WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds specialty crop producers to apply for assistance for marketing and food safety certification expenses. Specifically, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is providing an additional $650 million in funding for the new Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program and extending the MASC application deadline to Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. Meanwhile, FSA also reminds specialty crop producers of the Jan. 31, 2025, deadline to apply for the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program for 2024 expenses.
Author: Nanette Neal
Communication Preferences for Farmers in Appalachia Ohio Survey
Hello Agriculture Producer,
My name is Josh Winters, I am a master’s student at The Ohio State University in the Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership program. I would like to invite you to participate in my study for my thesis research project. You have been selected for this study because you are an agricultural producer in a county that has been identified as “Appalachia.” I am conducting this research to discover what the preferred outlets for communication in Appalachia Ohio as it relates to agricultural producers. The specific objectives guiding this study are:
- To identify the core communication outlets Appalachian farmers prefer when receiving educational or promotional information.
- To identify if different variables such as age, farm size, or commodity produced influence communication preference.
- To identify barriers, if any, that limit access to information.
If you could take 10 minutes of your time to complete a survey about Communication Preferences for Agricultural Producers in Appalachia Ohio that would be greatly appreciated. Please review the verbal consent form before proceeding. If you agree to participate, confidentiality will be upheld. Your completion and return of the survey will imply your informed consent to participate in this study. Participation in this study is voluntary. You can choose not to answer certain questions and withdraw at any time without penalty.
Please return the physical survey to the address/email below or complete the Qualtrics link by March 31st at 11:59 pm.
Follow this link to the survey: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Q7wute6DXBOReu
Or Scan the QR Code to the survey:
If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me or my advisor, Dr. Jefferson McCutcheon.
Sincerely,
Joshua Winters, Graduate Student Dr. Jefferson McCutcheon, Advisor
17 Standpipe Rd. Jackson, Ohio 45640 16714 Wolf Run Rd. Caldwell, Ohio 43724
740-339-9228 740-305-3189
Tri-State Green Industry Conference
Thursday, February 6th, 2025
Sharonville Convention Center
11355 Chester Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45246
Don’t miss this premier Tri-State Green Industry Educational Event:
- Ten education tracks with sessions on horticulture, tree care, lawn care, and more
- Networking opportunities
- Trade show
- Professional credits for ISA, LACES, and pesticide applicators in OH, IN, and KY
More details at go.osu.edu/gic_info
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
Early Bird Registration (until Midnight, January 17th) | $120.00 |
Late Registration (January 18th-30th) | $150.00 |
On-Site Registration (at the door, February 6th; Lunch not included) | $150.00 |
Register now: go.osu.edu/gic2025_register
Stay tuned for student and educator pricing.
For bulk registration (10+ attendees) email Fern Gulley gulley.66@osu.edu
Support a legacy conference: Become a sponsor!
Consider increasing your company’s visibility and helping this cornerstone industry event thrive by being a sponsor. Opportunities start as low as $250!
Learn more at go.osu.edu/gic_sponsor
The Tri-State Green Industry Conference is a collaborative educational effort between the following organizations, arboreta, and botanical gardens, as well as Green Industry leaders:
- Ohio State University Extension
- Purdue Extension
- University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension
- Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
- University of Cincinnati
- The Boone County Arboretum
- Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
- Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum
Questions? Email Fern Gulley at gulley.66@osu.edu
Farmer and Farmland Owner Tax Webinar
The December Edition of Farm Office Live will be a special edition focused on tax issues. This webinar will be held on December 6th from 10am to noon.
Are you a farmer or farmland owner wanting to learn more about the recent income tax law changes and proposals? If so, join OSU Extension Educators Barry Ward, Jeff Lewis, Robert Moore and David Marrison as they discuss issues related to farmer and farmland owner tax returns, tax planning in a low income/drought year, CAUV and property tax, the Residual Fertility Deduction and other income tax issues that may affect farmers and farmland owners for the 2024 tax season and beyond.
This two-hour program will be presented in a live webinar format via Zoom. Individuals who operate farms, own property, or are involved with renting farmland are encouraged to participate.
Register for this free webinar at https://go.osu.edu/farmofficelive
This Farmer and Farmland Owner Tax Webinar will focus on a number of tax issues listed here:
- Farm Economy and Tax Planning
- Tax Planning in Low Income/Drought Years
- Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Reporting
- Pending Sunset of Larger Estate Tax Exclusion Amount (Unified Credit)
- Residual Fertility/Fertilizer Deduction
- Clean Fuel Production Credit (I.R.C. § 45Z)
- Current Ag Use Valuation (CAUV) Changes in 2024
- IRC § 45Q – Credit for Carbon Oxide Sequestration
- Farm Loan Immediate Relief Under Inflation Reduction Act: Income Tax Options Triggered by Corrected 1099s
- Taxability of USDA Discrimination Financial Assistance Awards
- Pending Expiration (Sunsetting) of other Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) Provisions
Presenters include: Barry Ward, David Marrison, Jeff Lewis and Robert Moore.
