On Saturday, three hundred fifty nine delegates set the policy for the coming year for Oklahoma's largest general farm organization, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Two resolutions were designated as "priority" items by the Resolutions Committee and were adopted as such by the delegates- the first having to do with right to farm and ranch legislation and the other condemning EPA's massive land grab, the Waters of the US Proposed Rule.
For the Right to Farm and Ranch issue, the delegates approved the following language "We strongly support the Right to Farm and Ranch legisation that includes normal farming and ranching and other agricultural practices, defined as described by our land grant universities." Language for an amendment to the State Constitution was passed by the House and Senate last year- however, the language was not exactly the same and the bills were never reconcilled in 2014.
In talking with state President Tom Buchanan, he said he believes "it's an issue very important to modern production agriculture, not only in Oklahoma but across the nation." He did signal that they were looking at ways to get folks outside of agriculture comfortable with the language and would be working on that moving forward.
As for the other priority issue, delegates approved the following- "OKFB and AFBF need to continue to take the lead on making it a priority to continue combating EPArules and regulations like the proposed "Waters of the United States." We support AFBF's Ditch the Rule campaign." The Resolutions Committee noted that language that pointed this direction came from at least 28 counties from across Oklahoma.
Farm Director Ron Hays talked with President Buchanan about the resolutions process and the general mood of Farm Bureau members statewide as we wind down 2014. You can hear their conversation by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
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