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08/09/2012Ohio Soy 2020 to Co-Host Locks and Dams Forum Tuesday, August 28Contact: Jennifer Coleman
Ohio Soybean Council
614.476.3100
jcoleman@soyohio.org
NEWS RELEASE
Aug. 9, 2012
Ohio Soy 2020 to Co-Host Locks and Dams Forum Tuesday, August 28
WORTHINGTON, Ohio – Ohio’s transportation infrastructure has helped make agriculture the No.1 contributor to Ohio’s economy. However, aging and decaying infrastructure, including locks and dams, is threatening statewide jobs and economic growth. On August 28, Ohio Soy 2020 and the Ohio Ag Transportation Coalition will host the Locks and Dams Forum to educate participants from the agriculture and transportation industries about the condition and importance of transportation infrastructure to Ohio’s economy.
According to the Army Corps of Engineers, fully one-third of Ohio’s 1,597 dams are in need of rehabilitation to meet state dam safety standards. Ohio’s ports are already among the nation’s busiest and the U.S. Department of Transportation only expects freight demand to grow, thus increasing the wear and tear on the nation’s transportation infrastructure.
“Ohio is the sixth largest state for soybean exports in the U.S.,” said Patrick Knouff, Shelby County soybean farmer and vice chair of both the Ohio Soybean Council and the national Soy Transportation Coalition. “The timely and efficient transport of soybeans is critical to Ohio soybean farmers. If just one lock or dam failed during harvest, a lot of farmers wouldn’t be able to move their crops. The ripple effect of an event like that would leave a lot of people hurting.”
As part of the forum, attendees will experience a lock firsthand, touring down the Ohio River from Chilo, OH to Newport, KY. Attendees will also hear from several speakers, including Rick Calhoun, President of Cargill Cargo Carriers, Kenneth Beyer, Strategic Communications Officer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Scott Thibaut from Consolidated Grain and Barge and Eric Thomas, Chairman of the Central Ohio River Business Association. The event is sponsored by the Ohio Soybean Council, Cargill and the Central Ohio River Business Association.
Space for the event is limited and attendance is by invitation only. If you are interested in participating in the event, please contact Jennifer Coleman at jcoleman@soyohio.org or Mary Hammon at mhammon@wideopenthinking.com to see if space is available.
About Ohio Soy 2020 Initiative
Made possible by the Ohio Soybean Council, the Ohio Soy 2020 Initiative is designed to confront future challenges affecting Ohio soybean farmers. Ohio Soy 2020 looks to address such issues in the present to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of Ohio’s soybean industry.
About Ohio Soybean Council
Headquartered in Worthington, the Ohio Soybean Council is governed by a volunteer farmer board, which directs the Soybean Promotion and Research Program. The program’s primary goal is to improve soybean profitability by targeting research, education, promotion and development projects through the investment of farmer-contributed funds (checkoff). To learn more visit www.soyohio.org.
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