2024 Agriculture Outlook

The Workforce Development and Community Services Division of Southern State and The Ohio State University Extension are sponsoring the 2024 Agriculture Outlook to allow local agriculture producers and area entities to learn from seasoned professionals in the field. This FREE event will address important topics and programs that can help you get off to a successful 2024 season.

Event Details:

  • Date – Friday, February 9, 2024
  • Time – 9 a.m. - 12 noon
  • Location – Southern State Community College Central Campus | 100 Hobart Drive | Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

There are three ways to register - by phone, email, or online. Registration is optional, but strongly encouraged. Participants may register for one or more of the sessions.

  • PHONE | Call 800.628.7722 Ext. 3520 (Amanda Lewis) Monday - Thursday from 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Friday from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • EMAIL | Send an email to Amanda Lewis at alewis@sscc.edu.
  • ONLINE | Complete the Registration form below.

We hope you can take advantage of this unique educational opportunity, and look forward to seeing you at the event!

Session One: Tick Talk

9 - 10 a.m.

Presenter: Tim McDermott, Assistant Professor and Extension Educator at The Ohio State University

Description: Ohio has gone from one tick of medical importance to humans, companion animals, and livestock twenty years ago to five now, including two new ticks in the past few years. Our newest tick, the Asian Longhorned tick has shown the ability to cause illness and disease in cattle, including fatality. Come learn the state of ticks in Ohio and how you can keep your family and your animals tick safe.

About the Presenter

Tim McDermott has been with OSU Extension for the past eight years after twenty years in private practice veterinary medicine and surgery. He is an Assistant Professor in Extension in Agriculture and Natural Resources. He lectures from locally to internationally on topics including ticks and tick-vectored disease, livestock and food animal production, and urban agriculture. He is an Adjunct Faculty member in the Department of Preventative Medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Session Two: Soil Health Perspectives in the west and ties to Ohio

10:15 - 11:15 a.m.

Presenter: Dr. Jim Ippolito, Professor of Soil Health and Soil Fertility - School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University

Description: This session will introduce Jim Ippolito, a new OSU faculty member, and his soil health research in the western US in irrigated, biosolids, managed grazed, and mined land ecosystems. He will also showcase the STAR soil health program developed in Colorado, with hopes of generating interest in such a program for Ohio.

About the Presenter

Dr. Jim Ippolito is a professor of soil health and fertility at The Ohio State University. His 30+ year research program has focused on improving environmental soil fertility/chemistry/microbiology/ and soil health within numerous ecosystems. His 30+ year research career has crossed the boundaries between soils, waters, and air, to improve overall environmental resiliency, sustainability, and health. Jim is an expert in soil health, soil and water phosphorus, nitrogen, carbon, and trace/heavy metal fate and transport. Jim currently focused a great deal of attention on bringing his expertise to the soil health realm within Ohio, across the US and world.

Session Three: Local Agency Updates

11:30 a.m. - 12 noon

During this session, USDA personnel will explain the related programs that are available in 2024 such as the Environment Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Reserve Program for Grasslands (CRP - Grasslands).

Agency: USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)

Presenter: Sarah Fullenkamp, CED

Agency: USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)

Presenter: Lee Walker, District Conservationist

Agency: Highland Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD)

Presenter: Pam Bushelman, Operations Manager

Agency: USDA Rural Development

Presenter: Jennifer Brown, Business Program Specialist

Agency: OSU Extension - Highland County

Presenter: Ty Hamilton, Agriculture and Natural Resources/ Community Development Educator

Registration