as the “third-generation curse” or the “family business succession issue.” A commonly cited statistic is that about 70% of family businesses do not successfully pass to the next generation.

Through peer groups, owners/managers get assistance, learn about successful transitions, and perhaps most importantly, learn to avoid the mistakes that peers encountered while transitioning between generations. Peer groups encourage an exchange of ideas on how to bring in the next generation, from mentoring 6, 7, and 8-year-olds on farming; to training early teens on operating equipment; to opening the discussion about farm finances with your high school senior. These conversations further evolve into planning how to integrate a college-educated daughter’s passion for farming into potential roles and responsibilities in the business. Finally, peer groups can help tackle the big elephant in many farming operations—the transition of the senior generation away from day-to-day management and administration.

Problem Solving

With many businesses, the owner/manager wears all the hats:

  • operational
  • financial
  • technical
  • mechanical
  • supervisory

As a result, it is easy to “put your head down” and work through challenges without stopping to reflect before making strategic management decisions. Going to a peer-group meeting and hearing an outside perspective is extremely helpful in allowing an owner/manager to take a step back and look at the “30,000 foot view” instead of the day-to-day issues. It provides an outside perspective of a clear path forward, or perhaps a more simple solution, whether it be in the form of agronomic practices, financial strategies, or decisions on contingency or succession planning.

Networking Opportunities

Peer groups provide the opportunity to build relationships with other farmers, vendors, or agribusiness leaders. These relationships with tractor dealers, bankers, suppliers and consultants can lead to savings on inputs, expansion of the operation, or help professionalize a farm to withstand market volatility, succession, and more.

Know What You Want

Business owners or managers looking for a peer group need to know what they expect from their participation. They also need to find a group that aligns with their objectives. As an owner/manager, it is important to take the time to understand what you want from the experience. Many peer groups match owners/managers with people who are not from their geographic area. This ensures that members are not in competition with each other.

If you want to benchmark costs and buy inputs together with farms similar to yours, Davon Cook, Principal, Pinion, suggests “either an industry specific group—such as a feedlot or dairy or row crops—or a regional group so you have the same vendors, yields, and costs” (Pinion, 2025).

If, however, you are seeking new ideas that push you outside of your comfort zone, Cook suggests joining a peer group with diverse types of operations, perhaps far out of your geography. This provides an opportunity to travel, see new areas, and create a competitive advantage compared to your neighbors.

Other considerations include culture, like-mindedness, and age demographics. Some groups are all peers in a specific age range (e.g. 35–50), whereas other peer group consist of multiple generations, such as senior members (50–70-year-olds), emerging leaders (30–50-year-olds), and a rising (young adult) generation.

Finally, consider whether you are willing and ready to work “on” the businesses instead of “in” the business. The right peer group will challenge your strategic perspective.

Next Steps

Commit to Participate

Getting the most out of a peer group takes a commitment to participate. Jay Peterson, a peer group member and farmer from Saskatoon, Canada states, “You can’t just sit back either, you have to speak up to be part of the group. But these people are going to challenge you because they all have different life experiences.”

Give It Some Time

It is important to give the peer group a fair chance to help you with your business practices. It can take time to get comfortable with the format and the people involved. As with many new situations, bonding, community, camaraderie, and trust will often occur, but can take time to develop.

How Do I Find a Peer Group?

As a result of the success of peer groups in farming and agribusiness, several routes are available for finding one that meets your needs. The first approach might be to check with your local university extension office, farming associations in your area, or online farming communities.

In addition, a number of groups help facilitate peer groups for a fee:

  • Pinion Global, LLC (pinionglobal.com) is a leading food and agricultural consulting and accounting firm with community roots and global reach. They offer peer groups for executive education, stating that, “Operating a successful agricultural business in a small town can be lonely and moving your enterprise to a more professional level is no easy task. Participating in a peer group combines executive education with support from others in similar situations.”
  • Ag View Solutions (agviewsolutions.com) located in Iowa and Illinois, “presents services, tools, and consulting information to growers locally and globally.” They work with businesses to pair your business “with operations that will best facilitate growth, feedback, and synergistic networks for taking your farm to the next level.”
  • UnCommon Farms (uncommonfarms.com) is based in Illinois, providing farm and agribusiness consulting and peer group facilitating. According to UnCommon Farms, “Our member farms share their best practices, struggles, and triumphs during our trainings, workshops, peer groups, and members-only conferences.”
  • Backswath Management (backswath.com/peer-groups) is based in Canada and provides peer group and financial benchmarking services for “forward-thinking farmers working to sharpen their management skills, tackle challenges, and build stronger, more profitable operations.”

