
Agricultural News
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Gears Up For August Meetings to Discuss Issues Like Feral Hog Problem
Wed, 10 Aug 2016 16:22:41 CDT
The 2016 August area meetings are fast approaching for Oklahoma Farm Bureau, where discussions over several hot button issues relevant to the state's agriculture community will be taking place. John Collison, vice president of public policy and corporate communications, says this is a great time for Farm Bureau staff to meet and interact with members and legislators on a grassroots level. He says they will be spending this time really listening to what issues are important to the organization's members.
"Right to Farm is hot and heavy right now, but we've also got other issues," Collison said. "Water is always that issue I've talked about it in the past. Feral pigs are always that issue. Private property is always an issue."
One issue in particular being looked at closely by Collison, as he mentioned, is the feral hog problem in Oklahoma. He explained the issue has been ongoing for some time, recounting that a bill dealing with feral hogs was previously passed in the state legislature but vetoed by the governor. The reason being that she wanted rules written on how to properly handle the eradication of the hogs. Which has started a whole other process.
"The Department of Ag kind of let some of their power go and some of their ability to write those rules and it has now been turned over to the Department of Wildlife to write some rules- on public and private lands," Collison said. "So we're in negotiations with them."
Collison says this issue really can be resolved without going through the legislature. He says Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese has the power to write the rules that will allow people to trap and remove these animals from the damage they are doing in agriculture. However, he says there is differing opinions on getting totally rid of the hogs. He says that whenever there is a value to get rid of something, there is always, value to keep it.
"We, through the Department of Agriculture need to put plans in place to stop transportation, full trapping of these wild hogs, and full eradication, and we can make a dent if we'll get serious as a state," Collison said. "But anytime we put a monetary value to allow them to be sport hunted, we have a problem with it."
Issues like this are exactly why it is important for Farm Bureau members to show up to their area meetings, to voice their support or concerns says Collison.
"We're a policy based organization, when we lobby at the capitol we stand behind 100,000 Farm Bureau members and the policy they give us," Collison said. "Please show up because this is where it starts."
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays talked with Mr. Collison during a recent interview at our studios- you can hear their conversation by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
Be sure to catch John Collison joining Ron Hays as his guest during his weekly In the Field segment on KWTV News9 in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday morning at 6:40 a.m.
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