Register for Water Quality Wednesdays!
The Water Quality Team’s fifth annual webinar series, Water Quality Wednesdays, is back for 2025! We will be hosting three webinars on the last Wednesday of the month from January to March. These webinars will focus on the interaction between agriculture and water quality and offer CCA and CLM continuing education credits. See the attached flyer for more information on the series, and stay tuned for more information as we get closer to January! Please share with your networks. Register at go.osu.edu/WQW25!
Montgomery County Fruit School
November 7, 2024
Growing Raspberries: Macy Deatty
Apple Trees: Brooks Warner
Orchards: Kane Lewis
Soil Testing: Leeoria Willis
Ginseng: Brooks Warner
Container Gardening with Fruit: Ryan Slaughter
Learn more here or visit montgomery.osu.edu
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.
OSU Income Tax Schools
OSU Extension Announces Two-Day Tax Schools for Tax Practitioners & Agricultural & Natural Resources Income Tax Issues Webinar
For well over 55 years, Ohio State University has been providing continuing education for tax preparers. Ohio State University offers income tax education designed for tax preparers with some experience preparing and filing federal tax returns for individuals and small businesses. Our schools also provide tax education for beginning professionals and for farmers and farmland owners.
Instruction focuses on tax law changes and on the problems faced in preparing individual and business (including farms) tax returns. Highly qualified instructors will explain and interpret tax regulations and recent changes in tax laws. These schools and webinars offer continuing education credits for attorneys, CPAs, EAs, CFPs, and other tax return preparers. More information can be found online: https://farmoffice.osu.edu/tax
Our two-day schools (and 4-part webinar) are designed for individuals who have some experience preparing and filing federal and state tax returns. The two-day courses are considered to be intermediate level. Highly qualified instructors will explain and interpret tax regulations and recent changes. Our two-day schools also have instructors from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Ohio Department of Taxation (ODT).
Some highlights include details of energy and vehicle tax credits, Beneficial Ownership Reporting (BOI), upcoming expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and more. We have a couple of chapters in this year’s National Income Tax Workbook (NITW) that we haven’t had in a number of years that may be of interest – Real Estate Rental Activity Issues and Related Party Issues.
What sets our schools apart is our dedicated instructors, who work in the tax industry! We don’t just get you through the class; we get you through the tax filing season.
We also offer a two-hour Ethics Webinar and a six-hour Agricultural and Natural Resources Income Tax Webinar for additional continuing education credits. All of our courses are taught by some of the industry’s top experts!
Registration for our 2-day schools and four-part webinar includes a hard copy of the 600+ page National Income Tax Workbook prepared by the Land Grant University Tax Education Foundation (“LGUTEF”), access to past workbooks, the opportunity to order the 2025 Checkpoint Federal Tax Handbook at a substantial discount, and 50% off our Ethics/PSR Webinar.
Registration for 2024 is open and can be found by visiting https://go.osu.edu/tax2024
If you cannot register online, email Jeff Lewis (lewis.1459@osu.edu) to set up an alternative.
Dates and Locations for 2024 Income Tax Schools
Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 Ole Zim’s Wagon Shed, Gibsonburg (Fremont)
Nov. 4-5 Presidential Banquet Center, Kettering (Dayton)
Nov. 7-8 Old Barn Restaurant & Grill, Lima
Nov. 12-13 Muskingum County Conference and Welcome Center, Zanesville
Nov. 19-20 Ashland University, John C. Meyers Convocation Center, Ashland
Nov. 21-22 Hartville Kitchen, Hartville
Nov. 25-26 – Intro Course (Columbus)
Dec. 4-5 Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, Columbus
Dec. 9, 10, 12, 13 Four-Part Virtual Webinar Series, Zoom
Dec. 16 – Ethics Webinar, Zoom
Dec. 19 – Ag Tax Issues Webinar, Zoom
Two-Day Tax Schools Topics Include:
- Trusts and Estates
- Related Party Issues
- Limited Liability Company Issues
- Business Entity Tax Issues
- IRS Issues
- Business Tax Issues
- Real Estate Rental Activities
- Agricultural and Natural Resource Tax Issues
- Individual Tax Issues
- New and Expiring Legislation
- Rulings and Cases
A sample chapter from a past workbook can be found at:
https://taxworkbook.com/about-the-tax-workbook/
In addition to the tax schools, the program offers a separate, two-hour ethics webinar that will broadcast Monday, Dec. 16th. The webinar is $30 for school attendees and $60 for non-attendees and is approved by the IRS and the Ohio Accountancy Board for continuing education credit.
