Upcoming Events

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.

February 2012, Upcoming Events

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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...
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February 2012, Upcoming Events

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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.

February 2012, Newsletters, Upcoming Events

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Jan

09

2012

Financial & Tax Implication of Oil & Gas Leases Meetings to be held

by David Marrison & Clif Little, OSU Extension Educators OSU Extension is pleased to offer Financial & Tax Implication workshops in selected counties during the winter of 2012. These workshops will help landowners understand the financial and tax implications of oil & gas leases/royalties. These meetings will help participants become more aware of the potential tax implications of leases and royalty payments. Don’t get caught blindsided by the taxes which will be due. Learn which payments are subject to ordinary income taxes versus capital gain; about the percentage depletion deduction; and how signing a lease may affect your CAUV status. Learn how the IRS handles oil & gas payments. Learn what questions to ask and receive financial planning tips for managing the potential income from these wells. The following meetings have been scheduled: Thursday, January 19, 2012 Ashtabula County Extension office 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. This class is already sold out. Thursday, February 16, 2012 Mid East Career & Technology Center in Buffalo, Ohio (Guernsey County). 6:00 p.m. For more information: contact Clif Little at 740-489-5300 or 740-732-5681. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 Trumbull County Extension office 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. More information can be obtained by calling 440-576-9008 or click here for the Tax Implications of Oil & Gas Meeting Registration Form Thursday, February 23, 2012 Ashtabula County Extension office 9:30 to 11:00 a....
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January 2012, Tax Management, Upcoming Events

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Jan

09

2012

Computerized Farm Recordkeeping Workshops

Wm. Bruce Clevenger, OSU Extension Educator, Defiance County Pencil and paper is still the way most farmers keep records. As farm size, income or debt increases, many farmers and lenders look for computer programs that allow fast data entry, have internal checks for accuracy and allow summarizing of data. Most farmers begin their search by asking "Is there a simple computer program that will keep my records like the farm account books?" Ohio State University Extension and other land grant colleges have recognized the computer software Quicken® as a computerized farm recordkeeping system. Users can record transactions of both the farm and family and categorize them based on farm enterprises income and expenses as well as family living expenses. Its popularity is due to the ease of data entry and to its low price of $60 to $100. This single-entry system is essentially an electronic checkbook. It allows users to track loans, write checks, reconcile the checkbook with the bank statement and quickly create reports for the farm business, family, and tax purposes. OSU Extension is offering a Computerized Farm Recordkeeping Workshop with Quicken® that will focus on setting up accounts, categorizing income and expenses, hands-on data entry, running tax reports, and preparing farm production reports. Workshop will utilize a computer laboratory with Quicken® software installed to be used by participants during the workshop. Workshops will be held: January 30 ...
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January 2012, Upcoming Events

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Dec

05

2011

The Ohio State University announces the 2012 Southern Ohio New and Small Farm Colleges

by: Tony Nye, Extension Educator Are you a small farm landowner wondering what to do with your acreage? Are you interested in exploring options for land uses but not sure where to turn or how to begin? Have you considered adding an agricultural or horticultural enterprise but you just aren’t sure what is required, from an equipment, labor, and/or management perspective? Are you looking for someplace to get basic farm information? If you or someone you know answered yes to any of these questions, then the OSU Extension Small Farm College program may be just what you are looking for. OSU Extension is offering a program targeted at the new and small farmer. The Southern Ohio New and Small Farm College is an 8 week program that introduces new and even seasoned farmers to a wide variety of topics. The program will teach participants how to set goals, plan, budget, and where to find resources available for them if they chose to start a small farming operation. The courses will layout how to manage financial and farm records. Extension Educators will illustrate over 15 different enterprises that can be profitable on land as small as one acre. The educators will show the benefits and pitfalls of each enterprise so that the participant will be able to pick and chose what may work best for them and what suits their interest. To round out the experience, a bus tour will be held around area farms so that participants can see first hand how small farm life works, and al...
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December 2011, Upcoming Events

