Farm Science Review: Helping farmers mitigate 2019 farm crisis

Writer(s): 
Photo: Ken Chamberlain

LONDON, Ohio—Whether it’s learning how to navigate new tax laws or understanding the complexities of the U.S. trade policy and its impact on agriculture, Ohio farmers likely have a lot of questions as they work through the 2019 farm crisis.

Faculty and staff of The Ohio State UniversityCollege of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) will answer some of those questions and address some of the top farm management challenges facing Ohio farmers in 2019 during next week’s Farm Science Review. The annual farm trade show, sponsored by CFAES, takes place Sept. 17–19 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center, 135 State Route 38 NE, in London, Ohio.

The 2019 growing season has been particularly challenging for Ohio growers and producers due to the historic rainfall in Ohio, said David Marrison, an associate professor and an Ohio State University Extension Educator. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the college.

According to an Aug. 26 crop progress report, corn, soybeans, oats, and hay all continued to lag behind the five-year average. And as of Sept. 9, weather conditions continued to be mostly cool and dry, which was starting to hamper crop progress, according to Cheryl Turner, state statistician with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service Ohio Field Office.

“Topsoil and subsoil moisture was dry in some areas and getting drier,” Turner said in a written statement. “Hay and pasture regrowth slowed significantly. Corn and soybeans were showing signs of stress due to lack of moisture. Corn and soybeans conditions showed little to no improvement from previous week.”

As such, the majority of the FSR “Ask the Expert” workshops will feature discussions aimed at helping farmers mitigate the challenges they face in 2019 and beyond, Marrison said.

“Our experts will share science-based recommendations and solutions to the issues growers are facing regarding weather impacts, tariffs, and low commodity prices,” he said. “We encourage farmers, growers, people in the ag industry, to attend these quick-hitting, 20-minute sessions across from the Firebaugh Building located at 426 Friday Avenue.”

“Working together, we can and will weather the storm of uncertainty in today’s ag marketplace.”

Listed below are some other Ask the Expert topics related to helping farmers deal with the farm crisis.

Sept. 17

  • Tax Strategies Under the New Tax Law, 10–10:20 a.m.
  • Climate Smart—Weather, Climate, and Extremes—Oh My!, 10:20–10:40 a.m.
  • Before the Pearly Gates—Getting Your Farm Affairs in Order, 10:40–11:00 a.m.
  • Crop Inputs and Cash Rent Outlook for 2020, 11–11:20 a.m.
  • Farm Stress—We Got Your Back, 11:20–11:40 a.m.
  • Farm Income Forecasts: Are Farmers Experiencing Financial Stress?, 12:20–12:40 p.m.
  • How Much Money Stayed on the Farm? 2018 Ohio Corn and Soybean Production Costs, 12:40–1:00 p.m.
  • Where Are We on U.S. Trade Policy?, 1–1:20 p.m.
  • Farm Accounting: Quicken or QuickBooks?, 1:20–1:40 p.m.
  • Commodity Markets—Finding Silence in the Noise, 1:40–2:00 p.m.

Sept. 18

  • Climate Smart—Weather, Climate, and Extremes—Oh My!, 10–10:20 a.m.
  • Solar Leasing Options, 11–11:20 a.m.
  • Where Are We on U.S. Trade Policy?, 11:20–11:40 a.m.
  • Crop Inputs and Cash Rent Outlook for 2020, noon–12:20 p.m.
  • Commodity Markets—Finding Silence in the Noise, 12:20–12:40 p.m.
  • Public Perception Risk: Building Trust in Modern Agriculture, 12:40–1:00 p.m.
  • Farm Stress—We Got Your Back, 1–1:20 p.m.
  • How Much Money Stayed on the Farm? 2018 Ohio Corn and Soybean Production Costs, 1:20–1:40 p.m.
  • Tax Strategies Under the New Tax Law, 2–2:20 p.m.
  • Using On-Farm Research to Make Agronomic and Return on Investment Decisions, 2:40–3:00 p.m.

Sept. 19

  • Farm Stress—We Got Your Back, 10:20–10:40 a.m.
  • Tax Strategies Under the New Tax Law, 10:40–11:00 a.m.
  • Solar Leasing Options, 11:20–11:40 a.m.
  • Commodity Markets—Finding Silence in the Noise, 11:40 a.m.–noon
  • Crop Inputs and Cash Rent Outlook for 2020, noon–12:20 p.m.
  • Where Are We on U.S. Trade Policy?, 12:40–1:00 p.m.
  • How Much Money Stayed on the Farm? 2018 Ohio Corn and Soybean Production Costs, 1:40–2:00 p.m.

The Ask the Experts workshops are just some of the more than 180 educational presentations and opportunities presented by educators, specialists, and faculty from OSU Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, which is the research arm of CFAES.

Online tickets and access to the online program are now available for FSR, which typically draws more than 100,000 people throughout three days. FSR hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Sept. 17–18 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 19. 

Tickets for the event are $7 online and at OSU Extension county offices and participating agribusinesses, or $10 at the gate. Children ages 5 and under are free. For more information, visitfsr.osu.edu.

Writer(s): 
Tracy Turner
614-688-1067
For more information, contact: 

David Marrison 
740-622-2265
Marrison.2@osu.edu