OSU Navigation Bar

The Ohio State University

Ohio Ag Manager

February 2012

Feb
15
2012

State Treasurer Josh Mandel Supporting Ohio Farmers Through Ag-LINK

The Agricultural Linked-Deposit program (Ag-LINK) is sponsored by State Treasurer Josh Mandel. In an effort to help Ohio farmers offset the high costs of operating funds, Ag-LINK provides an interest rate reduction on loans or lines of credit up to $100,000. This program applies to farmers, including but not limited to traditional farming, aquaculture, livestock orchards and hydroponics.

Ag-LINK has been increasing opportunities for Ohio farmers to operate and thrive for more than 25 years. As a result, Ag-LINK has helped more than 40,000 farmers receive reduced-rate financing on approximately $2.8 billion dollars. State Treasurer Josh Mandel is proud to support Ohio’s farmers through Ag-LINK.

How Do Farmers Qualify?

Eligible recipients must meet the following criteria: Be organized for profit Have headquarters and 51% of operations maintained in Ohio Obtain an operating loan or line of credit from an eligible bank or Farm Credit Lender Use loan exclusively for agriculture purposes Agree to comply with all program and bank regulations

Ag-LINK accepts applications on an annual basis from January to March. This year’s applications are due March 9, 2012.

Please contact State Treasurer Josh Mandel’s office by visiting www.ohiotreasurer.gov or calling 1-800-228-1102, option #3 for more information.

No Comments
February 2012, Financial Management
Share |
Feb
14
2012

Trend-Adjusted Actual Production History (APH) Option Available

By: Chris Bruynis, Assistant Professor & Extension Educator Click here for a PDF version of the 2012 Trend Adjusted APH Farmers in Ohio purchasing certain types of crop insurance will be able to elect a new provision called Trend-Adjusted Actual Production History (TA APH). This provision will allow farmers the ability to raise their farm APH in line with current expected yields. If elected, this option would adjust the farm yield to reflect increases in yields through time in the county. Trend adjustments are made on each eligible yield within a qualifying APH database based on the county’s historical yield trend, which is provided in the county actuarial documents. The approved APH yield is calculated using trend-adjusted yields, as well as any other applicable yields, within the APH database. Many farmers feel that the 10-year average Actual Production History (APH) yields used to determine their multiple peril crop insurance guarantees do not accurately reflect their current yield potential, due to improved crop genetics and cultural practices that have been introduced in recent years. Trend-Adjusted APH has been approved by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board for both corn and soybeans in most of the Corn Belt. In, Ohio there are 69 counties where trend adjustments are available. These are displayed in Table 1 in the attached document. If a county does not appear in the list, there was no trend adjustment yield approved by FCIC for that cou...
Read More »
No Comments
Farm Policy, February 2012
Share |
Feb
14
2012

The Value of a CCA or CPAg to a Farm Business

By: Wm. Bruce Clevenger, OSU Extension Educator, CCA & Harold Watters, OSU Extension Field Specialist, CPAg/CCA In farm business, managers solicit the advice or opinion from people near and sometimes far from the farm location. These advisers may have a specialized understanding or experience that can help improve the farm operation. When it comes to agronomic crop recommendations, a farm’s adviser has the potential influence to impact crop yields, equipment purchases, farm operations, water quality and profitability. What are the extra letters seen following agronomy professionals that advise your farm? CCA stands for Certified Crop Adviser and CPAg stands for Certified Professional Agronomist. What’s the difference and why should I value their opinion? Certified Crop Advisers earned their certification by passing rigorous state and international exams. For Ohio, the tri-state exam includes Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. CCAs must also sign and adhere to a code of ethics that places the customer’s needs first. CCAs meet and often exceed the high standards set by the American Society of Agronomy (ASA). Technology transfer is an important part of being a CCA. Agricultural scientists offer training to CCAs and depend on them to pass that knowledge on to the grower. Up to date knowledge on the latest developments in agriculture is a pride of the CCA program and certification standards require CCAs to earn 40 hours of continuing education units every two yea...
Read More »
No Comments
February 2012, Uncategorized
Share |
Feb
06
2012

Management for the Future

by Chris Zoller, OSU Extension Educator

An excellent learning opportunity takes place on March 14 when OSU Extension – Tuscarawas County and the Tuscarawas County Farm Bureau sponsor a workshop, Farm Strategies for the Future, at the Dutch Valley Restaurant near Sugarcreek. Registration is at 9:30am, with the program to follow from 10am – 3pm.

A dynamic group of specialists will discuss what changes farm managers can expect to see in the next decade and how they can adopt and implement these developments.

Presentations will include:
Dr. Scott Shearer, Chair of the Ohio State University Department of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering, will discuss farms of the future and the emerging technology to manage these businesses.

Chris Bruynis, OSU Extension Educator, ANR, will provide an overview of the Farm Bill and crop insurance and how farmers can use these tools to minimize risk.

Dr. Jerry Lahmers, Veterinarian and member of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, will describe recent developments of the board and the impact on livestock producers.

Dale Arnold, Ohio Farm Bureau, will address the present and emerging energy issues and what they mean to agriculture.
Leah Finney, Ohio Farm Bureau, will provide an update on laws and regulations for roadway use by farm trucks.

Please contact the Tuscarawas County office of Ohio State University Extension at 330-339-2337 for registration details and to make a reservation.

