2015-2016 Agricultural Policy and Outlook Series Kicks Off on Dec. 7

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio and U.S. economies are poised for continued prosperity in 2016 although growth may be slower than recent years due to uncertainties in the national and international markets, an economist with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University said.

“I remain optimistic on national growth,” said Mark Partridge, a professor in the college’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE) and chair of Ohio State’s C. William Swank Program in Rural-Urban Policy.

Partridge will speak Dec. 7 during the college’s kickoff of its 2015-2016 Agricultural Policy and Outlook series. The event initiates a series of local meetings to be held statewide.   

The meetings will feature presentations by AEDE experts on matters the agricultural community should expect in 2016, including policy changes, key issues and market behavior with respect to farm, food and energy resources, and the environment. 

In addition to Partridge, speakers for the series include:

  • Matt Roberts, a grain economist, who will discuss his outlook for the 2016 grain market.
  • Ian Sheldon, an international trade expert, who will discuss the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership and what it might mean for U.S. agriculture.
  • Brent Sohngen, an environmental economist, who will present an analysis of President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan and its possible impact on Ohio.
  • Ani Katchova, leader of Ohio State’s Farm Income Enhancement program, who will discuss farm transitions in U.S. agriculture.
  • Barry Ward, leader of OSU Extension’s Production Business Management program, who will present an analysis of land values, cash rents, crop input costs and potential crop profitability in 2016.

The county meetings, which are open to the public, will be held on the following dates:

  • Dec. 16, 4 p.m., at the Attica Fairgrounds Social Hall, 15131 E. Township Road 12 in Attica. RSVP: Jon Ewald, jewald@suttonbank.com or 800-422-3641, or register online at www.suttonbank.com by Dec. 9. Cost: free with reservation by Dec. 9; $20 without a reservation.
  • Jan. 20, 8:30 a.m., at Der Dutchman, 445 S. Jefferson Ave., in Plain City. RSVP: Union County Extension, 937-644-8117 by Jan. 13. Cost: $10.
  • Jan. 20, 4 p.m., at the Bellevue VFW Hall, 6104 U.S. Route 20 in Bellevue. RSVP: Valerie Bumb, BumbV@fnblifetime.com or 419-483-7340 by Jan. 13. Cost: free with reservation; $22 without a reservation.
  • Jan. 22, 9:30 a.m., at the Fisher Auditorium at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave. in Wooster. RSVP: Wayne County Extension, lewandowski.11@osu.edu or 330-264-8722 by Jan. 15. Cost: $15.
  • Feb. 15, 7:30 a.m., at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Noecker Hall, 135 East Mound St. in Circleville. RSVP: Pickaway County Extension, 740-474-7534 by Feb. 8. Cost: $10.
  • Feb. 19, noon, at Romer’s Party Room, 118 East Main St. in Greenville. RSVP: Darke County Extension, custer.2@osu.edu or 937-548-5215 by Feb. 12. Cost: $20.
  • Feb. 24, 6 p.m., at the Jewell Community Center, 7900 Independence Road in Defiance. RSVP: Defiance County Extension, clevenger.10@osu.edu or 419-782-4771 by Feb. 19. Cost: $15 in advance or $30 at the door.

A meal is provided at each meeting and is included in the registration cost. Questions can be directed to the local hosts noted above.

Additionally, a new offering this year is a webinar to enable participants to join remotely from their own home or office. The webinar will be held on Feb. 1 at 6:30 p.m. RSVP at regonline.com/AgOutlook2016 by Jan. 25. Cost: $10.

For more information on the Agricultural Policy and Outlook series, visit aede.osu.edu/agoutlook.

Writer(s): 
CFAES News Team
614-292-2270
For more information, contact: 

Nicole Pierron Rasul
614-688-1323
pierronrasul.1@osu.edu