Meeting to Offer Insight for Farmers on 2014 Farm Bill

VERSAILLES, Ohio – Farmers interested in learning more about the 2014 farm bill and its impact on commodity programs can hear from experts who will provide insight into the legislation and its impact on agriculture during a meeting March 20.

The 2014 farm bill's safety net requires farmers and landowners to elect which program design they prefer based on what they think will be most effective for their operation, particularly in conjunction with crop insurance, said Sam Custer, an Ohio State University Extension educator.

OSU Extension, which is hosting the event, is the outreach arm of Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

“Significant analysis is needed to compare the new programs and provide valuable information to the farm's decision makers, who will be locked into the program choice for the life of this farm bill,” Custer said.

A panel discussion of the farm bill will include Jon Coppess, clinical professor of law and policy at the University of Illinois; Adam Sharp, vice president of public policy with the Ohio Farm Bureau; and Art Barnaby, professor of policy and risk management at Kansas State University.

The meeting will cover several issues including:

Crop safety net decisions

Commodity programs including dairy

Crop insurance

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Versailles High School, 280 Marker Road in Versailles. There is no cost to attend the meeting but registration is requested. An online registration form can be found at http://go.osu.edu/2014FarmBillMeeting. The deadline to register is March 17.

For more information contact Sam Custer at 937-548-5215 or custer.2@osu.edu.