A webinar on Ag Tax Issues will be held on Thursday, Dec. 19, from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If you are a tax practitioner who represents farmers or rural landowners or is a farmer or farmland owner who prepares your taxes, this webinar is for you. It will focus on key topics and new legislation related specifically to those income tax returns.
Registration, which includes the Ag Tax Issues workbook, is $180 if registered at least two weeks prior to the webinar. After November 29, registration is $230. Register by mail or online at:
Intro to Tax Preparation Course
Our new Introduction to Tax Preparation for the Beginning Tax Professional is offered for the second year. This year will be held in Columbus on Nov. 25-26 at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center. This introductory course seeks to not only introduce beginning tax professionals to tax vocabulary, concepts, and law but also inject real-world experience to help beginning tax professionals avoid mistakes a new preparer generally makes. We begin instruction by covering the basics, and by the end of Day 2, attendees will have completed a sample return. For more information on this course, see this page: https://farmoffice.osu.edu/tax/introduction-tax-preparation-course
For more information, participants may contact Barry Ward at 614-688-3959, ward.8@osu.edu, or Jeff Lewis at 614-247-1720, lewis.1459@osu.edu.
Farmer Tax Webinar 2024
Are you a farmer or farmland owner wanting to learn more about the recent tax law issues? If so, join us for this webinar on Friday, December 6th, 2024, from 10 am to noon. This webinar is a part of our Farm Office Live Series and serves as our Farm Office Live! Webinar for December. To register for this webinar, go to: https://go.osu.edu/register4fol
This webinar will focus on issues related to farmer and farmland owner income tax returns, the latest news on CAUV and property taxes in Ohio, and another reminder regarding changes to the Ohio Commercial Activity Tax (CAT). OSU Extension Educators Barry Ward, David Marrison, and Jeff Lewis will present this two-hour program via Zoom in a live webinar format. Individuals who operate farms, own property, or are involved with renting farmland should participate.
Topics to be discussed during this webinar include (subject to change based on tax law change):
- Economic Outlook
- Tax Planning for a Lower-Income Environment
- Depreciation Update
- Employee vs. Independent Contractor
- Corporate Transparency Act/Beneficial Owners Information Reporting
- 1099-K Changes
- Basis Allocation Land Acquisition – Allocating Basis to Residual Fertility for Future Deductions
- Defining Farm Income to Avoid Paying Estimated Tax
- Keeping an Eye Forward on Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Provisions Sunsetting After 2025 Tax Year
- Keeping an Eye Forward on Estate/Gift Tax Limitation
- Ohio Tax Update (CAUV/Property Tax Update, CAT Changes, Beginning Farmer Tax Credit)
To register: https://go.osu.edu/register4fol
Ag Tax Issues Webinar
Tax practitioners, farmers, and farmland owners are encouraged to connect to the Agricultural and Natural Resources Income Tax Issues Webinar (via Zoom) on December 19th from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by Income Tax Schools at The Ohio State University.
The webinar focuses on issues specific to farm tax returns related to agriculture and natural resources and will highlight timely topics and new regulations.
The program is an intermediate-level course for tax preparers whose clients include farmers and rural landowners. The webinar will also benefit farmers who prepare and file their own taxes.
Tentative topics to be covered during the Ag Tax Issues webinar include:
- New Legislation and Hot Topics
- Tax Planning for Lean Years
- Conservation Issues
- Disaster and Drought Tax Issues
- Entity Tax Issues: Split Interest Purchases, Partnership Issues
- Expensing and Depreciation, with a deep dive on Section 179
- Retirement Issues
- Lease v. Purchase, Capital Leases on the Farm
- Selling and Trading Property
The cost for the one-day school is $180 if registered by December 5th. After December 5th, the registration increases to $230. Additionally, the course has been approved for the following continuing education credits:
- Accountancy Board of Ohio, CPAs (6 hours)
- Office of Professional Responsibility, IRS (6 hours)
- Supreme Court of Ohio, Attorneys (5 hours)
Registration includes the Agricultural Tax Issues Workbook. Early registration (at least two weeks prior to the webinar) guarantees that you’ll receive a workbook prior to the webinar.
The live webinar will also feature options for interaction and the ability to ask questions about the presented material.
More information on the workshop, including how to register, can be found at: https://go.osu.edu/2024agtaxissues
For any questions, please get in touch with Barry Ward at ward.8@osu.edu or Jeff Lewis at lewis.1459@osu.edu