OSU Extension plans Farm Bill meetings

VW independent/submitted information

PAULDING — Ohio State University Extension and the USDA Farm Service Agency in Ohio are partnering to provide a series of educational Farm Bill meetings this winter to help producers make informed decisions related to enrollment in commodity programs. 

Paulding County will be hosting two meetings at the OSU Extension Office in Paulding on January 9 and February 6. Both meetings will start at 9 a.m. and last approximately 1½ hours. Call the Paulding County Extension Office to register for this meeting. 

The 2018 Farm Bill reauthorized the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) safety net programs that were in the 2014 Farm Bill. While the ARC and PLC programs under the new farm bill remain very similar to the previous farm bill, there are some changes that producers should be aware of. 

Farm Bill meetings will review changes to the ARC/PLC programs as well as important dates and deadlines. Additionally, attendees will learn about decision tools and calculators available to help assess which program best fits the needs of their farms under current market conditions and outlook. 

Enrollment for 2019 is currently open, with the deadline March 15. Enrollment for the 2020 crop year closes June 30 of this year. Producers can enroll for both 2019 and 2020 during the same visit to an FSA county office. Producers have the opportunity to elect to either ARC or PLC for the 2019 to 2023 crop years, with the option to change their program election in 2021, 2022, and 2023. 

To find out about other area upcoming meetings, and get information about the Farm Bill, visit http://go.osu.edu/farmbill2019.  

For additional information on the Farm Bill, to register for a program, or have additional education, contact Sarah Noggle, Paulding County Extension educator, Ag and Natural Resources, at noggle.17@osu.edu. Individuals can also stop in at the OSU Extension Office, 503 Fairground Drive in Paulding, or call 419.399.8225.