Conclusion

A peer group can become an invaluable source of new ideas, provide a sounding board, and be a source of great friendships. Take stock of what such a group could offer you and your business. If the benefits align with what you are looking for, seek out a group and put the experience to the test. When joining a peer farming/agribusiness group, one of the overarching goals is to improve your family farm or agribusiness enterprise across the spectrum of topics addressed above.

Multigenerational family farming and agribusiness enterprises go through stages, including survival mode, a more stable phase, an attempt to become more professional, and finally, they may contemplate becoming more institutional where most of the family may not be involved in the business but they continue to own the assets (Figure 2). Through peer groups, your farm or agribusiness can overcome setbacks on your business trajectory and achieve your personal metrics of institutional stability.

References

Kohlbeck S., Quinn, K., deRoon-Cassini, T., Hargarten, S., Nelson, D., & Cassidy, L. (2023). A social ecological analysis of farmer stresses and supports in Wisconsin. SSM – Qualitative Research in Health, 3, 100248. DOI:10.1016/j.ssmqr.2023.100248

Pinion. (2025). Davon Cook. pinionglobal.com/people/davon-cook

Pinzón, N., Galt, R. E., Roche, L. M., Schohr, T., Shobe, B., Koundinya, V., Brimm, K., & Powell, J. (2025). Farming and ranching through wildfire: Producers’ critical role in fire risk management and emergency response. California Agriculture, 79(1), 9–18. doi.org/​10.3733/​001c.128403

Rudolphi, J. M., Cuthbertson, C., Kaur, A., & Sarol, J. (2024). A comparison between farm-related stress, mental health, and social support between men and women farmers. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 21(6), 684. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060684

Tagiuri, R., & Davis, J. (1996). Bivalent attributes of the family firm. Family Business Review, 9(2), 199–208. doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6248.1996.00199.x

Woodmansee, G., Macon, D., Schohr, T., & Roche, L. (2025). Building ranch resilience to drought: Management capacity, planning, and adaptive learning during California’s 2012–2016 drought. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 98, 63–72. DOI: 10.1016/j.rama.2024.07.009

Coffee and Grain Marketing Updated Slated for August Zoom to be held on May 16 at 7:30 a.m.

OSU Extension invites grain producers and industry personnel to attend the quarterly grain market conversation with Dr. Seungki Lee, Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics (AEDE) on Friday, August 22 from 7:30 – 8:00 a.m.

During this Zoom webinar, Dr. Lee will provide his insights on the August 2025 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) Crop Report which was released  on August 12. This early morning webinar will be a great way for Ohio farmers to learn more about the factors impacting the corn, soybean, and wheat markets. Producers are encouraged to bring their questions to this early morning conversation.

Click here for program flyer

There is no fee to attend this quarterly webinar session. Pre-registration can be made at go.osu.edu/coffeewithDrLee

These webinars are sponsored by: OSU Extension, Farm Financial Management & Policy Institute (FFMPI), and Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics (AEDE).

Ohio Farmland Leasing Update

Join OSU Extension on August 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon for the “Ohio Farmland Leasing Update”  which will be held via Zoom webinar. Topics which will be discussed include:

  • Cash Rent Outlook–Survey Data and Key Issues Impacting Change
  • Legal Issues with Terminating a Farmland Lease
  • Drafting Farm Leases for Drainage Tile Improvements
  • Leasing the Pore Space Beneath Your Farmland
  • Farmland Leasing Resources

This webinar will be taught by Farm office team members Peggy Kirk Hall, Robert Moore, and Barry Ward.

There is no fee to attend this webinar, however registration is requested. Registration can be made at go.osu.edu/register4fol

Click here for a program flyer for this event.

2025 Third Quarter Fertilizer Prices Across Ohio

Click here for PDF version of this article

The third quarter results from a survey of Ohio fertilizer retailers showed prices in Ohio were somewhat mixed when compared to the national averages reported by Progressive Farmer – DTN (Quinn, July 2025). The survey was completed by 25 retailers, representing 16 counties, who do business in the state of Ohio. Respondents were asked to quote spot prices as of the first day of the quarter (July 1st) based on sale type.

The survey found the average prices of fertilizer were lower in Ohio compared to the national prices for all major fertilizers except DAP. However, only two were significantly lower (more than 5%): 28% UAN was 10% lower and 10-34-0 APP was 6% lower than the national average. The national average price for DAP was the same as in Ohio.

