Tax

Planning the Future of your Farm program options for In-Person or Online Classes

Each year, OSU Extension holds “Planning for the Future of Your Farm” workshops to help families with farm transition planning.  We offer both a webinar and in-person workshops at several locations across Ohio.  This farm transition workshop challenges farm families to actively plan for the future of the farm business.  Learn how to have crucial conversations about the future and strategies and tools that can help you transfer your farm’s ownership, management, and assets to the next generation. Teaching faculty for the workshop are David Marrison, OSU Extension Farm Management Field Specialist, and Robert Moore, Attorney with the OSU Agricultural & Resource Law Program.

Topics discussed during this series include:

  • Developing Goals for Estate and Succession
  • Planning for the Transition of Control
  • Planning for the Unexpected
  • Communication and Conflict Management During Farm Transfer
  • Legal Tools and Strategies
  • Developing Your Team
  • Getting Your Affairs in Order
  • Selecting an Attorney

We encourage parents, children, and grandchildren to attend together to develop a plan for the future of your family farm. Continue reading Planning the Future of your Farm program options for In-Person or Online Classes →

Farmer’s Tax Guides and Farm Accounting Books are Available!

We have copies of the IRS Publication 225: Farmer’s Tax Guide for 2024 Returns available in the office. You can also get the guide online at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p225.pdf or the PDF version here. You are in the business of farming if you cultivate, operate, or manage a farm for profit, either as owner or tenant. A farm includes livestock, dairy, poultry, fish, fruit, and truck farms. It also includes plantations, ranches, ranges, and orchards and groves. This publication explains how federal tax laws apply to farming. Use this publication as a guide to figure out your taxes and complete your farm tax return. If you need more information on a subject, get the specific IRS tax publication covering that subject.

Additionally, we also have copies of the Ohio Farm Account Book ($8.00 plus tax) and the Ohio Commercial Farm Accounting (FA-8) ($9.75 plus tax) books or inserts available for purchase. Stop in and see us!

You can also order the publications on your own at https://extensionpubs.osu.edu/. If ordering online you will have to pay an increased shipping cost whereas ordering in the office will save you the shipping fee.

Join Us for Farm Office Live in 2025!

From the Farm Office Team

As we wrap up the year, the Farm Office Team would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in our Farm Office Live webinars over the past year. Your engagement and support make these sessions impactful and worthwhile.

We are excited to announce the dates for our 2025 Winter Series and invite you to mark your calendars for these upcoming webinars. Sessions will take place on Fridays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon on the following dates:

  • January 17
  • February 21
  • March 28
  • April 25

What to Expect

Farm Office Live webinars offer timely and essential updates for farm operations, from legislative changes to business management insights.

Here’s the Tentative Agenda for our first session on January 17, 2025:

  • Legislative Round-Up
  • Farm Business Analysis Program Update
  • Long-Term Care Update
  • Quarterly Fertilizer Update
  • Crop Input Outlook
  • Livestock Outlook
  • 1099 Reminders
  • Farm Policy & Farm Bill
  • Winter Program Update

Where to Find More Information

Stay up-to-date and access past recordings and slides on our website: Farm Office Live.

Save the Dates!

Don’t miss these opportunities to gain valuable insights and connect with experts who are here to help you navigate the ever-evolving agricultural landscape.

We hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday season, and we look forward to seeing you in 2025! As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Warm regards,
The Farm Office Team

Did you miss Farm Office Live: Farmer and Farmland Owner Tax Webinar 2024

On December 6, 2024, the Farm Office Team hosted their annual Farmer and Farmland Owner Tax Webinar, offering valuable insights into critical tax topics affecting the agricultural community. Designed to address the unique challenges farmers and landowners face, the session featured expert guidance from Barry Ward, David Marrison, Jeff Lewis, and Robert Moore.

