OABA’s Activities and Accomplishments of 2011

And Looking Ahead to 2012

It has been a big year for the Ohio Agribusiness Association (OABA) and its membership. Early in the year, former OABA President and CEO Gary King announced his retirement after 21 years of serving the Ohio agribusiness industry. In May, the OABA board selected Christopher Henney, formerly of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, to take over leadership of the Association. Together, Henney, OABA Board Chair Herb Mayer and the rest of the OABA board hit the ground running with a vision for the organization’s future.

Association News

In the summer, OABA began a strategic planning process to set a new direction for the organization. The board approved the 2011 OABA Strategic Plan in November The plan sets key priority areas for OABA over the next three years, as well as identifies a new mission statement for the association:

The leading advocate for Ohio agribusiness by creating a sustainable business climate through collaborative policy leadership, continuous education and effective communication.

To view an executive summary of the OABA’s strategic plan, click here. In addition to the strategic plan, OABA underwent a rebranding process that resulted in a new logo and look for the OABA website to reflect its new priorities and mission.

Government Affairs

Throughout 2011, OABA actively represented its members’ interests on several important issues:

• Early in the year, OABA hosted a breakfast for its members to meet then newly appointed Ohio Department of Agriculture Director James Zehringer.
• OABA President and CEO Christopher Henney testified on the inequities of the Commercial Activities Tax for grain handlers in front of the House Study Committee on Tax Structure hearing in September 2011.
• OABA President and CEO Christopher Henney met with 90 percent of the Ohio House and Senate Agriculture Committe members.
• OABA submitted comments to the Department of Labor regarding revisions to child labor laws on agricultural operations in November 2011.
• In November 2011, OABA submitted comments to the EPA regarding a petition to ban the production and use of atrazine.
• OABA submitted comments to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) voicing concern over a proposal to require all members of a designated contract market (DCM) to “…record all oral communications that lead to the execution of transactions in a commodity interest or cash commodity.”  Further, the proposal would require that these records be maintained for five years and be identifiable by counterparty and transaction.
• Since summer 2011, OABA and member organizations have participated in multiple meetings of the Agricultural Nutrients and Water Quality Working Group to develop a comprehensive set of recommendations to Governor Kasich to aggressively address agriculture’s cumulative impact on Ohio’s water quality.

Member Education

A key priority of OABA has always been the education and professional development of its members, and this year was no different. In 2011, OABA members and agribusiness professionals from Ohio and surrounding states had the opportunity to participate in a two-day crop production conference, a custom applicator day, three anhydrous ammonia safety schools, four grain warehouse law seminars and a seed technology seminar. The conferences and training events offered opportunities for attendees to hear from experts in the field and earn CCA CEU credits toward their CCA certifications.

In Memory Of

This year also marked the passing of former OABA Board Chair Hal H. Hammel, who passed away in June. Hal served on various community and industry boards and committees too numerous to mention, in addition to being Board Chair of the OABA in 1977.

In Closing

OABA would like to thank its board and members for an excellent year. We look forward to continuing to represent our members in 2012. In the coming year, two key issues for the Association will be to urge Ohio legislators to pass an exemption in the Cat Tax for privately held grain businesses and to work with the Nutrient and Water Quality working group in seeking common-sense, effective solutions to improve and protect Ohio’s water quality while preserving Ohio’s farmers freedom to operate. Together with our members, OABA will work to make Ohio a better place to work and do business for the agricultural community.