Agricultural News
Out of State Water Sales Discussed and Rejected by Oklahoma Farm Bureau Delegates as They Set Policy for the Coming Year
Mon, 12 Nov 2012 05:44:21 CST
The 2012 Oklahoma Farm Bureau delegate session was held on Saturday as a part of their annual convention and trade show- 398 delegates showed up to do the work of approving policy for the coming year for the organization. The wide ranging discussion covered everything from support for acts of patriotism such as the performance of the National Anthem or the Pledge to the Flag at the start of public events to a call to reduce the budget for the EPA by fifty percent.
Perhaps the most passionate discussion came over water rights within the state of Oklahoma. The Resolutions Committee proposed a resolution on the sale of water in Oklahoma that read "Water in Oklahoma from any source( well, river, creek, spring, pond, lake, etc) shall always remain in Oklahoma and may not be sold out of state without the approval of the House and Senate." Delegates from southeast Oklahoma proposed amendments that would have been more specific as they wanted to name the Sardis Watershed and put the stipulation in that no water sale outside of the basin where the water is located may be completed unless approved by a vote of the residents of that water basin. A second delegate also mentioned that water from Hugo Lake was a commodity that several Texas cities had inquired about as well. After a lively debate, the delegates voted down the amendments and approved the original language as recommended by the Resolutions Committee.
Another resolution having to do with flood control dams was inserted into the Oklahoma Farm Bureau policy book- this resolution was amended and reads as follows- "The State and Federal governments shall be required to maintain their flood control projects, at their expense." Delegates amended this resolution to call on the governments involved to pay for the upkeep of these flood control structures, many of which are reaching the end of their useful life- unless they are renovated.
Other policy positions of the 100 approved by the delegates:
Support of Agri-Tourism in the state- advocating the direct shipping of agricultural products such as wine and other farmers' market products to agricultural tourism customers in and out of the state.
Requiring county, state and federal governments to control eastern red cedar on right of ways.
More diligence by the state of Oklahoma in addressing the problem of the feral hog population in the state.
Encourage the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to pursue the processing of feral hogs for use by state correctional facilities and any excess to be made available to any available markets, including food banks.
A commendation for Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas and his House Agriculture Committee staff for writing a Farm Bill that is good for for all segments of agriculture.
The delegates approved four resolutions that they called Priority Issues. Those issues read as follows:
Priority: Reaffirm trespassing law.
Priority: Keep close watch and work all avenues to protect farm tax exemptions. OFB should create talking points showing that agriculture is receiving no special exemption when farmers don't pay sales tax on raw materials and inputs in creating our finished product.
Priority: Earlier Farm Bureau policy on Invasive Species and Pest Management. This should be a priority issue due to the deep economic impact for counties.
Priority: Concerning road weight limits- the county commissioners should be responsible for farming and ranching businesses having roads that offer legal entry and exits to their operations (farm to market).
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