Author: Nanette Neal

OSU Extension Seeks a Next Assistant Director for Agriculture and Natural Resources

Ohio State University Extension is seeking applicants for our next Assistant Director, Agriculture and Natural Resources. The Assistant Director is responsible for the leadership of Ohio State University Extension’s Agriculture and Natural Resources program area. This includes overall direction of educational programming within and across Ohio’s 88 counties. The summary of duties is listed below and a complete listing of the position description can be found at https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Columbus-Campus/Assistant-Director–Extension-Agriculture-and-Natural-Resources–Associate-or-Full-Professor_R74003.

The Assistant Director reports to the Director of OSU Extension and serves as a member of OSU Extension’s Administrative Cabinet. Specifically, the Assistant Director provides leadership and direction for Agriculture and Natural Resources programming with emphasis on program and curriculum development; applied research; identifying potential collaboration and partnerships with universities, colleges, departments, peer agencies and industry partners; securing funding to support related activities; administrative leadership for the state Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources  office; and professional development of faculty and staff.

Education Required:  an earned Master’s Degree required, Ph.D. preferred, in an agriculture or natural resources related field.

Faculty Position (1.0 FTE)

Posting number: R74003

Location:  Statewide and Columbus based

Deadline Date:  April 30, 2023

 

Questions about the position can be directed to:

Elizabeth Hawkins, Field Specialist, Agronomic Systems

(937)286-4849, Hawkins.301@osu.edu

Farm Office Live – March 2023

The OSU Extension Farm Office team invites you to attend the March Madness Edition of the “Farm Office Live” Webinar on Friday, March 17 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. This monthly webinar allows Ohio farmers and agribusiness personnel to learn more about current farm management and agricultural law issues.

In this month’s webinar, the Farm Office Team will present the following topics:

  • Federal & State Legislative Update (Peggy Hall)
  • New Postnuptial Agreement Legislation (Robert Moore)
  • Marital and Non-Marital Assets (Robert Moore)
  • Selling Timber- Call Before You Cut (Dave Apsley)
  • Update on Crop Input Costs and Crop Budget Outlook for 2023 (Barry Ward)
  • Sales Tax Exemption Issues (Jeff Lewis)
  • 2023 Spring Crop Insurance Update (Eric Richer)
  • Emergency Relief Program (David Marrison)

There is no fee to attend this webinar.  However, registration is required at go.osu.edu/farmofficelive

Check out farmoffice.osu.edu for all your farm management and ag & resource law needs.

Farmers: Share Your Thoughts on Cover Crops in the National Cover Crop Survey!

Farmers are invited to share their thoughts on cover crops in an online survey at bit.ly/CoverCrop23. Why do you plant cover crops…or why don’t you? What do you want to know? Your insight will help guide research, communications, seed development, and more.

This National Cover Crop Survey is the seventh since 2012 conducted by the USDA-NIFA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), with the help of Informa/Farm Progress.

“Since 2012, the National Cover Crop Survey has been extremely valuable in helping guide research priorities, direct communications and education efforts, provide data to researchers, and illustrate the effects of policy on cover crop use and adoption,” says Dr. Rob Myers, regional director of extension programs for North Central SARE and director of the University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture. “Data from previous surveys have been used in scientific papers, business planning, extension efforts, media coverage of cover crops, and even included in testimony to Congress.”

Please take a few minutes to contribute your voice at bit.ly/CoverCrop23. After completing the questionnaire, you may enter a drawing for one of three $100 Visa gift cards.

USDA Announces Grants for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production

USDA is making available up to $7.5 million for grants through its Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP). The competitive grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories, Planning Projects and Implementation Projects.

USDA Announces Signup for 2023 Assistance for On-Farm Food Safety Expenses for Specialty Crop Growers

01/20/2023 02:00 PM EST

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2023— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds specialty crop producers of available assistance to help cover certain costs of complying with regulatory and market-driven food safety certification requirements ….Read More

Tri-State Green Industry Conference

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Sharonville Convention Center

11355 Chester Rd

Cincinnati, OH  45246

REGISTRATION REMINDER:

 Early Bird Registration – $80.00 (includes lunch and break snacks).

Must be received by midnight, Thursday, January 19th

Click this Hotlink to Register NOW:  https://go.osu.edu/2023tri_state_gic

Don’t miss this premier Tri-State Green Industry Educational Event:

  • Cutting-edge horticultural training sessions (See hotlinks below “Schedule At-A-Glance” and “Program Details” for more information)
  • Networking opportunities
  • Vendor/Trade Show
  • Professional Credits and CEUs (See hotlink below “Credits At-A-Glance” for details):
    • ODA Pesticide Recertification Credits:  CORE = 7 hrs.; 3a = 1 hr.; 4a = 1 hr.; 5 = 1 hrs.; 6a = 6 hrs.; 6b = 1 hr.; 6c = 1 hr.; 6d = 2 hrs., 8 = 2 hrs.
    • ISA CEUs:  Certified Arborist = 23; Utility Specialist = 14; Municipal Specialist = 23; Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA)-Science = 8; BCMA-Practice = 6; BCMA-Management = 9; Tree Worker (TW) Climber Specialist = 12; TW Aerial Lift Specialist = 12
    • ONLA (now OGIA) OCNT Credit
    • Kentucky Pesticide Applicator Credits:  Request submitted and pending
    • Indiana Pesticide Applicator Credits:  Request submitted and pending

