Welcome

Ohio Soybean Association Mission Statement

 

As a grassroots organization, the Ohio Soybean Association's mission is to provide leadership for Ohio's soybean producers in promoting effective policies and legislation to ensure a growing and profitable soybean industry.

The Ohio Soybean Association focuses on the following:

  • Representing all Ohio soybean producers
  • Encouraging membership of all Ohio soybean producers
  • Generating legislative effectiveness
  • Focusing and uniting producer interests
  • Educating and promoting the soybean industry
  • Representing Ohio soybean farmers' interests at the national level on the American Soybean Association board

In the News:

The Agreement Between Ohio's Farm Community and the Humane Society of the United States

 

On June 30, 2010, Ohio’s farm community announced it had reached a landmark agreement with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) that ensures continued excellent care of the state’s farm animals and recognizes the role of Ohio’s newly formed Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board (the Board) in considering and setting policies related to the treatment of farm animals in Ohio raised for food. 

The two groups opened dialogue, with the support of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, to determine whether common ground could be identified that would enable all parties to reach resolution on a number of concerns related to animal care in the state.  Through a process of open, good-faith discussions, the groups agreed on a number of shared priorities.

The agreement confirms mutual support for the Board, created after the 2009 passage of State Issue 2, as the authority on farm animal well-being in the state.  The agreement has these key provisions and recommendations: 

  • Joint funding by the agriculture community and HSUS of independent research on housing for egg-laying hens and pregnant sows;
  • Shared support to recommend that the Board take action on downer cattle and euthanasia of farm animal provisions consistent with HSUS’s proposed referendum;
  • A 15-year transition plan to convert individual stall housing to group housing for gestating sows;
  • Prohibition of egg facility permits, which specify the use of battery cage housing, by new permit applicants;
  • Adoption of the American Veal Association standards for transition to group housing for veal calves;
  • Action on legislative and administrative measures related to cockfighting, dog kennels and the possession of wild or dangerous animals; and
  • Withdrawal by HSUS of the farm animal care referendum proposed for the 2010 ballot.

This agreement clearly illustrates that efforts by Ohio’s farm community and its supporters to pass Issue 2 and create the Board in Ohio paid off.  Because Ohio took proactive steps to create the Board, animal agriculture in Ohio now will have 1) an expert Board to consider animal well-being practices; 2) better terms and more time for farm animal housing transition; and 3) policies that will be based on research and science, instead of political pressures.