When compared to prices from the last quarter’s Ohio survey, all fertilizer prices were up, seven were up significantly (more than 5%) and three were up more than 15%: 28% UAN, up to $404/ton from $341/ton; urea, up to $667/ton from $561/ton; and Ammonium thio-sulfate (ATS) up to $464/ton from $383/ton.

When compared to the July 2024 average Ohio prices, the July 2025 average Ohio prices were significantly higher for all fertilizers measured in the survey. 28% UAN and urea both saw significant increases over 2024 prices in the same quarter, coming in at changes of 23% and 24% respectively.

The chart below (Table 1.) is the summary of the survey responses. The responses (n) are the number of survey responses for each product. The minimum and maximum values reflect the minimum and maximum values reported in the survey. The average is the simple average of all survey responses for each product rounded to the nearest dollar. We recognize that many factors influence a company’s spot price for fertilizer including but not limited to availability, geography, volume, cost of freight, competition, regulation, etc.

Table 1. Third Quarter 2025 Ohio Fertilizer Prices

Product

 Responses(n) Sale Type Min

$/ton

 Max

$/ton

Avg

$/ton
NH3 9 FOB Plant 650 830 774
UAN 28-0-0 18 Direct to Farm 345 470 404
Urea 46-0-0 17 FOB Plant 595 745 667
MAP 11-52-0 15 FOB Plant 775 1055 862
DAP18-46-0 12 FOB Plant 750 900 826
APP 10-34-0 14 Direct to Farm 620 750 673
Potash 0-0-60 17 FOB Plant 435 519 474
Ammonium Sulfate              21-0-0-24 14 FOB Plant 570 645 606
Ammonium Thio-Sulfate    12-0-0-26 11 FOB Plant 410 520 464
Poultry Litter 3 Delivered and applied, < 25 miles 55 65 59
Farm Diesel                           (ie. off-road diesel) 4 Direct to Farm, $/gallon 2.57 3.89 3.17

 

If you are a retailer interested in participating in this study, please contact Amanda Bennett at bennett.709@osu.edu.

Authors: Amanda Bennett, Eric Richer, Clint Schroeder, OSU Extension

Extension Contributors: Pressley Buurma, Brett Kinzel, TJ Wells, Josh Winters

 

References

Quinn, R. 2025. DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends. DTN Progressive Farmer. Accessed online July 14, 2025 at https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/crops/article/2025/07/09/prices-rise-5-fertilizers-urea-dips

Bennett, A., Richer, E., & Schroeder, C, (2025). 2025 Second Quarter Fertilizer Prices Across Ohio. Farm Office Blog. https://farmoffice.osu.edu/farm-management/quarterly-fertilizer-price-summary

Bennett, A., Richer, E., & Schroeder, C, (2024). 2024 Third Quarter Fertilizer Prices Across Ohio. Farm Office Blog. https://farmoffice.osu.edu/farm-management/quarterly-fertilizer-price-summary

 

The North American Manure Expo coming on July 30th and 31st in Wauseon, Ohio

The North American Manure Expo is coming to Wauseon Ohio on July 30th and 31st at the Fulton County Fairgrounds. This event was will showcase research, innovation and solutions found within manure management. The event brings manure haulers, applicators, brokers, nutrient management specialists, researchers, producers, manufacturers, custom operators and extension personnel together for two days of learning, networking and evaluation of new technology, research, equipment and opportunities. Over the two days we have tours, an industry trade show, live solid and liquid manure demonstrations and educational sessions.

The first morning of the Expo is dedicated to tours that showcase innovative manure solutions. Attendees can purchase tickets on-line or there may be room for walkups to one of the four tours:

Tour #1: Andre Farms & Stuckey Farms – visit one of Ohio’s largest Class II EPA composting facilities followed by a beef and grain operation that will showcase how they have gotten more out of compost through a variety of projects.

Tour #2: Bridgewater Dairy – see how this farm is leading the way in manure management and renewable energy. Tour guests will see their new methane digester, manure irrigation system and a manure pipeline, followed by hearing about their long-term approach to sustainability.

Tour #3: Precision manure irrigation – See the Rain360 irrigation system in action. Farmers and experts will cover the system’s real-world performance, economic benefits and environmental advantages.

Tour #4: Seiler Farms – This tour will showcase innovative water management practices including a two-stage ditch, a proven method for improving drainage, reducing nutrient runoff and enhancing water quality. See how they protect water resources while maintaining crop production.

