Agricultural News
OCA's Michael Kelsey Hopes Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Will Develop Aggressive Rules to Help Wipe Out Wild Hogs After Governor Vetoes SB 1142
Sat, 21 May 2016 05:18:42 CDT
Governor Mary Fallin added a wrinkle into the debate over how the state of Oklahoma should manage the elimination of feral swine statewide. The Governor vetoed SB 1142, a measure that was sent to her desk with bipartisan support- a bill which would have allowed landowners to remove feral hogs from their property at any time without a permit. As she vetoed the measure, she also announced that she was issuing an executive order directing the the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) to streamline the issuance of permits to exterminate feral hogs on private land. Click here to read her specific instructions on the matter to the ODWC.
Ag groups offered mixed reactions to the move by the Governor as she sorted out the arguments for and against SB 1142. The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association was strongly supportive of SB 1142 as it worked its way through the Legislature, but appears to be willing to give the Wildlife Commission a chance to draft rules that will be acceptable to them. Michael Kelsey, executive vice president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, was quoted in the news release from the Governor's office, "Control of invasive feral swine will take a long-term, cooperative approach with aggressive and effective strategies. We appreciate the governor recognizing the challenges of this issue and issuing an order that offers opportunities to continue working toward solutions."
After the veto and the announcement of the Executive Order, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays talked with Kelsey about how this may impact his rancher members- and what he sees the Legislature doing this coming week in response to the Veto and the Issuance of the Executive Order.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear their conversation.
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