Key Topics Discussed

The webinar provided in-depth discussions on the following topics:

  • Farm Economy and Tax Planning: Strategies to navigate tax implications in today’s agricultural economy.
  • Tax Planning for Low Income/Drought Years: Guidance for managing taxes during challenging financial years caused by adverse conditions.
  • Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Reporting: Understanding compliance requirements for BOI under new regulations.
  • Pending Sunset of Larger Estate Tax Exclusion Amount: Insights on planning for changes to the Unified Credit in 2026.
  • Residual Fertility/Fertilizer Deduction: Navigating deductions related to soil fertility management.
  • Clean Fuel Production Credit (I.R.C. § 45Z): Opportunities for farmers in clean fuel initiatives.
  • Current Agricultural Use Valuation (CAUV) Changes in 2024: Updates on CAUV calculations impacting property taxes.
  • IRC § 45Q – Credit for Carbon Oxide Sequestration: Leveraging carbon capture tax credits for sustainability efforts.
  • Farm Loan Immediate Relief under the Inflation Reduction Act: Clarifications on corrected 1099s for debt relief programs.
  • Taxability of USDA Discrimination Financial Assistance Awards: Determining the tax implications of these financial awards.
  • Sunsetting Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) Provisions: Preparing for the expiration of key provisions affecting agriculture.

Access the Recording

Missed the live webinar or want to revisit key details? You can access the recording and slides:

Expert Guidance for Tax Planning

Each topic was tailored to help farmers and landowners make informed decisions during the 2024 tax season and beyond. The team provided practical advice for optimizing tax strategies, minimizing liabilities, and preparing for upcoming changes in the tax landscape.

Stay informed with updates from the Farm Office Team—your trusted resource for agricultural tax and management expertise!

NW Ohio Newsletter 2025

📬 The 2025 Northwest Ohio Newsletter is Coming!

Exciting news! The 2025 Northwest Ohio Newsletter will be hitting mailboxes near the end of December! 🗓️

Packed with the latest updates on agriculture, Extension programming, and community opportunities, this newsletter is your go-to resource for staying informed and connected.

Prefer to read online? 📲 Check out the Virtual Version here.

Stay tuned—there’s a lot to look forward to as we kick off a new year together! 🌾

#Agriculture #Extension #NWOhio #StayConnected #LeanOnYourLandGrant #PauldingCountyStrong #OSUE

Farm Office Live Scheduled for October 18

OSU Extension will be offering the October Farm Office Live webinar on Friday, October 18 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.  Farm Office Live is a monthly webinar of updates and outlooks on legal, economic, and farm management issues that affect Ohio agriculture. Some of the topics that will be addressed during this webinar include Fall Crop Insurance Update, USDA Drought Assistance Programs, Legal Update, Tribute to Paul Wright, Practical Out of Country Labor Resource for Farms, 4th Quarterly Fertilizer Price Summary, and  Winter Program Update. Featured speakers include guest Farm Office members Peggy Hall, Jeff Lewis, David Marrison, Robert Moore, Eric Richer, and Clint Schroeder. Register for this and future Farm Office Live webinars through this link on farmoffice.osu.edu.

Farm Science Review is just around the corner!

LONDON, Ohio – More than 50 companies will join the ranks as exhibitors for the 61st Farm Science Review Sept. 19-21 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center. The new exhibitors represent various sectors in the agriculture industry including livestock handling, equipment advancements, agronomic technology, agricultural policy, and more.

Paulding County Extension Office has tickets for sale at a discounted price total of $10 per ticket. Tickets will be for sale until Monday, September 18 at noon. Continue reading Farm Science Review is just around the corner! →

2023 Small Farm Conference Registration Open!

Ohio State Extension announced plans to host a Small Farm Conference in Mansfield Ohio on March 11, 2023.  The theme for this year’s Mid-Ohio Small Farm Conference is “Sowing Seeds for Success.”

Conference session topics are geared toward beginning and small farm owners as well as farms looking to diversify their operations.  There will be five different conference tracks including Farm Office, Horticulture and Produce Production, Livestock, Agritourism/ Marketing, and Natural Resources.