Day one also includes manure pond agitation demonstrations with boats and sticks at a nearby dairy farm, manure separation demos, rapid manure transfer from tankers to frac tanks demonstrations, confined space safety training and the always popular pressurized hose release safety demonstration.

Day two of the Expo kicks off with 16 educational sessions in the morning. These are followed by both solid and liquid manure tanker and drag hose application demonstrations and a manure spill containment and stream water restoration demonstration.

Exhibitors will have booths in the trade show both days featuring new and manure innovative technology so you can visit and learn from these equipment makers. Puck will once again have their always-well-attended pump school.

Attendees can register online tor just show up. For the full schedule, information on the educational sessions, registration information and to purchase tour tickets, visit ManureExpo.com.

May Showers May Lead to June Prevented Planting Decisions

By: Eric Richer, Associate Professor and Field Specialist, Farm Management, OSU Extension; Carl Zulauf, Professor Emeritus, OSU Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics; and Aaron Wilson, Assistant Professor and Field Specialist, Ag Weather and Climate, OSU Extension

Note: this is a cross posting of an article posted on the Farm Office Blog on May 29.

According to the May 27 Crop Progress Report by USDA National Ag Statistics Service, Ohio had only 54% of corn planted, well behind the 5-year average of 73% planted. In 2024, 74% was planted by this report date. In 2019, a year with significant planting delay, only 22% of the corn had been planted by this report date. In that year, the wettest spring conditions were confined to northwest Ohio. In contrast, much more of the state has received well above average precipitation in 2025, with areas near the Ohio River and northeast Ohio seeing the largest difference compared to normal.

The lag in corn planting progress this year has prompted increasing interest in evaluating the Prevented Planting option available through multi-peril crop insurance. The purpose of this article is to walk through the options, mechanics, and economics of electing prevented planting for your corn crop utilizing 2025 values.

We are not crop insurance agents, so our most important message is that for those thinking about prevented planting talk sooner rather than later with your insurance agent.

In Ohio, June 5 is the date at which prevented planting becomes an electable option.  For soybeans, the date is June 20.

As of June 5, a farmer who has individual farm yield (YP) and revenue (RP and RP-HPE) insurance for corn has 3 basic options:

Option 1: Plant corn. Until June 5, you are eligible for your full guarantee at the coverage level you elected. Using the 20-year USDA-NASS Trendline Ohio corn yield of 190 bu/acre as the Actual Production History (APH) insurance yield and the $4.70/bu 2025 projected insurance price for corn, the full guarantee at 80% coverage is $714/acre (190 x $4.70 x 80%). If you elect to plant corn after June 5, your guarantee declines 1% per day through June 25. For example, if you plant corn on June 8, the guarantee formula (190 APH, 80% coverage) would be: 80% x 190 bu/ac x $4.70 x 97% = $693/acre. If you plant after June 25, you can choose not to insure your corn crop or you can insure at the policy’s prevented planting revenue level. Planting dates need to be recorded, as rules apply on a field-by-field and acre-by-acre basis.

Option 2: Switch from corn to another crop, most likely soybeans. You are charged the soybean insurance premium, not the corn premium. A key agronomy question: Did you apply a chemistry that prevents you from planting soybeans? June weather (local and regional), supply/demand economics, geo-political issues, trade policy and input options increase the complexity of this decision.

Option 3: File for prevented planting, assuming corn is not planted by June 5. The mechanics of prevented planting are important. To qualify for prevented planting, a crop must have been planted, harvested, and insured on the acres in question in one of the last four years. Prevented planting acres must total at least 20 acres or 20% of the insured land unit (lesser of the two). Consult your crop insurance agent to determine your total eligible acres, as this is a key question. Also, prevented planting claims can be denied if prevented planting is not common in your area.

A corn policy has a standard 55% prevented planting guarantee (buy-up available to 60%). To be very clear, the Harvest Price Option does not apply. Prevented planting indemnity payments are not re-adjusted to a higher harvest price. Prevented planting does not affect your yield history as long as you do not plant a second crop.

To continue our example from above, the indemnity payment for prevented planting corn would be: 190 bu/ac x $4.70 x 80% coverage x 55% prevented planting rate = $393/acre. Please remember that this calculation can vary widely based on coverage level elected (50-85%), prevented planting buy up (55% to 60%) and the insured APH yield for the claimed acres. In our example, this $393/acre would also be the amount at which you could chose to insure a corn crop planted after June 25 (versus no insurance at all).