No Comments
February 2012, Upcoming Events
Share |
Jan
20
2012

OSU Small Farm Programs Announces Conferences– “Opening Doors to Success” and “Living Your Small Farm Dream”

By: Tony Nye, Extension Educator The mission of the OSU Small Farm program is to provide a greater understanding of production practices, economics of land use choices, assessment of personal and natural resources, marketing alternatives, and the identification of sources of assistance. We at Ohio State want to help farm families improve economic growth and development on their farms. To help small farmers become more profitable, the Ohio State University Extension Small Farm Program is pleased to host two conferences in March of 2012 dedicated to assisting small farm landowners. These intensive conferences will give participants the opportunity to choose from a diverse variety of seminars that can help them be successful in their farming operations. The first conference is the 4th annual “Opening Doors to Success” Small Farm Conference and Trade Show" to be held March 9 & 10, 2012 at Wilmington College located in Wilmington, Ohio. The conference will feature 30 breakout sessions and a trade show for small farmers. The conference kicks off on Friday, March 9 at 5:30 p.m. with a session: “Meat Marketing—Front and Center” which will address such issues as, the obstacles to marketing meat, your label and what it means to you and your customer, the meanings of grass-fed, antibiotic free, free range, organic, grain fed, finding the right processor, and pricing my product. On Saturday, March 12, registration begins at 7:45 a.m. and the day will conclu...
Read More »
No Comments
February 2012, Upcoming Events
Share |
Jan
19
2012

Fixed and Flexible Cash Rental Arrangements for Your Farm – Newly Revised North Central Region Bulletin

By: Barry Ward, Leader, Production Business Management, Ohio State University Extension

The North Central Farm Management Extension Committee has recently updated three lease bulletins that have been widely used by farm landowners and farm operators to evaluate lease arrangements. This article highlights the bulletin, “Fixed and Flexible Cash Rental Arrangements for Your Farm” (NCFMEC-01).

The purpose of this newly revised publication is to help operators and landowners develop equitable cash-rent arrangements and assist them in making sound decisions based on an equitable evaluation of resources. The first section of this bulletin (Part I) addresses whether a fixed cash-rent lease arrangement should be used. Part II discusses how to develop an equitable fixed cash rental rate. Part III outlines methods for developing a flexible cash rental lease and their advantages and disadvantages. Part IV discusses the importance of putting the agreement in writing. A sample lease form is also included.

This newly revised North Central Region bulletin titled “Fixed and Flexible Cash Rental Arrangements for Your Farm” is available at the “AgLease101” website under the “Document Library” tab at: http://www.aglease101.org/

No Comments
Farm Rents, February 2012
Share |
Jan
18
2012

Agricultural “Outlook” for 2012 Posted Online – Listen to the “Live” Outlook presentations by OSU Extension Economists

By: Barry Ward, Leader, Production Business Management, OSU Extension, Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics and Bruce Clevenger, Extension Educator, Agricultural and Natural Resources, OSU Extension, Defiance County

Farmers, agribusinesses and others in the agricultural industry had the opportunity to learn more about the current farm outlook at an Ohio State University Extension 2012 Farm Outlook Program in Defiance County on December 20, 2011.

Ohio State University’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics and OSU Extension made presentations that brought forth the latest outlook on the grain markets, energy, land values and rent, production inputs and farm policy.

You can listen to each of the ‘live’ presentations from that evening linked below. Featured topics and speakers include:

Carl Zulauf, OSU Extension Agricultural Economist, on Farm Policy and the Farm Bill (In Zulauf’s absence, Matt Roberts did this presentation).

Barry Ward, OSU Extension Agricultural Economist, on production economics of farmland values and input costs such as seed, chemical and fertilizer markets.

Matt Roberts, OSU Extension Agricultural Economist, on grain and energy market outlook.

The files are available by accessing the link listed below. Presentations may take a minute to load, but should play well on high speed connections.

http://fairfield.osu.edu/news/farm-outlook-for-2012-is-posted-here

No Comments
Farm Policy, February, February 2012
Share |
Jan
17
2012

Ohio Beef Cattle Series Providing Management Information

by Mark Mechling, OSU Extension Educator

Ohio beef cattle producers will have the opportunity to participate in the Ohio Beef Cattle School Series this winter. The series of four evening programs will focus on optimizing efficient beef cattle production in a rapidly changing business and consumer environment. The sessions will feature nationally known speakers and will be broadcast “live” at a number of county OSU Extension offices across the state.

Dates and topics of the four sessions include:

Thursday, January 26- Economic Considerations in Beef Cattle Production

Thursday, February 9- Targeted Markets and Marketing Alternatives

Thursday, February 16-Genetics, Reproduction Efficiencies and Calving Season Alternatives

Thursday, March 1- Meat Industry Perspective including Outlook; Choice/Select Spreads

Each session begins at 7:00 p.m. For more information on specific details and locations, go to: http://fairfield.osu.edu/events/ohio-beef-cattle-school-class-1 or contact your local OSU Extension office.

No Comments
February 2012, Newsletters, Upcoming Events
Share |

Information presented above and where trade names are used, they are supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University Extension is implied.

Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA.

Keith L. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, Ohio State University Extension TDD No. 800-589-8292 ( Ohio only) or 614-292-1868