CFAES Give Today
News Releases Archive (Prior to 2011)

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

CFAES

OSU Extension to Host Farm Bill Meetings

February 18, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- While the U.S. Department of Agriculture is putting the final touches on the 2008 Farm Bill, farmers are making production decisions related to the Farm Bill that could have significant economic impacts. Ohio State University Extension is hosting a series of meetings throughout Ohio in March to aid farmers and landowners in the decision-making process.

The meetings, free and open to the public, will focus on topics related to farm operations, income and tax liability. Agricultural economist Carl Zulauf will lead the meetings, along with Robert Moore, an attorney with Wright Law Company of Dublin and a former OSU Extension educator.

"Some of the more significant changes in the Farm Bill relate to limitations on payments received from the government that affect how farm businesses might best be organized," said Zulauf, who holds a research appointment with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.

Zulauf will cover details of Average Crop Revenue (ACRE) -- a new farm payment program being offered through the 2008 Farm Bill. Zulauf will discuss the differences between ACRE and traditional payment programs and cover important questions that producers need to consider as they manage their farm operation in today's highly volatile market environment.

Moore will discuss changes to Farm Service Agency programs, with emphasis on payment limitation rules. His presentation will outline how best to ensure compliance with FSA rules through tax analysis, business structuring and farm operation.

The meetings will be held at the following locations:

•March 18 from 9 a.m. to noon -- The Lighthouse, 10055 US Rt. 224 W., Findlay.

•March 19 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. -- Knights of Columbus, 8440 SR 47, Versailles.

•March 23 from 9 a.m. to noon -- All Occasions Catering, 6989 Waldo-Delaware Road, Waldo.

•March 23 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. -- Muskingum County Welcome Center, 205 N. Fifth St., Zanesville.

•March 24 from 9 a.m. to noon -- Ross County Fairgrounds, 644 Allen Ave., Chillicothe.

•March 26 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. -- OARDC Fisher Auditorium, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster.

For more information on the meetings, contact OSU Extension educator Chris Bruynis at (419) 294-4931, or bruynis.1@cfaes.osu.edu, or Stan Ernst at (614) 292-6421 or ernst.1@osu.edu.

Author(s): 
Candace Pollock
Source(s): 
Stan Ernst