LONDON, Ohio -- With rising fuel prices and high input costs, effectively managing farmland cash rents has become a top priority for farmers and landowners. Ohio State University economists and farm management specialists will be on hand during this year's Farm Science Review to help visitors make the most economically sound decisions.
"Dealing with cash rents is probably the No. 1 concern for farmers and landowners at the moment. How do you negotiate new rents during high commodity and input prices?" said Barry Ward, an Ohio State University Extension agricultural economist. "Farmers are really struggling with how high those rents should go, how quickly, and what is fair for both parties."
Ward and his colleagues will introduce a new flexible cash rent decision-making tool during Farm Science Review. The Excel-based program affords farmers and landowners the ability to play with the numbers based on crop yields, crop prices, fuel, fertilizer and input costs to help them determine fair and flexible cash rents.
Farm Science Review will be held Sept. 16-18 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio. OSU Extension economics and financial management exhibits will be located in the Firebaugh Building on Friday Avenue throughout the event.
In addition to the cash rents decision-making tool, visitors to Farm Science Review will also be introduced to a new crop share decision aid, as well as the latest research data on custom rates, enterprise budgets, and specialty crops and livestock such as sweet corn, popcorn, lamb and beef cattle.
Peggy Hall, director of OSU Extension's Agricultural and Resource Law Program, will also be on hand in the Firebaugh Building to discuss the issues, cases, codes and regulations related to agriculture law.
Farm Science Review is sponsored by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. It attracts upwards of 140,000 visitors from all over the country and Canada, who come for three days to peruse 4,000 product lines from 600 commercial exhibitors, and learn the latest in agricultural research, conservation, family and nutrition, and gardening and landscape.
Tickets are $8 at the gate or $5 in advance when purchased from county offices of OSU Extension or participating agribusinesses. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept 16-17 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 18.
For more information, log on to http://fsr.osu.edu.