In comparing and evaluating the three options, questions to ask include:

  • What inputs (fertilizer, chemicals, etc.) have already been applied?
  • Will you need to pay ‘restocking fees’ for returned seed or other inputs?
  • Does my applied chemistry limit my options?
  • What are the year-long weed control costs?
  • If utilizing cover crops, what will their cost be?
  • Is the land owned, or cash or share rented?
  • Will the prevented planting indemnity cover costs already incurred and the fixed costs of Land, Labor, and Management?
  • What do I save on machinery wear and tear by not planting and harvesting?
  • What are potential additional drying costs due to late harvesting?
  • What is my expected price at harvest?
  • Are there missed opportunity costs (marketing) because of taking prevented planting?
  • What effect does your crop insurance unit structure have on your decision?
  • What are livestock feed needs?
  • Are there costs associated with not fulfilling forward contracted corn?
  • Do I want to tile the field?

This article does not address these questions, but you should address them and probably already have started to do so.

Prevented planting insurance payments can qualify for a 1-year deferral for inclusion in income tax. If this is a consideration for you, please talk to your insurance agent and tax professional as specific conditions must be met. Check out a previous farm office blog for more insight.

A summary comparison is net return to the prevented planting option vs. net return to planting a crop. This comparison involves a number of assumptions about price, yield, and cost. This is decision making under uncertainty. Your assumptions may or may not turn out to be accurate.

Reporting prevented planting acres, should you elect that option, is quite simple. To report prevented planting acres, you first need to turn in a notice (starting June 6) to your insurance agent. Then report prevented planting to USDA Farm Service Agency to get it on your acreage report. Then, work with your adjuster to finalize the claim, which will generally be paid within 30 days. NOTE: total acres of prevented planting corn that you can file in 2025 cannot exceed the greatest number of acres of corn you reported in any of the previous four years (2021-2024).

Every farmer’s situation has unique considerations.  We encourage you to run the numbers for yourself and make an informed farm management decision with the tools you have available and in consultation with your crop insurance agent.

References:

Richer. E., Bruynis, C.  (2019). Prevent plant…What’s That Again? OSU’s Ohio Ag Manager Blog. https://u.osu.edu/ohioagmanager/2019/05/23/prevent-plantwhats-that-again/

Richer. E., Bruynis, C. (2022). Evaluating the Prevent Plant Option. OSU’s Ohio Ag Manager Blog. https://u.osu.edu/ohioagmanager/2022/06/09/evaluating-the-prevent-plant-option/

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (2025). Crop Progress-May 27, 2025.https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/8336h188j/8049j4596/gx41pg805/prog2125.pdf

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (2019). Crop Progress-May 28, 2019. https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/8336h188j/4b29bg92m/8910k3910/prog2219.pdf

USDA Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (2024).  Prevented Planting Standards Handbook. November 11, 2024. https://www.rma.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2024-11/2025-25370-Prevented-Planting-Standards-Handbook.pdf

House Farm Bill Reconciliation Summary Overview

By: Carl Zulauf, Emeritus Professor, Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, Ohio State University, May 27, 2025

Note:  The U.S. House of Representatives passed its budget reconciliation bill on May 22, 2025.  Prior to the bill’s passage, the budget reconciliation process required the House Agriculture Committee to reduce spending by $230 billion over the 10-year budget period. The committee’s final proposed provisions for doing so, which represents the Farm Bill attention we’ve long awaited, were included in the budget reconciliation bill passed by the House. Thank you to our guest author and Farm Bill expert, Dr. Carl Zulauf, for the following summary of the House’s proposed Farm Bill changes that now move over to the Senate for consideration.

Click here for PDF version of article

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Secretary of Agriculture shall not increase cost of the thrifty food plan based on a reevaluation or update of its composition.

Cost of thrifty food plan indexed for CPI inflation.

Work requirements are increased.

Required state matching share goes from 0% currently to 5% in Fiscal Year (FY) 2028.  This cuts Federal spending without cutting program benefits.

Matching share increases as state’s SNAP error rate increases.  Matching share can be as high as 25%.

