By VICKI JOHNSON
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State University specialists from its Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics (AED) are planning to forecast how they see the future of farming during OSU extension’s annual winter review of agricultural policy and outlook.

Sessions are scheduled to take place throughout the state in December and January. Information may vary at different meetings, but one of the main speakers is to be Barry Ward, assistant extension professor and leader, production business management, AED economics. He will talk about farm input costs and projections on land, labor, seed and fertilizer.

Carl Zulauf, professor, AED economics, plans to present an update on the farm bill and government agricultural policy, while grains and biofuel are the topic of Matt Roberts, associate professor, also of AED economics.

Food prices and markets, including changing demographics and consumers’ preferences and how they offer opportunities for food marketers and farm producers, will be presented by Stan Ernst, outreach extension program leader and marketing instructor.

A dairy outlook is planned by Cameron Thraen, associate professor, AED economics. Other highlights may include topics on food and consumer trends, technology, income, macroeconomy, rural retail, livestock and poultry, depending on location.

The meetings are scheduled as follows:

•Dec. 4 (dinner): Fairfield County extension office, 831 College Ave., Lancaster. Contact Jim Skeeles at 740-653-5419 or Mike Estadt at 740-474-7534.

•Dec. 9: 5:30 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, 318 W. Wyandot Ave., Upper Sandusky. Cost is $20 prior to Dec. 5. Contact Chris Bruynis at 419-294-4931.

•Dec. 10: 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Fraternal Order of Eagles, 400 Eastlake Dr, Ashland. Contact Chris Willman, John Augenstein or Valerie Bumb at 800-422-3641. Cost is $18, or free if registered with Sutton Bank by Dec. 4.

•Dec. 10: 4-8:30 pm, Attica Fairgrounds Social Hall, 15131 E. Twp. Rd. 12, Attica. Contact Chris Willman, John Augenstein or Valerie Bumb at 800-422-3641. Cost is $18, or free if you RSVP to Sutton Bank by Dec. 4.

•Dec. 11 (lunch): Shelby County extension office, Sidney. Contact Roger Bender at 937-498-7239.

•Dec. 11 (dinner): Apollo Career Center, 3325 Shawnee Road, Lima. Contact Curtis Young at 419-222-9946.

•Jan. 29: Der Dutchman Restaurant, 445 S Jefferson Ave., Plain City. Contact Eric Immerman at 740-852-0975.

For more information, visit http:// aede.osu.edu/programs/outlook