Ohio Soybean Association 2026 Policy Priorities by ohiosoybean

Demandforrenewablefuelssuchasbiodiesel,renewabledieseland sustainableaviationfuelisgrowingamongtransportationsectorssuchasrail, marineandaircarriers.Withmostofourcountry’sproductioncapabilities locatedwestoftheMississippiRiver,thepotentialforOhiotoserveashome forexpandedrenewablefuelproductioncapabilitiesholdstremendous economicdevelopmentpotentialforourstate.

TheOhioSoybeanAssociationwillbealeaderinthisspacetoensurefarmers cancapitalizeonnewdemandgrowth,promotetheuseofsoybeansas feedstocksforthesefuels,andpromoteOhioastheidealdestinationfor productionfacilitiesthatwilldriveinnovationinoureconomy.

Economic Contribution of SAF Production in Ohio

BIOMANUFACTURING

Usesforsoy-basedproducts continuetoexpand,withmorethan 1,000itemscurrentlyonthemarket fromflooringandroofingproducts tocandlesandpersonalcareitems. Withagricultureandmanufacturing rankingastwoofOhio’stop industries,thestatecanbealeader inthisarea.OSAwillpromote policiesthatleveragetheeconomic developmentopportunitiesaround manufacturingtheseproductsin theBuckeyeState.

Soyisavital,domesticallyproduced ingredientthatcontributestothe nutritionalqualityandaffordability oftheAmericanfoodsupply.It’s importantthatnutritionaldecisions beevidence-based,andconsumers understandtheimportanceofsoyin abalanced,healthydiet.TheOhio SoybeanAssociationsupports policiesthatprotectandpromote theinclusionofsoyinfoods.

TRANSPORTATION&

INFRUSTRUCTUREINVESTMENT

Soundinfrastructureisvitaltothe successoftheagricultureindustry.OSA supportsfundingforruralroadsand bridgesaswellasfundingtosupportrail, rivers,locksanddams,andports essentialforagriculturaltradesuccess.

OVERBURDENSOMEREGULATION

Excessiveregulationscanrestrict farmersfromadoptinginnovative technologiesorgrowingtheir operations.Theassociationadvocates forabalancedregulatoryframework thatprotectsenvironmentalandpublic interestswhileallowingbusiness development.TheOhioSoybean Associationsupportspoliciesthat eliminateunnecessaryand burdensomeregulation,ensuringthe soybeanindustrycanthrivethrough innovation,expansion,and competitiveness.

TRADE

SoybeansareOhio’s#1 agriculturalexport.Expanding bothdomesticand internationalpartnerships enhancesthevalueofOhio’s agriculturalexports.TheOhio SoybeanAssociationwill supportinternationaltrade partnershipsthatopennew marketsandreinforceexisting ones,creatinglastingvaluefor Ohio’sfarmers.

INPUTPRICES

Risingandvolatileinputcosts threatenfarmprofitability andlong-termeconomic sustainability.TheOhio SoybeanAssociationwill advocateforpoliciesthat promotetransparency, competition,andaffordability inagriculturalinputmarkets.

SUPPORTANIMALAGRICULTURE

TheOhioSoybeanAssociationsupportsa broadrangeofpoliciestohelppromotea healthyanimalagricultureindustryinour state.Nearly98percentofU.S.soybean mealisconsumedbylivestockand poultrymakingthisindustrythemost importantmarketforsoybeanfarmers. Becauseofthisdirectconnectiontothe productionofsoybeanmeal,animal agricultureplaysavitalroleinthevalueof soybeans.

4HANDFFAPROGRAMS

4HandFFAProgramsinOhioteachthe skillsnecessaryforpreparingmembers oftheseorganizationsforleadership rolesandcareers,specificallyinthe agriculturalindustry.Ohio’s4HandFFA programstotalmorethan161,000Ohio youthparticipants,rankingamongthe largestyouthorganizationsinthestate. OSAsupportsthedevelopmentofthese organizationsandfullsupportthat wouldallowtheseorganizationsto continueteachingthenextgeneration ofleaders.

PROMOTESMART GROWTHPOLICIES

Ifnonewpolicyapproaches areimplemented,the AmericanFarmlandTrust estimatesover500,000 agriculturalacreswillbe takenoutofproductionand convertedtobothhighly developedusesandlowdensityresidentialusesby 2040.OSAisencouraging stateandlocalleadersto thinkstrategically,utilizing toolssuchasfarmland preservationeasements, AgriculturalSecurityAreas andAgriculturalDistricts.This mustbeapolicypriorityto helpensureOhiocanutilize someofthemostproductive farmgroundintheworldto continuetoproduce abundantandaffordable foodforconsumers.