Farm Safety Net

Support Prices

Statutory Statutory Loan Loan
Reference Reference Percent Rate Rate Percent
Commodity Unit Price Price Increase Price Price Increase
Wheat Bushel $5.50 $6.35 15% $3.38 $3.72 10%
Barley Bushel $4.95 $5.45 10% $2.50 $2.75 10%
Oats Bushel $2.40 $2.65 10% $2.00 $2.20 10%
Peanuts Pound $0.268 $0.315 18% $0.178 $0.195 10%
Corn Bushel $3.70 $4.10 11% $2.20 $2.42 10%
Grain Sorghum Bushel $3.95 $4.40 11% $2.20 $2.42 10%
Soybeans Bushel $8.40 $10.00 19% $6.20 $6.82 10%
Dry Peas Pound $0.1100 $0.1310 19% $0.0615 $0.0687 12%
Lentils Pound $0.1997 $0.2375 19% $0.1300 $0.1430 10%
Canola Pound $0.2015 $0.2375 18% $0.1009 $0.1110 10%
Large Chickpeas Pound $0.2154 $0.2565 19% $0.1400 $0.1540 10%
Small Chickpeas Pound $0.1904 $0.2265 19% $0.1000 $0.1100 10%
Sunflower Seed Pound $0.2015 $0.2375 18% $0.1009 $0.1110 10%
Flaxseed Bushel $11.28 $13.30 18% $5.6504 $6.22 10%
Mustard Seed Pound $0.2015 $0.2375 18% $0.1009 $0.1110 10%
Rapeseed Pound $0.2015 $0.2375 18% $0.1009 $0.1110 10%
Safflower Pound $0.2015 $0.2375 18% $0.1009 $0.1110 10%
Crambe Pound $0.2015 $0.2375 18% $0.1009 $0.1110 10%
Sesame Seed Pound $0.2015 $0.2375 18% $0.1009 $0.1110 10%
Rice (long grain) Pound $0.1400 $0.1690 21% $0.0700 $0.0770 10%
Rice (med/short grain) Pound $0.1400 $0.1690 21% $0.0700 $0.0770 10%
Rice (temperate japonica) Pound $0.1730 not given $0.0700
Seed Cotton Pound $0.3670 $0.4200 14% $0.2500
Upland Cotton Pound $0.45-$0.52 $0.55
Extra Long Staple Cotton Pound $0.95 $1.00 5%
Graded Wool Pound $1.15 $1.60 39%
Ungraded Wool Pound $0.40 $0.55 38%
Mohair Pound $4.20 $5.00 19%
Honey Pound $0.69 $1.50 117%

Separate program for temperate japonica rice appears to have been terminated.

Starting with 2031 crop year, prior year reference price increased by multiplying it by 1.005.

In no year can a reference price exceed 115% of its 2026-2030 statutory value, so adjustment does not apply if reference price escalator is at its maximum.

For long grain and medium grain rice, marketing loans repaid at prevailing world market price.

For upland cotton, marketing loans repaid at lowest prevailing world market price.

For upland cotton, a refund shall be provided to producer equal to difference between the lowest prevailing world market price and the repayment amount.

For 2026-2031 crop years, upland cotton and extra-long staple cotton shall receive storage payments equal to the lessor of the submitted tariff rate for the marketing year or $4.90 for California and Arizona or $3.00 for other states.

Textile mill assistance equals 3 cents / pound until July 31, 2025; 5 cents / pound thereafter.’

Additional Base Acres

Up to 30 million new base acres can be added by eligible farms.

Only farms that planted or prevent planted a crop over 2019-2023 can add new base acres.

An eligible farm is a farm for which 2019-2023 crop year average program commodity acres planted or prevent planted plus lesser of (a) 15% of farm’s total acres or (b) 2019-2023 crop year average acres planted or prevent planted to commodities other than program commodities, trees, bushes, vines, grass, or pasture (including cropland that was idle or fallow)  exceeds the farm’s base acres as of September 30, 2024 excluding unassigned cotton base acres. 5-year average includes years with no acres planted or prevent planted.-Positive difference is farm’s potential new base acres; includes unassigned cotton base.

New base acre are allocated among covered commodities using the ratio of 2019-2023 average acres planted or prevent planted to covered crops on the farm to the 5-year average of covered crops planted or prevent planted plus new base acres.

If multiple covered crops were grown on a given acre in any year from 2019-2023 (other than a covered crop produced under an established practice of double cropping), the owner elects which of the covered crop is included in potential new base.

A farm’s total base acres after adding new base acres cannot exceed the farm’s total acres.

Pro-rating occurs if total eligible new base acres exceed 30,000,000.  Each eligible farm’s new base acres is reduced by an across-the board share so new base acres total 30 milion.

