RUSHVILLE, Ind. – According to the latest Census of Agriculture, from 2017 to 2022, Ohio lost more than 300,000 acres of farmland. This census found more and more farms are going out of business, as farmland disappears to development and smaller operations get absorbed by larger ones.

Two decades ago, Ohio had more than 14.5 million acres of farmland. Since then, the state has lost nearly a million acres. As the amount of farmland in Ohio decreases, so does the number of farms. There are about 1,800 fewer farms now than there were in 2017. Mid-size farms, which have from 140 to 1,000 acres, took an especially big hit.

“The farm economy that we’ve had over the last several years has not been conducive for that,” said Ty Higgins, senior director of communications and media relations for Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. “When you look at losing farms, you look at losing food production and our food supply.”

As the number of mid-size farms drops, the number of large farms is growing. In five years, Ohio gained nearly 150 additional farms that have more than 2,000 acres.

The bright side to this situation is there are more young, new and beginning farmers. Ohio gained large farms, but it also gained small farms, with less than 100 acres. That speaks to another trend in Ohio agriculture: an increase in the number of young, new and beginning farmers.

From 2017 to 2022, Ohio gained about 5,000 new and beginning producers, and just over 900 farmers younger than 35.

Higgins said these additions are important, and the agriculture industry needs more of them.

“The age of the farmer in Ohio, on average, is still about 58 years old,” he said. “That number continues to skew higher, because we don’t have enough young people involved in this industry. We’re trying to get as many people to understand that they can be a part of agriculture, and it’s more than just getting your fingernails dirty. We need all hands on deck in order to remain successful for generations to come.”

Ohio State University Extension is taking aim at this farmer shortage by offering a number of small farm conferences, small farm colleges and small farm management courses across the state this spring.

OSU Extension will hold its Eastern Ohio Small Farm Conference in Senecaville on April 6. The theme for this year’s conference is “Sowing Seeds for Success.”

Conference session topics are geared to beginning and small farm owners as well as to farms looking to diversify their operation. There will be five different conference tracks: horticulture and product production, business management, livestock, natural resources and (new this year) the farm kitchen.

Some conference topic highlights include raising meat rabbits, making goat milk soap, timber harvesting and marketing, basics of growing pawpaws, food preservation basics, herb vinegars, organic pest management, growing produce with hydroponics, starting and setting up a business, and solar and wind leasing.

“Anyone interested in developing, growing or diversifying their small farm is invited to attend, including market gardeners, farmers market vendors and of course, anyone interested in small farm living,” says Julie Wayman, community development educator for OSU Extension in Ashtabula County.

The conference will be 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Mid-East Career Technical Center Buffalo Campus on Vocational Road in Senecaville Call 419-947-1070 or 740-397-0401 for more information.

OSU Extensions in Lucas and Fulton counties are hosting a four-week class called Beginner and Small Farm Financial College. This program will focus on farm finances, insurance, liability, labor and marketing to help participants manage a small farm.

The in-person classes are offered at The Lodge at Strawberry Acres Park in Holland, Ohio. The class dates are April 9, 16, 23 and 30, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $100 per person.

“This course is designed to help landowners examine potential ways to increase profits on their small acreage properties,” said Amy Stone, agriculture and natural resources educator for Lucas County Extension. “The program is open to all new and aspiring urban or rural farmers, new landowners, small farmers and farm families looking for new ideas.”

On April 9, Kendall Lovejoy and Stone will talk about developing real-life expectations for your farm, assessing your property and resources, how to develop a farm business plan, how to set goals and objectives, and understanding farm business structures. Lovejoy is also with OSU Extension.

On April 16, Peggy Hall, OSU farm law expert, will discuss legal instruments for farm financing, loan options for small farms, farm leases and contracts, risks on the farm and liability insurance needs for small farms.

On April 23, Bruce Clevenger, an OSU field and farm management specialist, will discuss recordkeeping for farm businesses, discuss enterprise budgets to project farm income and a basic introduction to farm taxes.

On April 30, Eric Richer, an OSU expert in farm management, will talk about developing a family and farm balance sheet, how to develop financial statements including cash flow and income statements, and how to manage family and farm income and expenses.