Some conference topic highlights include: How to purchase our family farm, food animal processing, beekeeping, sweet corn, blueberry and pumpkin production, small ruminant nutrition, agritourism laws, fruit tree pruning, and cut flower diseases.

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 operations. The conference provides an opportunity to talk with the vendors and network with others.

The Conference will take place from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Mansfield OSU Campus in Ovalwood Hall, just minutes from I-71 and US Rt 30.

For conference and registration call OSU Extension Morrow County at 419-947-1070 or OSU Extension Knox County at 740-397-0401. Please follow this link to register for the conference: https://go.osu.edu/2023osusmallfarmconf

2023 Session Descriptions

Small Farm Conference Brochure 2023

Ag Outlook – Great Lineup for Speakers on Tuesday, February 14

Join Defiance and Paulding County OSU Extension in Jewel, Ohio for the next Ag Outlook meeting on Tuesday, February 14 from 5:30 – 9:00 PM at the Jewell Community Center, 7900 Independence Rd., Defiance, OH 43512.

Agenda:

  • Welcome & Dinner—5:30 p.m. – Country-style dinner.
  • Commodity Grain Market Outlook, Seugnki Lee, PhD., Ohio State University, Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics
  • Long-Term Care: Is the Farm at Risk? — Robert Moore, JD., OSU Extension, Attorney, OSU Agricultural & Resource Law Program
  • 2023 Weather Outlook – Aaron Wilson, PhD., OSU Extension, Assistant Professor and Field Specialist, Ag Weather, and Climate

Registration is preferred online @ https://go.osu.edu/23DefianceOutlook or call the Defiance County Extension office at 419-782-4771
RSVP by February 13. NO LATE REGISTRATIONS.
CCA Credits Applied For and the Cost: $10.00/person

Check out the Official Flyer Here

Upcoming Labor Management Workshops – Build Your Farm Labor Management Know-How

The 2023 Workshop Series from the Farm Labor Dashboard project will help farm operators and managers build the knowledge and skills they need to successfully recruit and manage the right employees for their farms. The online series (offered via Zoom) is geared to produce and diversified livestock producers who are new to managing employees, and to farmers who are considering changes to how they arrange for and manage, labor on their farms.

Topics include practical approaches to building more successful work crews; conducting financial planning to meet payroll needs; practical and effective strategies for hiring, training, and keeping farm employees, and negotiation basics. Sessions begin January 7 and continue through early March.

A special session for agricultural service providers on January 10 will introduce tools and strategies to help farmers with payroll planning. Additionally, there will be monthly peer learning sessions for people who want to take a deeper dive into delegation, productive conflict, and other creative approaches to labor management.

Advance registration is required.

Learn more at the Farm Labor Dashboard or email beth.holtzman@uvm.edu.

The workshops are made possible by grant support provided by USDA/NIFA under award 2021-49400-35641.

Continue reading Upcoming Labor Management Workshops – Build Your Farm Labor Management Know-How →

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

Family farming. Farmers grandfather with little grandson in a corn field. experienced grandfather explains to grandson the nature of plant growth.

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.

Full details on this opportunity can be found here.

Direct Link to Registration

September Farm Office Live – September 22 @ 10:00 AM

Sept 2022 Farm Office LiveThis season’s Farm Office Live schedule is set! We return on September 22 at 10 am, live from Farm Science Review! Make sure to register for this season’s Farm Office Live by following this link: https://osu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3V84ep3zT6SsKDJ_k_2FQg

Registration does not carry over from year to year. So, if you want to stay up to date with all the latest farm management and ag law issues, make sure to sign up!

