The Division of Administration is the backbone
of the agency, run by the Director's Office, that provides
all other divisions and programs with policy oversight
and communications, legal, financial, technological,
and personnel support.
Administration Duties
The Director of Agriculture is the department’s chief administrator and
creates and enforces regulations concerning consumer and farmer protection, the
conduct of county and independent fairs, food safety, herd and flock health,
protection of plants from pests, and departmental procedures. In supervising
the day-to-day operations of this regulatory agency, the Division of Administration
provides all other ODA divisions with communications, legal, legislative, financial,
technological, personnel, data processing, and maintenance support.
Communications
The Office of Communications helps educate the
public and news media about Ohio’s agricultural industry and how ODA works
to protect Ohio consumers and farmers. The Office responds to news media inquiries,
publishes information for the media and the public, and manages the ODA web site.
Office of Business Management
This office coordinates ODA's budget, payroll and billing services. The Department
receives revenue from state funds, laboratory fees, license revenues, and federal
grants.
Human Resources
The Office of Human Resources recruits quality employees, administers labor relations
policy, promotes professional development, oversees Equal Employment Opportunity
compliance, and facilitates the Quality Services through Partnership program
at ODA.
Agro Bio-Security Office
The office's top priorities include streamlining operations, identifying and
analyzing vulnerabilities, implementing bio-security protocols, and addressing
homeland security issues campus-wide, in addition to coordinating and implementing
training exercises. The office also coordinates efforts to educate food processors,
livestock producers and other agribusinesses of potential threats.
Legal
ODA’s principal mission is regulatory. When individuals or companies won’t
voluntarily comply with Ohio’s agricultural laws and regulations, ODA’s
Chief Legal Counsel and the Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Department
work with ODA administrators to take appropriate legal action against the offenders.
Legislative Affairs
More than 750 statutes of the Ohio Revised Code deal with agricultural laws,
food safety codes, and weights and measures regulations. To help the Ohio General
Assembly keep up to date with the state’s dynamic agriculture and food
industry, the Office of Legislative Affairs works with consumer groups, industry
representatives, and legislators to help draft needed legislation.
Ohio Rural Rehabilitation Program
ODA administers the Ohio Rural Rehabilitation Program under an agreement with
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Program’s advisory
board — made up of farmers, agricultural educators, and industry representatives — reviews
grant applications and makes recommendations to the USDA on which applications
should be funded. Only non-profit organizations are eligible for the grants,
which must go to projects benefiting low-income farmers.
