Agricultural News
Oklahoma Secretary of Ag Jim Reese Talks Castor Beans, 2011 Drought and More
Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:15:01 CST
Earlier this week, the Oklahoma State Board of Agriculture unanimously approved a moratorium on the production of castor beans in the state. Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese says the board's decision is intended to prevent farmers from growing castor beans on their farms. The Oklahoma state legislature is expected to outlaw the production of castor in its upcoming 2012 session.
This moratorium is only for the commercial production of castor beans says Secretary Reese. There is an exemption for those wishing to grow castor beans for gardening or ornamental purposes.
We also talked with Secretary Reese about 2011 and how it was such a difficult year for farmers and ranchers across the state of Oklahoma. Secretary Reese says that having the hottest summer on record this past year severly damaged the summer crops and a majority of these crops were a loss.
However, with a promising 2012 on the horizon, Secretary Reese says the perception of people across Oklahoma has changed mainly because of the recent rainfall. While some areas of the state are still dealing with the effects of the 2011 drought, Secretary Reese says the state as a whole has received some much needed rain.
Click on the LISTEN bar below to hear the rest of our conversation with Secretary Jim Reese. Or you can watch Ron Hays and Secretary Jim Reese this Saturday morning at 6:40 a.m. during the In the Field segment on KWTV News 9.
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