Industry Conference

Ic Header2026

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.

Click here for registration.

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.

 

Early Bird (through Jan. 12)

Registration (after Jan. 12)

 

Member

Non-Member

Member

Non-Member

Full Conference

$400

$550

$475

$650

January 27 only

$275

$350

$300

$400

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

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 26

5:30-6:30 pm   Welcome Reception

Tuesday, January 27 - ADJUSTED BELOW

7:30-9 am        Breakfast and Registration

9 am                Welcome

9:15 am           General Session: Opportunities & Risks in a Trump Economy, 
                        Arlan Suderman, StoneX Financial, Inc.
                        CCA: 1 CM

10:30 am         General Session: High Impact Meteorology: Weaponizing Weather
                        Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien Agronomy
                        CCA: 1 SW

12:00 pm         OABA Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon

1:30 am           Breakout Sessions

                        Fertilizer Market Outlook
                        Jason Newton, Nutrien
                        CCA: 1 NM

                        Soilborne Pathogens of Soybean
                        Horacio Lopez-Nicora, The Ohio State University
                        CCA: 1 PM; ODA Comm 2A

                        Supply & Demand Outlook and the Impact on Spreads
                        Nick Fitzgerald, Orchard Point Commodities
                        CCA: 1 CM

2:45 pm           Breakout Sessions

                        Public Policy Impacting Ohio Agribusiness
                        Rick Carfagna, Ohio Chamber of Commerce
                        
Stephanie Pizzoferrato, CropLife America
                        
Andy Swaim, Ohio Chemistry Technology Council
                        CCA: 1 PD

                        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 Comm 2A

                        Working With Producers and Grain Originators
                        Ryan Walsh, Commodity & Ingredient Hedging
                        
CCA: 1 CM

4 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 Comm 2A

                        Toxins in Ohio: Impact on Grain & Feed
                        Jason Hartschuh, The Ohio State University
                        CCA: 1 PM 

5 pm                Breakout Sessions

                        Data Imagery for Plant Disease Detection and Management
                        Boris Camiletti, University of Illinois
                        CCA: 1 PM, ODA Comm 2A

                        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

6-7:30 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
                        Pannel Discussion with 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

                        Drone Risk and Liability Considerations When Working With Subcontractors
                        Matt Langhals, Agra Drone Solutions
                        CCA: 1 CM; ODA Comm 1

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

The 2027 OABA Industry Conference will be hosted at the Hilton Columbus at Easton Hotel – 3900 Chagrin Drive, Columbus, Ohio, 43219.

Check back later for 2027 Industry Conference details.

Sponsors

Check back later for 2027 Industry Conference details!