2024 Farm Bill Summit

Ever wondered how the Farm Bill affects our food and agricultural landscape? The Farm Bill, a substantial legislative package passed by the federal government every few years, impacts how funds are allocated for various crucial aspects of agriculture, nutrition, conservation efforts, natural resource protection, and support systems across the nation. To delve deeper into this vital legislation and its implications, we invite you to join us at our 2024 CFAES Farm Bill Summit on February 23 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Fawcett Center. Engage in discussions led by CFAES and industry experts, unravel the complexities, and understand how this bill shapes the future of farming and related industries. This summit offers a unique opportunity to gain insights, network with others in the industry, and comprehend the far-reaching impact of the Farm Bill on our agricultural ecosystem. Learn More and Register at https://cfaes.osu.edu/news/events/2024-cfaes-farm-bill-summit. 

Ohio Farm Custom Rate Survey Launched for 2024

The Ohio Farm Custom Rates Survey data collection has launched once again. The online survey for 2024 is available at www.go.osu.edu/customratesurvey

Many Ohio farmers hire machinery operations and other farm-related work to be completed by others. This is often due to a lack of proper equipment, time, or expertise for a particular operation. Many farm business owners do not own equipment for every possible job they may encounter while operating a farm. Instead of purchasing the equipment needed, they may seek someone with the proper tools to complete the job. This farm work completed by others is often referred to as “custom farm work” or more simply “custom work”. A “custom rate” is the amount agreed upon by both parties to be paid by the custom work customer to the custom work provider.

Custom farming providers and customers often negotiate an agreeable custom farming machinery rate using Extension survey results as a starting point. Ohio State University Extension collects surveys and publishes survey results from the Ohio Farm Custom Survey every other year. This survey will result in a new Ohio Farm Custom Rate Survey Summary for 2024.

Custom work providers or customers are asked to respond even if they know only a few rates. Information is sought on actual rates, either what was paid to hire custom work or what was charged to perform custom work. Custom Rates should include all ownership costs of the implement & tractor (if needed), operator labor, fuel, and lube. If fuel is not included in the custom rate charge, there is a place on the survey to indicate this.

The online survey is available at: www.go.osu.edu/customratesurvey

If a document is preferred that can be printed out to complete by hand to return, please email Barry Ward at ward.8@osu.edu, Eric Richer at richer.5@osu.edu, John Barker at barker.41@osu.edu or Amanda Bennett at bennett.709@osu.edu

The deadline to complete the survey is March 31, 2024.

2024 Regional OSU Weeds University

January 23, 2024: Statewide — OSU Extension invites crop producers, CCAs, and agribusinesses to attend a regional 2024 Ohio State Weeds University on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at locations across the state. Locations will include Auglaize County, Clermont County, Crawford County, Fayette County, Jackson County, Madison County, Paulding County, and Wayne County.

This program is designed to keep agronomic producers on the cutting edge in weed control for their cropping operations. Topics addressed will include hot topics in weed control, local weed issues, biology, identification of weeds, control strategies, cover crop management in forages, and evaluating herbicides. Hands-on exercises will be included.

Featured speakers will include Dr. Aaron Hager, Associate Professor, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois; Dr. Rodrigo Werle, Associate Professor, Extension Cropping Weed Science, University of Wisconsin – Madison; Dr. Alyssa Essman, Assistant Professor and Weed Science Extension Specialist, The Ohio State University; and Dr. Michael Flessner, Associate Professor, Virginia Tech. This is an in-person event, with a portion of the program being broadcast virtually at the above regional locations.

Dr. Hager’s work contributes to increased crop production by developing and implementing integrated weed management programs. His research helps to identify and manage herbicide resistance in the most aggressive agronomic weeds. Dr. Werle’s research and Extension program (aka WiscWeeds) focuses on integrated approaches to weed management in corn, soybean, and small grains in Wisconsin farm systems. Dr. Essman is interested in evaluating weed control in integrated management systems using traditional and alternative methods in agronomic crops. Dr. Flessner’s expertise focuses on weed management in field crops (corn, soybean, small grains, and others) and pasture/forages. He emphasizes current challenges, such as managing herbicide-resistant weed species.

The registration fee per person is $40, due by February 16, 2024. This fee includes course materials and speaker question and answer sessions. On-site walk-ins are not available for this event, and each site is limited to a maximum of 30 people. Commercial, Private Pesticide, and Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) credits will be available. To register, go to http://go.osu.edu./24WeedsUniv.

For additional information on the event, contact Sarah Noggle, Paulding County Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, at noggle.17@osu.edu or Ken Ford, Fayette County Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, ford.70@osu.edu.

By Sarah Noggle, OSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources, Extension Educator, Paulding County, Ken Ford, OSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources, Extension
Educator, Fayette County

 

Backyard Maple Production: Learn to Make Maple Syrup at Home

Do you have maple trees in your yard? Interested in learning how to collect sap from those trees and turn it into syrup? Then this class is for you. We will present the basics of making syrup from one tree in the yard to a handful of them.

Event Center – Warren County Fairgrounds
665 N. Broadway St.
Lebanon, OH 45036

Class Agenda
6:30 pm

  • What, When, and How to tap
  • How to handle sap
  • How to boil sap
  • How to finish and package syrup

8:30 pm

  • Questions and Evaluations

9:00 pm

  • Safe trip home

Registration is $20   Flyer
Deadline to Register: January 24, 2024
Register online at: woodlandstewards.osu.edu