Assessment:  Farm Service Agency (FSA) reported roughly 270 million base acres for 2019 crop year after excluding unassigned cotton base acres of roughly 3 million.  Sum of average National Agriculture Statistics Service planted acres plus average FSA prevent plant acres to current program crops over 2019-2023 equal roughly 264 million, implying approximately 24 million acres (264 + 30 – 270) of current non-covered crops, including unassigned cotton base acres, could be added to US base acres.  This is a major expansion of commodity program payments to current noncovered crops.

Price Loss Coverage (PLC) Payment Yield

Beginning with crop year 2026, PLC payment yields for new base acres on a farm are current PLC payment yields for the farm.  If the farm has no current payment yield for a crop, PLC payment yield for the farm is set equal to average payment yield for the county in which the farm is situated or is determined using existing methods if no PLC yield exists.

Producer Election

Annual producer election is extended through 2031 crop year.

If no election is made, default choice is the same coverage for each covered commodity as existed for 2024 crop year.

Agriculture Risk Coverage

Coverage level is increased from 86% to 90% beginning with the 2025 crop year.

Payment cap per base acre is increased from 10% to 12.5% of the benchmark revenue beginning with the 2025 crop year.

Special Rule for Seed Cotton and Corn

In determining the maximum payment rate for ARC-CO and PLC, the current year price can be no lower than $0.30 / pound for seed cotton and ‘$3.30 / bushel for corn.

No marketing loan rate can be established for seed cotton.’’

Payment Limits

Increases number of potential payment entities on a farm by expanding entities designated as qualified pass-through entities

Increases per person payment entity from ‘$125,000 ’to ‘$155,000.

Payment limit is indexed to CPI inflation.

Payment limit waived if 75% or more of the average gross income of the person or legal entity is derived from farming, ranching, or silviculture activities.

Sugar Program

Sets loan rate for raw cane sugar for 2025-2031 crop years at 24.00 cents / pound and for beet sugar at 136.55% of the raw cane sugar loan rate.

Adjusts rate for storing sugar forfeited to the government.

Changes beet sugar allotments.

Dairy Margin Coverage

Updates production history to highest annual milk marketing during any one of the 2021, 2022, or 2023 calendar years.

Raises maximum coverage from 5 million to 6 million pounds.

Livestock and Tree Loss Assistance:

Payment rate for losses due to predation is 100% of market value of affected livestock.

Payment rate for losses due to adverse weather or disease is 75% of market value of affected livestock.

Adds payment for unborn livestock.

For livestock forage disaster program, changes eligibility from 8 consecutive weeks to 4 consecutive weeks or 7 of 8 consecutive weeks.  Payments can be received for 2 months of losses instead of current 1 month of losses.

Adds assistance for losses of farm-raised fish due to piscivorous birds.

Changes determination of normal mortality rate for tree losses and honeybee colony losses.

CROP INSURANCE

Premium Subsidy:

Sets highest coverage level at 85% for individual yield or revenue insurance, 90% for individual yield or revenue insurance aggregated across multiple commodities, and 95% for area yield or revenue insurance.

Increases coverage level for Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) from 86% to 90%.

Increases premium subsidy for SCO from 65% to 80%.

Percent Premium Subsidy for Basic and Optional Unit by Percent Coverage Level
Coverage Level CAT 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85
Current Subsidy 100 67 64 64 59 59 55 48 38
House Subsidy 100 67 69 69 64 64 60 51 41

Administrative and Operating (A&O) Expenses:

Beginning with the 2026 reinsurance year, an additional A&O subsidy is to be paid to insurance providers for eligible contracts.  Amount is 6% of net book premium.  Eligible contract is a crop insurance contract in an eligible State.  Excluded are catastrophic risk contracts, area-based or similar contracts; and a contract that the provider does not incur loss adjustment expenses as determined by the Corporation.  Eligible state is a state in Group 2 or Group 3 as defined in the Standard Reinsurance Agreement for reinsurance year 2026) and eligible contract’s loss ratio exceeds 120% of total net book premium written by all approved insurance providers.

Beginning with 2026 reinsurance year, A&O reimbursement to approved insurance providers and agents for Specialty Crops shall be at least 17% of premium used to define loss ratio.

A&O reimbursements for contracts covering agricultural commodities subject to an increase during 2011-2015 reinsurance years are to be adjusted for inflation in a manner consistent with the 2011-2015 increases.  For 2026 reinsurance year, inflation adjustment shall not exceed the percentage change for the preceding reinsurance year included in Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. ‘‘

Increases funds for monitoring program compliance and integrity from current $0.004 billion per FY to $0.006 billion per FY plus $0.01 billion for a related statute for FY2026 and after.

