Industry Conference
January 26-28, 2026
Hilton Columbus at Easton Hotel
Registration
Registration for the 2026 OABA Industry Conference is NOW OPEN! Registration fees are outlined in the table below.
PLEASE NOTE: Registration may look slightly different this year. Once you click the link to register and find your contact info, you will be prompted to choose MEMBER, NON-MEMBER or SPONSOR. Member & non-member options are for conference attendee registrations ONLY. The Sponsor option is for conference sponsorship and exhibitor sponsorship ONLY. Please choose accordingly and follow the prompts. Reach out to Lauren with questions at lprettyman@oaba.net.
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Early Bird (through Jan. 12) |
Registration (after Jan. 12) |
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Member |
Non-Member |
Member |
Non-Member |
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Full Conference |
$400 |
$550 |
$475 |
$650 |
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January 27 only |
$275 |
$350 |
$300 |
$400 |
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January 28 only |
$200 |
$300 |
$250 |
$350 |
NEW! Event Registration Policy: All event registration fees must be paid online at the time of registration through our payment portal. A credit card is required to secure your registration, so please be prepared to make the payment at the time of booking. For assistance, contact info@oaba.net.
Cancelation Policy
Cancelations must be received by January 12, 2026, to be eligible for a refund.
Program
Click here to download the full agenda, including sessions and speakers.
Updated 11-24-2025 – Session offerings or specific speakers may be subject to change
Monday, January 26 – Wednesday, January 28
- January 26, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- January 27, 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- January 28, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Monday, January 27
5:30-6:30 pm Welcome Reception
Tuesday, January 27
7-8 am Breakfast and Registration
8 am Welcome
8:15 am General Session: Opportunities & Risks in a Trump Economy,
Arlan Suderman, StoneX Financial, Inc.
CCA: 1 CM
9:30 am General Session: High Impact Meteorology: Weaponizing Weather
Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien Agronomy
CCA: 1 SW
10:45 am Breakout Sessions
Fertilizer Market Outlook
Jason Newton, Nutrien
CCA: 1 NM; ODA Pesticide Credit Requested
Soilborne Pathogens of Soybean
Horacio Lopez-Nicora, The Ohio State University
CCA: 1 PM; ODA Pesticide Credit Requested
Supply & Demand Outlook and the Impact on Spreads
Nick Fitzgerald, Orchard Point Commodities
CCA: 1 CM
12:15 pm OABA Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon
1:30 pm Breakout Sessions
Public Policy Impacting Ohio Agribusiness
Melinda Witten and Aaron Heilers, Ohio AgriBusiness Association
CCA: 1 PD
Data Imagery for Plant Disease Detection and Management
Boris Camiletti, University of Illinois
CCA: 1 PM, ODA Pesticide Credit Requested
Working With Producers and Grain Originators
Ryan Walsh, Commodity & Ingredient Hedging
CCA: 1 CM
2:45 pm Breakout Sessions
Public Policy Impacting Ohio Agribusiness (Continued)
Melinda Witten and Aaron Heilers, Ohio AgriBusiness Association
CCA: 1 PD
Staying Ahead of Corn and Soybean Foliar Diseases: Tools, Trends, and What to Expect
Darcy Telenko, Purdue University
CCA: 1 PM, ODA Pesticide Credit Requested
Toxins in Ohio: Impact on Grain & Feed
Jason Hartschuh, The Ohio State University
CCA: 1 PM
4 pm Breakout Sessions
Red Crown Rot of Soybean: Emerging Threats, Regional Insights, and Management Strategies
Horacio Lopez-Nicora, OSU; Boris Camiletti, Univ. of Illinois; and Darcy Telenko, Purdue University
CCA: 1 PM, ODA Pesticide Credit Requested
Regulatory Headwinds: Crop Protection Products
Dillon Gabbert, CropLife America and RISE
CCA: 1 CM
Ohio Grain Markets and Delivery Mechanics
Bailey Elchinger, StoneX Financial Inc.