2022 to 23 Farm Office Live Flyer

September Farm Office Live Slide

OSU Extension AOSU Extension Announces Two-Day Tax Schools for Tax Practitioners & Agricultural & Natural Resources Income Tax Issues Webinarnnounces Two-Day Tax Schools for Tax Practitioners & Agricultural & Natural Resources Income Tax Issues Webinar

Barry Ward & Jeff Lewis, OSU Income Tax Schools

Columbus, Ohio. Tax provisions related to new legislation as well as continued issues related to COVID-related legislation for both individuals and businesses are among the topics to be discussed during the upcoming Tax School workshop series offered throughout Ohio in October, November, and December.

“The annual series is designed to help tax preparers learn about federal tax law changes and updates for this year as well as learn more about issues they may encounter when filing individual and small business 2022 tax returns,” said Barry Ward, Director of the Ohio State University Income Tax School Program.

“The tax schools are intermediate-level courses that focus on interpreting tax regulations and changes in tax law to help tax preparers, accountants, financial planners, and attorneys advise their clients,” he said. The schools offer continuing education credit for certified public accountants, enrolled agents, attorneys, annual filing season preparers, and certified financial planners.

“Our instructors are what make the difference in our program. Most have been teaching OSU tax schools for over 20 years and make themselves available long after the class to make sure attendees get through the tax filing season,” Ward said.

Continue reading OSU Extension AOSU Extension Announces Two-Day Tax Schools for Tax Practitioners & Agricultural & Natural Resources Income Tax Issues Webinarnnounces Two-Day Tax Schools for Tax Practitioners & Agricultural & Natural Resources Income Tax Issues Webinar →

March Edition of Farm Office Live

This month’s Farm Office Live will be held on March 16th, from 7 – 8:30 pm, and again on March 18th from 10 – 11:30 am. The Farm Office Team provides the latest outlook and updates on ag law, farm management, ag economics, farm business analysis, and other issues dealt with in your farm office.  Targeted to farmers and agribusiness stakeholders, our specialists digest the latest news and information and present it in an easy-to-understand format. To sign up for the webinar (and if you can’t attend the recording link) go to go.osu.edu/farmofficelive.

March topics will include

  • Updates on FSA programs
  • Federal Tax Law Update/Medicaid Planning Review
  • Financial Efficiency Review for Grain Farms
  • Fertilizer Update/Crop Budgets
  • Grain Marketing Outlook

SOLAR ELECTRIC ECONOMIC ANALYSIS WEBINAR SERIES

SOLAR ELECTRIC ECONOMIC ANALYSIS WEBINAR SERIES

Cost: Free, Supported by North Central Region SARE

Registration 

SARE Webinar Brochure 2021 – final

Our SARE PDP grant is coming to an end. We invite you to join us for our last webinar to learn about the economics and feasibility of solar electric systems for farms, residences, and businesses.

 Who should attend:

  • People who work with farmers and citizens interested in solar; Extension Educators, Rural Bankers, Ag service providers, USDA, State government.
  • If you have attended our webinar series before this will be a review, if not this is a great opportunity to learn about solar applications on farms.

Continue reading SOLAR ELECTRIC ECONOMIC ANALYSIS WEBINAR SERIES →

CAUV Calculation- Where do I go to find more information? – Tax Value of Farmland Expected to Drop

Today on the OSU Farm Office Live, there was a great discussion about CAUV. This information is very helpful for any landowner in Paulding County.  You can listen to the recorded session at farmoffice.osu.edu/farmofficelive

Check out this website for more information: https://www.robertdinterman.com/CAUV/

Additionally, I am adding the most recent article from Robert Dinterman.

Tax Value of Farmland Expected to Drop

There’s a bit of good news for Ohio farmers to counter the bad news caused by COVID-19, as well as by last year’s historic rain. In counties scheduled for property value updates in 2020—about half of Ohio’s 88 counties—the average value of farmland enrolled in the Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) program should be about 40% lower than 2017–2019, or about $665 per acre. Continue reading CAUV Calculation- Where do I go to find more information? – Tax Value of Farmland Expected to Drop →

Expect Higher Solvency Rates on Farms in 2020

by: Chris Zoller, Extension Educator, ANR, Tuscarawas County

The United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA-ERS) collects and summarizes an incredible amount of data about farm financial conditions.  This article will discuss solvency and solvency ratios of U.S. farms.