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Dec

01

2011

2012 Farm Outlook Meetings from OSU Extension

By: Bruce Clevenger, OSU Extension Defiance County Farmers and agribusiness need to keep tuned into markets, production economics and farm policy. Trends can change due to measurable factors or seemingly unpredictable forces. Farmers, agribusinesses and others in the agricultural industry have the opportunity to learn more about the current farm outlook at an Ohio State University Extension 2012 Farm Outlook Program. Ohio State University’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics and OSU Extension will make presentations that will bring forth the latest outlook on grain markets, domestic and foreign energy, livestock and dairy and farm policy. Five programs are scheduled beginning December 13. Meetings are coordinated by local OSU Extension office and/or local agri-business to deliver Ohio State University’s foremost authorities. Featured speakers include: Matt Roberts, OSU Extension Agricultural Economist, on grain and energy outlook; Barry Ward, OSU Extension Agricultural Economist, on production economics of farmland values and input costs such as seed, chemical and fertilizer markets; Carl Zulauf, OSU Extension Agricultural Economist, on Farm Policy and the Farm Bill; Cam Thraen, OSU Extension Agricultural Economist, on Dairy Marketing and Policy. The 2012 Farm Outlook Programs are open to the public and will provide insightful information for farming in 2012 and beyond. Locations, dates, times and registration inf...
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December 2011, Farm Policy, Upcoming Events

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Nov

09

2011

2011 Agricultural Tax Issues Workshops

by: David Marrison, OSU Extension Educator Tax practitioners with an interest in farm income taxes will have an opportunity to attend a one day farm tax workshop scheduled for Monday, December 12, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in nine locations across Ohio. This workshop will be taught by Dr. Phil Harris, Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Wisconsin via tele-conference. This program has been designed for tax practitioners who have a significant number of farm clients and therefore need a substantial amount of information on agricultural tax issues. Participants will hear an audiotape of a live lecture given by Phil Harris, supplemented with a slide presentation Dr. Harris used during his lecture. Dr. Harris will be available for questions during two conference calls during the day, and OSU faculty will be in the meeting rooms to answer questions. Registrants will receive a valuable 236 page supplemental book. Some of the topics at these workshops include: self-employment tax and social security benefits, like-kind exchanges, farm income averaging, fertilizer or nutrient acquired with land, prepaid farm expenses, farm related income reported on Form 4797, taxation of agricultural labor, specialty agriculture taxation issues, and form 1099 requirements for farmers. The locations for the 2011 Agricultural Issues Workshops are: Caldwell, Ohio at the OSU Extension South Central Region Office Chillicothe, Ohio at the OSU Extension Ross County...
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December 2011, Tax Management, Upcoming Events

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Nov

07

2011

Community Supported Agriculture Workshops Focused on Increasing Producer Profits

By: Beth Fausey Scheckelhoff, Educator and Director, Agricultural Business Enhancement Center, OSU Extension Since their introduction to the U.S. in 1984, numbers of community supported agriculture enterprises (CSAs) have grown to well over 160 operations in Ohio in 2011. Such enterprises connect well with consumers’ increasing interest in where food comes from, how it is grown, and how it is handled. While still a relatively new model for value-added agricultural marketing, a CSA is an attractive marketing channel that enhances producer profits by providing working capital prior to the growing season, enabling farm diversification, and building relationships between communities and producers. Originally, CSAs’ member shareholders helped grow and harvest "their farm´s" crops. Today, CSAs have evolved to operate on a subscription basis, providing a given amount of product during an established growing season for a set fee. Subscribers or shareholders invest in the product and the risk associated with growing product over the course of the established season. More recently, innovative producers are developing CSAs in partnership with other producers, industry groups and organizations. This approach is a great attraction to existing producers looking to decrease risk, and to new producers looking for ways to lessen the costs and risks of start-up enterprises. As more producers evaluate nontraditional methods of consumer marketing such as through a CSA, access to ...
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November 2011, Upcoming Events

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Nov

07

2011

Move Over Brother; the Farmer’s Daughter is Coming Home to the Farm, Too!

