What’s Happening at OABA

Capitol Hill Trip, Training Participation, Legislative Involvement, Winter Event Planning, Committee Restructuring

It has been a busy summer at the Ohio AgriBusiness Association (OABA), and we wanted to share with our members some of the exciting things that have been happening.

OABA Joins State Association Legislative Fly-In on Capitol Hill

OABA President and CEO Chris Henney traveled to Washington, D.C., recently as part of the State Association Legislative Fly-In held July 16 and 17. National partners included Agricultural Retailers Association, Crop Life America, The Fertilizer Institute, and Biotechnology Industry Organization. Chris attended policy issue briefings, received a political update on this year’s election, participated in a Capitol Hill Congressional Reception and met with members of Ohio’s Congressional delegation. 

Chris Henney is Submerged in Grain for Bin Rescue Training

Chris Henney was recruited by the GEAPS Seaway Chapter to assist in the Bin Rescue Training at Trupointe Cooperative, Inc. in Sidney, OH. Earlier this week, Chris was submerged chest-deep in a bin of grain to help emergency personnel provide a hands-on training to participants.

OABA Encourages Vote for The Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012

Chris Henney, along with leaders from 25 other state and national organizations, signed a letter urging members of the House of Representatives to vote yes on H.R. 4402, The Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012. H.R. 4402 would allow our nation to unlock its full domestic minerals potential by incorporating into the mine permitting process best practices for coordination of permitting, clarifying responsibilities, avoiding duplication and bringing more accountability to the process. Click here to read the full letter.

Chris Henney Presented Anaerobic Digester Task Force Testimony

Upon invitation from Anaerobic Digester Task Force chairman Sen. Cliff Hite (R-Findlay), Chris Henney presented testimony regarding the nature of cooperatives and how this business structure might be used to encourage the construction and use of anaerobic digesters in Ohio. Click here to read more.

Letter of Support for Dicamba-Tolerant Soybeans Submitted to USDA

Earlier this month, Chris Henney submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in support of dicamba-tolerant soybeans. The letter highlights that OABA is in support of farmers having a choice to use safe and valuable new agricultural technologies to increase yields and keep their farms profitable. Click here to read the full letter.

OABA Winter Event Planning is Underway

Stay tuned to News & Notes in the coming weeks for more information about upcoming OABA winter events, including the Crop Production and Seed Technology Conference, Custom Applicator Day, Anhydrous Ammonia Safety Workshop and LAUNCH – a new leadership development training program.

OABA Committee Restructuring

As you may know, OABA went through an extensive strategic planning process last fall. The strategic planning resulted in the development of four high-level goals, and to better align with these strategic goals, OABA is in the process of transitioning to a new committee structure that includes five committees:

• Finance/Audit Committee – Chairman: Mark Sunderman with Deshler Farmers Elevator Company
• Industry Education Committee – Chairwoman: Jenifer Pemberton with Deerfield Farms Service, Inc.
• Membership Committee – Chairman: John Oesch with Crop Production Services
• Public Policy Committee – Chairman: Gordon Wallace with Trupointe Cooperative, Inc.
• Safety & Risk Management Committee – Chairman: Joe Toporcer with Agland Co-op, Inc.

To read the OABA Strategic Plan Executive Summary, and to learn more about each of the new committees, click here.