Solvency is a measure of the ability of a farm to satisfy its debt obligations when due and is measured using the debt-to-equity ratio and debt-to-asset ratios.  These ratios help determine whether, if your farm were sold, all debts would be paid.

The U.S. farm sector debt-to-equity (D/E) and debt-to-asset (D/A) ratios are expected to continue increasing. In 2020, ERS forecasts a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.7 percent, and a debt-to-asset ratio of 13.6 percent (Chart 1). These higher ratios indicate that more of the farm sector’s assets are financed by credit or debt relative to owner equity (D/E) and relative to total farm assets (D/A).  While not as high as the ratios experienced during the 1980s, the concern is that these ratios are rising. The impact of this year’s shelter-in-place restrictions due to COVID-19, and associated supply chain issues are not reflected in this ERS data. Continue reading Expect Higher Solvency Rates on Farms in 2020 →

Economic Assistance for Agriculture during COVID-19

Written by: David L. Marrison, Associate Professor & Extension Educator, Coshocton County; Ben Brown, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics; Barry Ward, Director, OSU Income Tax Schools & Leader, Production Business Management; Peggy Hall, Associate Professor, Agricultural & Resource Law, Director, OSU Agricultural & Resource Law Program; and Dianne Shoemaker, Field Specialist, Dairy Production Economics

Click here for PDF Version of this article.

The coronavirus pandemic has certainly altered all our lives. The impact is being felt by families, businesses, governmental agencies, and civic organizations.  To help families and businesses alike, various levels of government have passed legislation to help lessen the economic blow of COVID-19. This article provides a brief overview of some of the assistance which has been made available. These include tax deadline provisions, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation rebates, unemployment compensation, and Wind and Hurricane Indemnity Program, Plus (WHIP+)

Tax Deadline Extensions:

On March 21, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service extended the federal tax filing deadline for 2019 taxes from April 15 until July 15, 2020.  The IRS encourages any taxpayer who is owed a refund to file as quickly as possible. The Ohio General Assembly through House Bill 197 also extended the deadline on March 25, 2020, to file Ohio Taxes until July 15, 2020. Continue reading Economic Assistance for Agriculture during COVID-19 →

“Farm Office Live” returns Monday, April 13 at 8:00 p.m.

OSU Extension is pleased to be offering a second “Farm Office Live” session on Monday evening, April 13, 2020, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m.  Farmers, educators, and ag industry professionals are invited to log-on for the latest updates on the issues impact our farm economy.

The session will begin with the Farm Office Team answering questions asked over the past week.  Topics to be highlighted include:

  • Update on the CARES Paycheck Protection Program
  • Update on the Dairy Economy
  • Examination of how COVID-19 is impacting agricultural exports
  • Bureau of Workers Compensation’s announcement  of dividend returns
  • A look at the long term macroeconomic impact of COVID-19
  • Will property taxes be delayed?
  • Potential Legal Impacts of COVID-19

Plenty of time has been allotted for questions and answers from attendees. Each office session is limited to 500 people and if you miss the on-line office hours, the session recording can be accessed at farmoffice.osu.edu the following day.  Please register at  https://go.osu.edu/farmofficelive 

The Farm Office is open

Image may contain: textThe Ohio State University Extension Farm Office team is ready to answer your questions. Find information on Agriculture Law from Peggy Hall, ask questions about Grain Markets with Ben Brown, talk taxes with Barry Ward, look at your farm’s bottom line with Dianne Shoemaker, talk farm management and succession planning with David Marrison.  This team of specialists is ready to serve you.

Each week, the Farm Office Team offers live office hours to update you on current issues affecting the farm economy.  Join our experts for quick presentations and Q & A.  Go here to register at no cost.  Go to this page to view past webinars and PowerPoint slides.