Authorizes creation of a Poultry Insurance Pilot Program.  Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi must be included.

Beginning and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers

Extends eligibility to 10 years from 5 years.

Increases subsidy assistance from 10 percentage points  to 15 percentage points for 1st and 2nd reinsurance years, 13 percentage points for 3rd reinsurance year, 11 percentage points for 4th reinsurance year, and 10 percentage points for 5th – 10th  reinsurance years.’

CONSERVATION

Authorized funding for Environmental Quality Incentives Program ($2.7 billion for FY2026 to $3.3 billion for FY2028 – 2031); Conservation Stewardship Program ($1.3 billion for FY2026 to $1.4 billion for FY2029 – 31); Agricultural Conservation Easement Program ($0.625 billion for FY2026 to $0.700 billion in FY2029 – 2031); and Regional Conservation Partnership Program ( $0.425 billion for FY2026 to $0.450 billion for FY2027 – 2031).

Authorizes funds for Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention (‘$150 million / year). Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program ($10 million / year), Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program ($15 million / year), and Grassroots Source Water Protection Program ($1 million through FY2031).

TRADE

Authorizes funds through FY 2031 for trade promotion programs: Market Access Program, $0.40 billion / year; Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program, $0.07 billion / year; E (Kika) De La Garza Emerging Markets Program, $0.008 billion / year; Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops, $0.009 billion / year; and Priority Trade Fund, $0.0035 billion / year.

Gives Secretary of Agriculture discretion to provide a greater allocation to a program(s) for which amount requested exceeds available funding, but should try to support exports of types of commodities that funds were originally allocated.

RESEARCH

Authorizes funds for Urban, Indoor, and Other Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education, and Extension Initiative, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, Scholarships for Students at 1890 Institutions, Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities, Specialty Crop Research Initiative, and Research Facilities Act.

Extends certain provisions of Secure Rural Schools & Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.

Rescinds unobligated balances of Competitive Grants for Non-Federal Forest Landowners program and State and Private Forestry Conservation Programs.

ENERGY

Extends Biobased Markets Program & Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels through 2031.

OTHER

Authorizes funding for Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention, Specialty Crop Block Grants, Organic Production and Market Data Initiative, Modernization and Improvement of International Trade Technology Systems and Data Collection, National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, and Multiple Crop and Pesticide Use Survey.

Authorized funding for Animal Disease Prevention and Management Program and Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program.

Extends Pima Agriculture Cotton Trust Fund, Agriculture Wool Apparel Manufacturers Trust Fund, Wool Research and Promotion, and Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund through 2031.

Agricultural Workforce Compensation Trends in Ohio and its Peer States

by Dr. Margaret Jodlowski (jodlowski.1@0su.edu) and Cassie Mavis (cassie.mavis@ag.tamu.edu)

Read the full bulletin.

Agricultural employers face the challenging balancing act of navigating tightening margins while needing to attract and retain workers on their operations. While farm labor issues are perhaps not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Ohio agriculture, workforce dynamics play an important role in all of Ohio’s agricultural operations, even those that are more row crop focused or less labor intensive. Wages and other forms of compensation are, of course, key factors that influence workers’ behavior. Using the only nationally representative data that directly surveys farmworkers, we can examine workers’ income trends over the last 20 years, compare wages by job type and worker demographics, and explore non-wage compensation.

Although the overall average wage has grown slowly, this average does not convey important differences by worker type, experience, and other important factors.

  • Workers’ hourly wage has grown only about $4 per hour over the last 20 years; the trend in Ohio closely matches the trend in the Corn Belt and Northern Plains (CBNP), which is made up of states with relatively similar production characteristics as Ohio:
  • Worker experience (measured by years spent working in agriculture) has grown more valuable since the COVID-19 pandemic: laborers with 20 or more years of experience saw a significant increase in their average wage in the period between 2020 and 2022
  • Equipment operators also experienced a notable jump in their average wage during this period. Workers with these skills were especially important to retain and competition from other industries was stiff.
  • In addition, workers experienced few positive changes in terms of other forms of non-wage compensation: fewer employers are able to offer health insurance and the percent offering bonuses (of any kind) has remained relatively stable since 2000.

The need for a well-functioning agricultural labor market is always a pressing one. Compensation is a major factor that determines where individuals decide to work. As agriculture continues to change, understanding what compensation to provide employees can play a crucial role in securing the workforce necessary to succeed as an industry.