Staying connected and finding support during the pandemic
April 16, 2021
Make the most of your day by joining our “Lunch Break” team. Get to know your local educators, learn about upcoming events and local resources to help you and your farm thrive.
Staying connected can be one of the most valuable time investments a person can make to support their overall health. Relationships with others positively affect mental well-being and ward off feelings of isolation and loneliness. During these times of social distancing and the avoidance of in-person gatherings, new doors are opening to farmers to stay connected online. Recently, a team of educators with Michigan State University Extension created “Lunch Break” sessions via Facebook Live to provide updates, tools, and resources and keep the farming community connected.
What are my options when renewing my pesticide certification?
Pesticide applicators can now take their certification exam remotely.
According to a recent news release from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), pesticide applicators can now take their certification exams remotely through the Metro Institute. An emergency rule extended pesticide applicator credential whose license expired Dec. 31, 2019, or Dec. 31, 2020, to June 30, 2021. In addition to extending the expiration date, the rule gives applicators six additional months to renew their credential via continuing education courses.
Brian Verhougstraete, MDARD s pesticide section manager, said Between online and in-person exams at Metro Institute s testing centers, there is currently a lot of availability. However, as the June 30 deadline approaches, we expect exam availability to tighten up. We are strongly encouraging applicators to schedule their exams now.
Negotiating reasonable land rent in times of high market prices
As commodity market prices go up, landowners may want to increase rental payments.
Rising commodity prices offer the potential for higher revenues and greater profits. It may also bring increasing costs if prices remain at a high level. This is common with inputs like fertilizer or fuel, which are closely tied to farm production. However, another major cost is the rent payment made on farmland.
As commodity market prices go up, there is a strong likelihood that landowners may want to increase the rental payment they are receiving. This is often based on a perception that high market prices lead to higher revenues and automatically greater profits. If farm profits appear better, then landowners may perceive the value of farmland to be better as well.
The Field Crops Virtual Breakfast on April 29, 2021, will feature Ohio State University entomologist Kelley Tilmon discussing slug life cycle, early season impacts on crops, scouting and management strategies.
Adjusted OIBDA increased by 6.1% year-on-year to RUB 56.2 billion.
Adjusted OIBDA margin decreased by 0.2 p.p. year-on-year to 29.1%.
Adjusted net profit attributable to Sistema was RUB 20.9 billion.
IPO of Ozon[3]. In November 2020 Ozon held an IPO of American Depositary Shares (ADSs) on the NASDAQ and obtained a listing of its ADSs on Moscow Exchange. Total proceeds to the company, including the greenshoe as well as proceeds from a parallel private placement in which Sistema invested USD 67.5 million, totalled approximately USD 1.25 billion. Following completion of the IPO, fulfilment of the private placement agreement and conversion of convertible loans previously provided to Ozon, Sistema s total stake in Ozon stood at 33.1%[4].