Agricultural News
Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association's Fall Meetings a Success - Raises Discussion Over Policy Issues
Thu, 01 Dec 2016 17:21:46 CST
Members of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association have kept a full schedule this season with their Fall Gatherings throughout the month of November, including a few extra new meetings they decided to host this year as well. Farm Director Ron Hays caught up with Michael Kelsey, OCA's executive vice president, to find out how those meetings went and what's been on the minds of his members lately.
"A big conversation piece was 777, both before and after, but also a lot of other issues that are going on in the cattle industry and then of course the market," Kelsey said. "It went really well, attendance was fantastic. Discussion was good, lots of questions."
Kelsey says addressing the failed passage of State Question 777 - Right to Farm, was high priority for OCA members at these meetings. He says talks steered mainly towards planning for the opposition's next move, which according to Kelsey, is really just a mystery at this point. However, he insists the ag community needs to anticipate that they will want to ride out the momentum from their win. He advises those that supported 777 to continue sharing agriculture's story with the same passion they had leading up to the vote. Meanwhile, he in tandem with other state ag organizations, will remain vigilant during the legislative session to intercept any proposed legislation that threatens agriculture in Oklahoma.
The association also hosted informational meetings this fall regarding the Veterinary Feed Directive. Kelsey says producers in Oklahoma at this point seem fairly knowledgeable of VFD and understand that having a good veterinarian-client-patient relationship is really 80 to 90 percent of the battle. However, he cautions producers to be cognizant of continued federal intervention, which the industry will be keeping an eye on.
"FDA's not done with the Veterinary Feed Directive," Kelsey said. "They're going to continue to look at ways to monitor antibiotic use. What that means is injectables, they're on the chopping block next, as well as other types antimicrobials that we use in our industry."
Aside from this, OCA will also be hosting their first winter policy meeting on January 24th, and Kelsey invites all OCA members to participate. This meeting will give the association an opportunity to make fresh decisions regarding policy matters ahead of the legislative session that commences in February.
Listen to Hays and Kelsey speak more on OCA's agenda just coming off their fall meetings, by clicking or tapping the LISTEN BAR below.
Be sure to catch Kelsey who joins Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays for his weekly In the Field segment on KWTV News9 in the Oklahoma City area this Saturday morning at 6:40 a.m.
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