By Julia Nolan Woodruff, former OSU Extension Educator Transition planning is as important as ever, as we bring a new generation, including both sons and daughters, into the farm business. It was once a given that the son, no matter where they fell in the birth order, would be the one or ones who would carry on the family farming business. That’s not to say that in years gone by there weren’t instances that the daughter became the farmer, but it certainly was more the norm that the son was presented with the opportunity. Today, that is becoming less and less the case as more daughters are stepping into farming roles that require more than just looking the part of the farmer’s daughter we hear about in country songs. Farming has seen many changes and advancements in technology that has allowed and even encouraged more daughters to think about returning to a business that was once thought of as a ‘man’s business.’ Technology has changed some of the physical aspects of the job, creating a chance for women who may not possess the same physical stature of men to be able to do the job just as well. There is also a strong business management side of farming that has been a very good fit for many women. Women have filled the role of bookkeeper and bill payer for many years, and are now branching out to include other management roles such as; marketing, accounting, tax planning, human resource management, etc. As farms become larger businesses, women have filled some...
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Financial Management, November 2011, Upcoming Events

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Sep

22

2011

2011 OSU Income Tax Schools to be held across Ohio this Fall

David Marrison, OSU Extension Educator OSU Extension and The Ohio State University’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics Department are pleased to be offering the 48th Annual OSU Income Tax Schools at eight locations across Ohio in November and December. These two-day schools are designed for individuals who have some experience preparing and filing federal and state tax returns for individuals and small businesses. Instruction will focus on federal tax law changes and on the issues that tax preparers may encounter in 2011 preparing tax returns. The schools also will include an Ohio income tax update. Highly qualified instructors will explain and interpret tax regulations and recent changes in tax laws. The registration fee includes the workbook and other reference materials, instructor fees, meals, meeting rooms, and other expenses. Participants in the Tax Schools will receive the 2012 RIA Federal Tax Handbook and the 700 page National Income Tax Workbook (including a searchable CD containing the 2004-2011 workbook) prepared by the Land Grant University Tax Education Foundation especially for the income tax schools held in Ohio and 30 other states. The National Income Tax Workbook is available only as a part of the tax school registration. Continuing education credit for Accountants, Enrolled Agents, Attorneys, and Certified Financial Planners will be offered. The tax school locations are as follows: Dayton – November 8-9 ...
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October 2011, Tax Management, Upcoming Events

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Sep

19

2011

Agricultural Lenders’ Seminars

By:Glen Arnold, Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Putnam County and Barry Ward, Leader, Production Business Management, OSU Extension The Ohio State University Extension has scheduled two seminars in western Ohio for Agricultural Lenders. The dates are Wednesday, November 2nd at the Champaign County Extension office in Urbana and Thursday, November 3rd at the Putnam County Extension office in Ottawa. These seminars are excellent opportunities for Lenders, Farm Service Agency personnel, county Extension Educators and others to learn about OSU Extension research, outreach programs and current agricultural topics of interest across the state. Topics and Speakers for 2011 Seminars: Assessment of Federal Farm and Energy Program Changes to Meet Budget Challenges Carl Zulauf Professor Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics The Ohio State University Livestock Economics and Outlook for Ohio Farmers Chris Hurt Professor Department of Agricultural Economics Purdue University Precision Farming – Implications for Ohio Farmers and Ag Lenders Scott A. Shearer Professor and Chair Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering The Ohio State University Crop Inputs Outlook, Enterprise Budgets and Flexible Cash Leases Barry Ward Leader, Production Business Management Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics The Ohio State University How Lenders Can Utilize FSA Loan Programs to Assist...
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Financial Management, Newsletters, October 2011, Upcoming Events

