AEDE Economic Outlook and Policy Webinar Series 2024

The Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE) is hosting our annual Spring Monthly Webinar Series.

What are the key international issues with grain marketing in 2024? Do renewable energy needs ask too much of rural Americans? Uncertainty and rising prices have become fixtures in our financial and economic decision-making of late. This uncertainty and unrest have far-reaching impacts on not just our wallets but also on the very environment we live in. Join our expert economists for a new webinar series as we explore what’s going on in key commodity and labor markets. This series features a different AEDE economist breaking down an interesting topic every month throughout spring.

The Spring 2024 series schedule is below. Please register for each event you would like to attend separately by clicking the appropriate link on the AEDE website. Once registered, participants will receive a confirmation email with a link to view the selected webinar(s) live at the scheduled time(s). Participants will receive an automated reminder email for all upcoming sessions they registered to attend. Those unable to join live should still register to receive a recording of the webinar. All webinars will also be posted on the AEDE YouTube channel’s playlist for the series shortly after they are given live.  Click here to register.

  • January 24 – Dr. Jared Grant: “An Influencer’s Impact: How Trust May Shape Food Demand”
  • February 21 – Dr. Seungki Lee and Dr. Ian Sheldon: “Grain Marketing in 2024: What are the Key International Issues?”
  • March 20 — Dr. Yao Wang: “Place-Based Economic Development: The Case of Intel”
  • April 17 — Dr. Mark Partridge: “Do Renewable Energy Needs Ask Too Much of Rural Americans? A View from Ohio.”
  • May 15 — Dr. Ale Hollingsworth: “Excess Emissions: Environmental Impacts, Health Effects, and Policy Debate.”
  • June 5 — Dr. Margaret Jodlowski: “Agricultural Labor Supply and Citizenship Status”

Regenerative Grazing Pasture Walk to be held in Paulding County!

Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) is hosting a series of Farm Tours across Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan this summer to showcase organic and ecological farms in the region. Among those being showcased is Canal Junction Farm, right here in Paulding County! A Regenerative Grazing Pasture Walk will be held at the farm on Saturday, July 16th, 2022, starting at 10AM. The address is 18637 Rd. 168, Defiance OH. Questions can be directed to Ralph, Sheila, and Kyle Schlatter at (419) 399-7545 or canaljunctionfarm@gmail.com. Their farm’s website is canaljunction.com.

More information about this OEFFA Farm Tour and other stops along the tour can be found at OEFFA’s website, or this link.

Farm Office Live is Back!

Farm Office Live” returns virtually this summer as an opportunity for you to get the latest outlook and updates on ag law, farm management, farm business analysis, and other related issues from faculty and educators with the College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.  Attend “Farm Office Live” online on July 23, 2021, at 10 AM (EST).  To register, please visit https://go.osu.edu/farmofficelive 

Virtual ANR Programming – Week of March 15

Check out the listing below for upcoming Agriculture and Natural Resources virtual programs. Click the program title to register for individual webinars. A complete listing of  2021 ANR virtual programs may be found at https://agnr.osu.edu/events/calendar.

Monday, March 15
County Outlook Meeting, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
2021 Virtual Ohio Agritourism Ready Conference, 6:30 -8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 16
Small Ruminant Production Webinars, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 17
Commercial New Applicator Training Webinar (all day)
Southern Ohio Farm Show, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Organic Winter Webinars, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Great Lakes Vegetable Working Group Podcast, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 18
Ohio Beef Expo (all day)
The Dirt on Soil Health:  Investing Below the Surface, 8:00 – 8:30 a.m.
Growing Season Weather Outlook and Changing Patterns, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Midwest Women in Ag Community Education Series, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
GAPs Training Webinar, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
2021 Virtual Ohio Agritourism Ready Conference, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Butler Innovative Farm Forum, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Friday, March 19
Ohio Beef Expo (all day)

Escape to the Forest – Featuring Maple Syrup

Join OSU’s Les Ober, Geauga Co. Extension, and SENR’s Gabe Karns and Kathy Smith, for this session on how to make your own syrup or explore turning your woods into a sugarbush as an income opportunity.  Continuing education credits will be available.

Join us for this timely Friday Escape to the Forest Webinar–  From Tree to Table: Ohio Maple Syrup  March 12th from 10 am – 12 pm.

Register here:  go.osu.edu/syrup

We hope to see you there!