Call Stone at 419-574-0986 for more information.By Doug Graves

Ohio Correspondent

RUSHVILLE, Ind. – According to the latest Census of Agriculture, from 2017 to 2022, Ohio lost more than 300,000 acres of farmland. This census found more and more farms are going out of business, as farmland disappears to development and smaller operations get absorbed by larger ones.

Two decades ago, Ohio had more than 14.5 million acres of farmland. Since then, the state has lost nearly a million acres. As the amount of farmland in Ohio decreases, so does the number of farms. There are about 1,800 fewer farms now than there were in 2017. Mid-size farms, which have from 140 to 1,000 acres, took an especially big hit.

“The farm economy that we’ve had over the last several years has not been conducive for that,” said Ty Higgins, senior director of communications and media relations for Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. “When you look at losing farms, you look at losing food production and our food supply.”

As the number of mid-size farms drops, the number of large farms is growing. In five years, Ohio gained nearly 150 additional farms that have more than 2,000 acres.

The bright side to this situation is there are more young, new and beginning farmers. Ohio gained large farms, but it also gained small farms, with less than 100 acres. That speaks to another trend in Ohio agriculture: an increase in the number of young, new and beginning farmers.

From 2017 to 2022, Ohio gained about 5,000 new and beginning producers, and just over 900 farmers younger than 35.

Higgins said these additions are important, and the agriculture industry needs more of them.

“The age of the farmer in Ohio, on average, is still about 58 years old,” he said. “That number continues to skew higher, because we don’t have enough young people involved in this industry. We’re trying to get as many people to understand that they can be a part of agriculture, and it’s more than just getting your fingernails dirty. We need all hands on deck in order to remain successful for generations to come.”

Ohio State University Extension is taking aim at this farmer shortage by offering a number of small farm conferences, small farm colleges and small farm management courses across the state this spring.

OSU Extension will hold its Eastern Ohio Small Farm Conference in Senecaville on April 6. The theme for this year’s conference is “Sowing Seeds for Success.”

Conference session topics are geared to beginning and small farm owners as well as to farms looking to diversify their operation. There will be five different conference tracks: horticulture and product production, business management, livestock, natural resources and (new this year) the farm kitchen.

Some conference topic highlights include raising meat rabbits, making goat milk soap, timber harvesting and marketing, basics of growing pawpaws, food preservation basics, herb vinegars, organic pest management, growing produce with hydroponics, starting and setting up a business, and solar and wind leasing.

“Anyone interested in developing, growing or diversifying their small farm is invited to attend, including market gardeners, farmers market vendors and of course, anyone interested in small farm living,” says Julie Wayman, community development educator for OSU Extension in Ashtabula County.

The conference will be 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Mid-East Career Technical Center Buffalo Campus on Vocational Road in Senecaville Call 419-947-1070 or 740-397-0401 for more information.

OSU Extensions in Lucas and Fulton counties are hosting a four-week class called Beginner and Small Farm Financial College. This program will focus on farm finances, insurance, liability, labor and marketing to help participants manage a small farm.

The in-person classes are offered at The Lodge at Strawberry Acres Park in Holland, Ohio. The class dates are April 9, 16, 23 and 30, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $100 per person.

“This course is designed to help landowners examine potential ways to increase profits on their small acreage properties,” said Amy Stone, agriculture and natural resources educator for Lucas County Extension. “The program is open to all new and aspiring urban or rural farmers, new landowners, small farmers and farm families looking for new ideas.”

On April 9, Kendall Lovejoy and Stone will talk about developing real-life expectations for your farm, assessing your property and resources, how to develop a farm business plan, how to set goals and objectives, and understanding farm business structures. Lovejoy is also with OSU Extension.

On April 16, Peggy Hall, OSU farm law expert, will discuss legal instruments for farm financing, loan options for small farms, farm leases and contracts, risks on the farm and liability insurance needs for small farms.

On April 23, Bruce Clevenger, an OSU field and farm management specialist, will discuss recordkeeping for farm businesses, discuss enterprise budgets to project farm income and a basic introduction to farm taxes.

On April 30, Eric Richer, an OSU expert in farm management, will talk about developing a family and farm balance sheet, how to develop financial statements including cash flow and income statements, and how to manage family and farm income and expenses.

Call Stone at 419-574-0986 for more information.