Plan Your Day:

 “Program Details” shows speakers and presentation descriptions:  https://go.osu.edu/gic2023_full_program

 “Schedule At-A-Glance” a condensed program overview showing program topics, speakers, and times: https://go.osu.edu/gic2023_schedule_at_a_glance

 “Credits At-A-Glance” shows professional credits/CEUs available for each presentation:  https://go.osu.edu/gic2023_credits_at_a_glance

REGISTER NOW – Don’t Delay:   SAVE MONEY!

Registration fees increase significantly after January 19!

Early Bird Registration (until Midnight, January 19)  $80.00
Late Registration (after January 19th) $125.00
On-Site Registration (at the door, February 2; Lunch will not be included) $150.00

Business Opportunity:  Be a Trade Show Exhibitor

 Increase sales by being a Trade Show Exhibitor!

 Click this hotlink to register and select “Trade Show Exhibitor”:   https://go.osu.edu/2023tri_state_gic

 Complete the registration process including booth requirements, the number of individuals, etc.  You will receive a confirmation by e-mail.

Business Opportunity:  Be a Sponsor

 Get your company’s name in front of hundreds of industry professionals and partners in the Tri-State area, all while showing your support for the opportunities for education and networking that the conference provides each year. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please click below for more information.

Click this hotlink to learn more about sponsorship:   https://go.osu.edu/GIC2023_sponsorship

The Tri-State Green Industry Conference is a collaborative educational effort between the following 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? E-mail Maria Gulley at: gulley.66@osu.edu

Help us…Help you! Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rent Survey 2022-2023

Agricultural professionals with a knowledge of Ohio’s cropland values and rental rates are invited to complete the 2022-2023 Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rent Survey by April 30, 2023. This may include rural appraisers, agricultural lenders, professional farm managers, ag business professionals, farmers, landowners, and Farm Service Agency personnel. Your thoughts and responses are greatly appreciated and will help build a platform for your portion of the state. The more responses, no names asked, the better the data set to provide information to clientele.

Complete the survey in one of these formats.

  1. Online at https://go.osu.edu/ohiocroplandvaluesandrentssurvey2223
  2. You can also access the online survey through this QR code:
  3. Paper format – Long version Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rents Long Survey 2023
  4. Paper format – Short version Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rents Short Survey 2023

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

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.

Topics discussed during this series include: Developing Goals for Estate and Succession; Planning for the Transition of Management; Planning for the Unexpected; Communication and Conflict Management during Farm Transfer; Legal Tools and Strategies; Developing Your Team; Getting Your Affairs in Order; and Selecting an Attorney.

The instructors for this series will be:

Robert Moore, Attorney with the OSU Agricultural & Resource Law Program. Prior to joining OSU, Robert was in private practice for 18 years where he provided legal counsel to farmers and landowners.

David Marrison, OSU Extension Field Specialist, Farm Management. David has worked for OSU Extension for 25 year and is nationally known for his teaching in farm succession. He has a unique ability to intertwine humor into speaking about the difficulties of passing the farm on to the next generation.

Because of its virtual nature, you can invite your parents, children, and/or grandchildren (regardless of where they live in Ohio or across the United States) to join you as you develop a plan for the future of your family farm. Pre-registration is required so that a packet of program materials can be mailed in advance to participating families. The registration fee is $75 per farm family.  Electronic copies of the course materials will also be available to all participants. The registration deadline is January 16, 2023.

OSU Extension appreciates the support of the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association in sponsoring the mailing of these materials.

More information and on-line registration can be obtained at go.osu.edu/farmsuccession

Informational brochure

More information about this program can be obtained by contacting David Marrison at marrison.2@osu.edu or 740-722-6073.

Help us bring high speed internet to All Ohioians

The Federal Communications Commission recently released new broadband maps that will be used to determine the amount of funding Ohio will receive to expand broadband access throughout the state via BEAD (the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program).

To improve the maps and ensure Ohio receives as much support as possible, we need your help!

By Jan. 13, 2023, we need as many Ohioans as possible to check the federal maps, and if there is an inconsistency about their local internet availability, submit supporting information online.

To participate:

  1. Search for your address at broadbandmap.fcc.gov
  2. Click on settings wheel and make sure ‘All wired and licensed fixed wireless’ is selected under Technology
  3. Is the location status correct? if not, click on ‘Location Change”
  4. Can the listed service providers deliver at the internet speed displayed? If not, click ‘Availability Change’

If there are any questions about this effort, please contact David Civittolo, Ohio State University Extension interim assistant director for community development, at civittolo.1@osu.edu. Thank you for helping us bring high-speed internet to all Ohioans.