Agricultural News
Oklahoma Farmer Explains Why He Thinks State Question 777 is Needed
Wed, 12 Oct 2016 03:37:59 CDT
Brent Bolen and his family farm in McCurtain County in far southeastern Oklahoma. Bolen is a staunch supporter of State Question 777- and he has gone onto the Social media platform Facebook to explain his position to friends and friends of friends.
On Tuesday, he offered the following list of farm/ranch practices that he contends have been targeted by those who don't like modern production agriculture. He says protecting these and other practices are important reasons why a vote for State Question 777 will help farmers and ranchers in Oklahoma stay in business.
His list includes:
"Saddling a horse
"Placing a bit in a horses mouth
"Riding a horse
"Roping a calf
"Branding or ear tagging a calf
"Providing medical care to a sick livestock animal
"Using vaccines to protect the health of livestock
"Using genetic markers to determine breeding selection
"Growing livestock in confinement to protect them from predators and harsh weather
"Growing grains that have been genetically selected to resist all manors of things from disease to herbicides
"Feeding grains that have been genetically selected to resist all manors of things from disease to herbicides
"Castrate male livestock for caretaker and other animal(intact males fight) safety and better meat quality
"Dehorn or tip horned bovine or ovine or other horned species for safety reasons
"Animal ownership
"Showing livestock
"Growing and harvesting trees for lumber and paper
"Etc, etc, etc, etc, etc
"This is my short list of agricultural farming practices that I'm aware of that have been challenged by a urban/uninformed/activist group/etc.
"777 states "the rights of CITIZENS and LAWFUL residents of Oklahoma to engage in farming and ranching practices shall forever be guaranteed in this state. The Legislature shall pass no law which abridges the rights citizens and lawful residents of Oklahoma to employ agricultural technology and livestock production and ranching practices without a compelling state interest"
"As a lifelong farmer/rancher, I want to pass these tried and true practices along to future generations. As the legislature becomes more urban and removed from the farm, all general farming practices are at risk. I can assure you that with or without 777 I'll be ok and I'll make sure and raise my daughters to raise their sons or daughters to feed themselves and protect themselves!!!
"What about you as a consumer? Will you let a legislative body control your food choices? You and your descendants should have the right to buy organic or non organic, synthetic clothing or cotton clothing, free range chickens or confined- and the list goes on."
"VOTE YES 777!!!!"
If you want to learn more about SQ777, click here for the FAQs from the pro side of the question- if you want to see what the opposition is saying about the measure and what they are telling Oklahomans as they urge a no vote- click here.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...
