Agricultural News
okPORK's Roy Lee Lindsey Calls State's 2019 Legislative Session Ag's Biggest Win in Over 20 Years
Thu, 13 Jun 2019 11:04:48 CDT
On Wednesday, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Associate Farm Director Carson Horn sat down with Roy Lee Lindsey, executive director of the Oklahoma Pork Council, to reflect from a livestock industry perspective on the final outcomes of the 2019 Oklahoma Legislative Session since it officially adjourned last month. Lindsey says he agrees with the other ag industry groups in the state that this year's session was one of the most positive for rural Oklahoma in recent memory. You can listen to their complete conversation by clicking or tapping the LISTEN BAR below at the bottom of the page.
"This is the 21st session I've spent at the Capitol working with the Oklahoma Pork Council and I would tell you it's probably the most successful session we've seen in the time I've been here," Lindsey remarked. "We went into the session with a number of key agenda items and we were able to accomplish those- not just talk about them but actually see some legislation passed and the Governor sign it."
Among those achievements was a bill banning the feeding of table scraps to swine which addressed a serious herd health risk related to the potential spread of diseases like African Swine Fever. Another bill, spearheaded by the Pork Council but benefiting all of agriculture's stakeholders in the state, adopted caps on nuisance lawsuits targeting agricultural operations. Given the recent exploitation of the justice system in other states to acquire significant court settlements, Lindsey is joined by other industry leaders in hopes that this legislation deters similar unethical activity here in Oklahoma and protects producers' peace of mind and ability to operate.
In addition, the Pork Council in cooperation with other ag organizations was able to defend farmers' tax exemption for another year and assisted in the modernization of several outdated statutes under which the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry operates. Included in the modernizations, too, was the appropriation for an additional state veterinarian. Lindsey says this is a welcomed supplement of resources to our state's livestock industry.
"We looked out for things important to rural Oklahoma and overall I just couldn't be more pleased with the way this session went from an agricultural perspective," he said. "It was certainly a very different year in the Legislature than it's been the last couple. You had roughly a third of the group being in their first year. That's overwhelming, but I think they identified the things that were priorities. And, I think the Governor has done an outstanding job advocating for Oklahoma and the good things we have going for us every day - and agriculture is one of those real bright spots for our state."
Listen to Lindsey and Horn discuss these and other topics including the Pork Council's efforts to minimize the risk of an AFS outbreak, how tariffs have impacted the pork industry and his concerns related to the ongoing struggle to plant corn in the Midwest, by clicking or tapping the LISTEN BAR below.
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