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Sep

07

2011

Farm Management, Marketing and Economics Events at the 2011 Farm Science Review

by Barry Ward, Stan Ernst and Peggy Hall, Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, Ohio State University Even though new equipment and machinery dominate the Farm Science Review each year, economics and the bottom line always play the major role in your decision making. The Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics together with Ohio State University Extension will offer several activities, exhibits, presentations and opportunities to interact with Agricultural Economists, Farm Management Specialists and Extension Educators at this year’s Farm Science Review, September 20th through the 22nd at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center near London, Ohio. The Farm Business Office The Farm Business Office at the Farm Science Review is located in the Francine Firebaugh Building and will give Review goers the opportunity to interact one-on-one with Ohio State University Extension Farm Management Specialists, OSU Agricultural Economists, and OSU Extension Educators. Review goers can seek advice on various farm business and management topics including budgeting, cash rents, flexible cash rent arrangements, land purchase issues, input buying, farm transition planning, estate planning, retirement planning, farm record keeping and analysis, tax management, human resources management, risk management issues and more. OSU Extension Enterprise Budgets will be available along with “Ohio Farm Custom Rates” and “Wester...
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September 2011, Upcoming Events

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Aug

24

2011

Northeast Ohio New and Small Farm College to be held this fall in Northeast Ohio.

There is a growing trend in Ohio Agriculture toward the direct marketing of agricultural products featuring locally grown food products. Consumers are becoming more and more aware of the benefits of buying local and buying fresh. As the demand for local food products increases so does the interest in growing and producing a variety of agricultural products for these markets. Perhaps this is something that you have considered for your small acreage but do not know where to begin. To help land owners decide what to grow or raise on their excess acreage, the Ohio State University Extension offices in the Western Reserve Extension Education and Research Area are pleased to announce the Northeast Ohio New & Small Farm College titled “Too Much to Mow-What Do I Grow?” will be held on Monday evenings September 26 and October 3, 10, & 17, 2011 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in Madison (Lake County) Ohio. This college is open to any person in Northeast Ohio or Northwest Pennsylvania. Click here to access the registration flyer This four week college is designed to help farmers increase their profits from their small acreage. This college is open to all new or aspiring farmers, new rural landowners, small farmers, and farm families looking for new ideas. The small farmer college is split into 4 evening sessions designed to challenge participants to plan for success. The first session titled “Getting Started” will help participants build the foundation for their farm busines...
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Newsletters, September 2011, Upcoming Events

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Jul

19

2011

Farm Finance for Women Workshop to be offered in August

By Julia Nolan Woodruff, Extension Educator, Erie County After a successful winter workshop series, OSU Extension will be offering a summer version of the Farm Finance for Women workshops. This workshop is designed to address the area of financial risk management. There are a series of four classes; one held each week in the evening from 6:30 – 9:00 pm. The summer workshop will be held in Knox and Delaware Counties. The first two classes will be at the OSU Extension Office located at 1025 Harcourt Rd., Mount Vernon and the second two classes will be held at the OSU Extension office in Delaware County located at 149 N. Sandusky St., Delaware. The classes will be held on August 9, 16, 23, 30. Click for Brochure A more in-depth study of the components of financial risk related to agriculture is discussed by the educators teaching this workshop. Educators will provide tools for women to utilize in order to increase their current financial risk management skills. The program is inspired by the recent Annie’s Project Workshops and organized much like those workshops. However, there is only one area of risk management focus, unlike the past Annie’s Project Workshops. Specific topics that will be addressed include: cash flow, balance sheet and income statement development, Quicken basics for farm recordkeeping, and benchmarking. The workshops will include hands-on activities, computer entry for the Quicken workshop, and homework. Three workshops were piloted this ...
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August 2011, Financial Management, Upcoming Events

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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