Resource Kit Available for Those Exploring a Meat Processing Business

A team of Ohio State business and meat science specialists has compiled a Meat Processing Business Tool Kit for people who are exploring the meat processing business. Designed as a decision-making aid for people exploring investing in or expanding a meat processing facility, this online tool kit can help entrepreneurs evaluate the business and navigate business planning. The Meat Processing Business Tool Kit may be found linked here on the OSU South Centers webpage.

This “Tool Kit” is designed to be intuitive as entrepreneurs move through the business planning process.

CFAP Federal Assistance Available for Nursery (including Greenhouse) and Specialty Crops

The USDA recently opened the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to nursery crops (including greenhouse) and cut flower producers – and added numerous additional specialty crops to the list of eligible commodities.

What is CFAP? This federal assistance program is geared to help producers that have faced 5% or greater price declines, lost product due to changing supply chain issues, or have faced additional marketing costs due to COVID-19. Want more info on CFAP?

For additional details on the CFAP program, and for a list of eligible commodities, please visit farmers.gov/cfap. Continue reading

New Program from Paulding SWCD

The Paulding Soil & Water Conservation District is pleased to announce the launch of a new cost-share program called the Lower Auglaize Nutrient & Sediment Reduction Program (NSRP) for producers in Paulding County. Funding is limited in this program so be sure to contact me as soon as possible. Check below for program details. Continue reading

Revisiting Corn Use for Ethanol

By: Todd Hubbs, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois.  farmdoc daily (10):133

Stronger export numbers and lower acreage boosted corn prices since the end of June.  Concerns about demand weakness in ethanol production emerged recently.  A recovery in economic activity helped ethanol plants ramp up production as gasoline demand increased.  A resurgence in virus incidences threatens ethanol production over the short run and injects uncertainty into long-run prospects.

Gasoline demand recovered to almost 89 percent of pre-coronavirus lockdown levels in early July.  Despite this positive development, the recovery in demand flattened out over the last few weeks.  Gasoline stocks began to recede but still sit substantially above levels seen at this time of the year.  Attempts to reopen the economy hit a snag as the virus spread rapidly around the country after initial hopes saw a rapid opening in many areas.  At 8.648 million barrels per day, demand recovered substantially from the low point of 5.311 million barrels per day seen in early April.  The path back to normal gasoline demand levels appears stalled.  Ethanol production followed this recovery and will feel the implications of flattening gasoline use. Continue reading

National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) Updates

Sometimes this information is helpful in your farm management decisions. The National Ag Statics Service (NASS) sends different updates throughout the year.  This week was a big week of updates for the Great Lakes Region.  I am including those PDF updates links below.

Ohio Weekly Crop Progress & Condition Report

Ohio Acreage Summary

Ohio June 1 Grain Stocks

Ohio May Agricultural Prices

Ohio Biotechnology Varieties

OSU ANR Madness – Week #5

“Agriculture and Natural Resources Madness: A Tournament of Education” features online educational opportunities Monday – Friday at 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m. The education tournament is free of charge, and webinar links are available at go.osu.edu/agmadness. Topics covered during week #5 include the following:  Ohio Farm to School, Horticulture, Fruit Production, Vegetable Production, and Urban Agriculture. Continue reading

OSU Ag and Natural Resources Madness – Week #4

“Agriculture and Natural Resources Madness: A Tournament of Education” features online educational opportunities Monday – Friday at 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m. The education tournament is free of charge, and webinar links are available at go.osu.edu/agmadness. Topics covered during week #4 include the following:  Sheep Production & Management, Horticulture, Small Farms, Vegetable Production, and Farm Taxes.