CCA: 1 CM
5-6:30 pm Industry Networking Reception & Exhibitor Showcase
Wednesday, January 28
6:45-7:30 am Breakfast and Registration
7:30 am General Session: What AI Is - and Who It Is Not
Jennifer Coleman, The Directions Group
CCA: 1 PD
8:45 am Breakout Sessions
Bio-what? Biostimulants, Biologicals, Biofertilizers: Reviewing the Market and Tips to Their Use
Marli Favoretto, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
CCA: 1 NM
Navigating The Messy Middle as an Ag Professional
David Marrison, The Ohio State University Extension
CCA: 1 PD
Livestock Health Impacts and Lessons Learned
Heath Barnes, Mercer Landmark and Lucas Buehler, Four Star Veterinary Service
CCA: 1 CM
The Endangered Species Act and the EPA’s Herbicide Strategy
Alyssa Essman, The Ohio State University
CCA: 1 PM
10 am Breakout Sessions
Global Supply - Crop Protection Products
Dillon Gabbert, CropLife America and RISE
CCA: 1 PM
Livestock Market Outlook for Ohio
Jon White, United Producers, Inc.
CCA: 1 CM
Ohio Department of Agriculture Updates
Daniel Kenny and Greg Minor, Ohio Department of Agriculture
CCA: 1 PD
11:15 am Breakout Sessions
US Biofuels Market Outlook
Grace Johannes, Lois Dreyfus Company
CCA: CM
FRST Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool
Nathan Slaton, University of Arkansas
CCA: 1 NM; ODA Pesticide Credit Requested
Top of Your Game: Sales Tips for Today’s Agribusinesses
TBA
CCA: 1 PD
Drone Risk and Liability Considerations When Working With Subcontractors
Matt Langhals, Agra Drone Solutions
CCA: 1 CM; ODA Pesticide Credit Requested
12:15 pm Luncheon and General Session: Sustainability and Ag Business: Friends, Enemies or Frenemies?
Lisa Woodke, Star of the West
CCA: 1 SW
*1:30 pm Additional Sessions (*will begin immediately following the luncheon session)
Safety and Risk Management for 2026 – New Trends, OSHA Enforcement Priorities, and More
Ohio Risk Coordinators Group
CCA: 1 PD
Grain Law Roundtable with Ohio Dept of Agriculture
David Simmons, Ohio Department of Agriculture
CCA: 1 CM
Accommodations – NEW LOCATION!
The 2026 OABA Industry Conference will be hosted at the Hilton Columbus at Easton Hotel – 3900 Chagrin Drive, Columbus, Ohio, 43219.
Hotel rooms are available Monday, January 26 through Wednesday, January 28.
Click here to reserve your hotel room with our group rate.
The link will be bookable until January 9, 2026, or until the block sells out – whichever comes first.
If you prefer to call in and book your room, you may do so by calling (614) 414-5000 and providing the 2026 group code of 968.
Sponsors
We know you are looking for innovative new ways to reach the industry and the 2026 Industry Conference is well-equipped to connect you with decision-makers. Whether your company is looking to fill the top-tier Premier Sponsor or to engage with participants as an Exhibitor Sponsor, there are options to fit every budget and need. Details on each sponsor level are available below. Click here for additional sponsorship information.
Premier Sponsor - $7,500
- Promoted throughout conference as premier sponsor
- Premier conference sponsor co-branding on conference collateral
- Two free conference registrations
- One complimentary exhibitor booth with extra large space
- Optional 2-3 minute company overview at start of each general session (in-person or pre-recorded video)
- Featured sponsor on app homepage
- Sponsored social media posts
- Company profile page on event app
Conference Plus Sponsor - $3,500
- Promoted throughout conference as sponsor
- One free conference registration
- One complimentary exhibitor booth
- Optional 2-3 minute company overview at start of general session (in-person or pre-recorded video)
- Featured sponsor on app sponsor page
- Sponsored social media posts
- Company profile page on event app
- Company logo on app session page
Conference Sponsor - $2,000
- Promoted throughout conference as sponsor
- Featured sponsor on app sponsor page
- Sponsored social media posts
- Company profile page on event app
Reception Sponsor - $1,500
- Promoted at Welcome & Industry Receptions
- Company profile page on the event app
Breakfast Sponsor - $1,000
- Promoted at Conference Breakfasts
- Company profile page on event app
Breakout Session Sponsor - $1,200
- Optional 2-3 minute company overview at start of breakout session (in-person or pre-recorded video)
- Company logo on app session page
- Company profile page on event app
Exhibitor Sponsor - $1,000 (member) or $1,500 (non-member)
- One exhibitor booth
- One free conference registration
- Company profile page on event app
Lanyard Sponsor - $1,000 - SOLD OUT
- Logo on attendee lanyards, provided by company
- Company profile page on event app
Sponsorship commitments must be confirmed by December 20, 2025 to guarantee inclusion in event promotional materials.