Week #4 April 13-17
Monday Bracket: Sheep Production & Management
9:00 a.m. Marketing Sheep; Breeds of Sheep
Christine Gelley, Agricultural and Natural Resources Educator, OSU Extension Noble County
Brady Campbell, Program Coordinator, OSU Sheep Team
Join
Noon Basic Sheep Nutrition: Nutritional Needs During Each Stage of Production
Christine Gelley, Agricultural and Natural Resources Educator, OSU Extension Noble County
Brady Campbell, Program Coordinator, OSU Sheep Team
Join
3:00 p.m. Basic Health Management: Disease, Vaccines, Parasites
Christine Gelley, Agricultural and Natural Resources Educator, OSU Extension Noble County
Brady Campbell, Program Coordinator, OSU Sheep Team
Join
Tuesday Bracket: Horticulture
9:00 a.m. Tree ID
Kathy Smith, Program Director, Forestry, OSU SENR
Join
Noon Asian Longhorned Beetle Update
Joe Boggs, Horticulture Educator, OSU Extension Hamilton County
Join
3:00 p.m. Ornament Horticulture Update
Jim Chatfield, Horticulture Specialist, OSU Extension
Tom DeHaas, Agricultural and Natural Resources Educator, OSU Extension Lake County
Join
Wednesday Bracket: Small Farms
9:00 a.m. Meat Goat Production
Tony Nye, Agricultural and Natural Resources Educator, OSU Extension Clinton County
Join
Noon Pasture Pork
Tony Nye, Agricultural and Natural Resources Educator, OSU Extension Clinton County
Join
3:00 p.m. Thinking About Adding a Livestock Enterprise?
Tony Nye, Agricultural and Natural Resources Educator, OSU Extension Clinton County
Join
Thursday Bracket: Vegetable Production
9:00 a.m. Growing Pumpkins
Jim Jasinski, Integrated Pest Management Program Coordinator, OSU Extension
Sally Miller, Plant Pathology Specialist, OSU Extension
Join
Noon Small Fruit Weed, Disease & Insect Management
Doug Doohan, Professor, OSU CFAES Department of Hort & Crop Science
Melanie Ivey, Assistant Professor, OSU CFAES Department of Plant Pathology
Celeste Welty, Associate Professor, OSU CFAES Department of Entomology
Join
3:00 p.m. Managing Sweet Corn Worms
Doug Doohan, Professor, OSU CFAES Department of Hort & Crop Science
Jim Jasinski, Integrated Pest Management Program Coordinator, OSU Extension
Celeste Welty, Associate Professor, OSU CFAES Department of Entomology
Join
Friday Bracket: Farm Taxes
9:00 a.m. Farmer and Farmland Owner Income Tax Issues Webinar Replay Part I with Live Q&A
Barry Ward, Director, OSU Extension Tax School Program
Join
Noon Farmer and Farmland Owner Income Tax Issues Webinar Replay Part II with Live Q&A
Barry Ward, Director, OSU Extension Tax School Program
Join
3:00 p.m. New Income Tax Legislation Update
Barry Ward, Director, OSU Extension Tax School Program
Join

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.

March Madness in an Agriculture Way

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Julie Strawser (strawser.35@osu.edu), Teresa Funk (funk.67@osu.edu)

OSU Extension Announces Agriculture and Natural Resources Madness:
A Tournament of Education

Columbus, OHIO – Did your usual conference get canceled? Looking to fill the void of the big basketball tournament? Ohio State University Extension is here to help with a new virtual education program for farmers.

Agriculture and Natural Resources Madness: A Tournament of Education will include 64 educational events broken into daily brackets. Each day, a virtual educational session will be held at 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m. The education tournament is free of charge and will likely continue until mid-May.

“This effort is a direct response to providing a variety of useful and timely sessions for farmers across the state during Governor DeWine’s stay-at-home order,” said Jacqueline Wilkins, interim director of OSU Extension. “While our ‘tournament’ is being loosely tied to March Madness, it’s not a competition, and people can join in at any time for as many or as few sessions as they desire.” Continue reading

Virtual Coffee Shop – Get online or call in on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Flowers and Birds

Native flowers and birds

I’m sure most of you have heard that The Ohio State University, along with many other organizations and businesses, have closed classes and reduced services.

All OSU offices have been closed in an attempt to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Though we are closed, all employees in our office will still be working full time from remote locations. We want to continue to serve our community, but do it in a safe way that does not contribute to the spread of the Coronavirus.

Here is how you can contact me during this time:
Email: noggle.17@osu.edu
Remote Work Phone Line: 567-344-5013 or call the office (Katie will connect you  to me directly) 419-399-8225
Zoom/video conference by appointment Continue reading

Ohio Maple Days on Tap for January

By:  Gary Graham

Ohio had a great maple season in 2019 with lots of good quality syrup.  Now is the time to get prepared for the 2020 maple season at the Ohio Maple Days workshops.

The Ohio Maple Days program, an educational event for all maple syrup producers is offered on three dates in three locations: Jan. 23 in Fulton, Jan. 24 in Fredericksburg, and Jan. 25 in Middlefield. The program will be the same at all three locations.  This year the workshops will feature speakers from Vermont the #1 maple producing state and New York the #3 maple producing state. Continue reading