Agricultural News
Conservation Day at the State Capital Kicks off Thursday 9am-12pm
Mon, 04 Apr 2022 12:52:52 CDT
This week, many exciting things get underway, including the Oklahoma City Farm show and Conservation Day at the State Capital This Thursday. Oklahoma farm Report's Ron Hays spoke with the Executive director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Trey Lam. He said it's great to have everyone back at the capital, "On Thursday, we will focus on conservation. Conservation districts and their directors from all over the state will meet with representatives and leadership to talk about some of the things they are interested in."
Lam said they didn't think this would be a busy year for conservation issues, but new opportunities have appeared. Lam said The Healthy soils program bill has made it through the house and will be heard this week. Lam said this will show official state support for that policy to implement a soil health program, "We've had that here at the Commission for several years now, but it will make it they are official stances of the state. So we're really excited for that opportunity."
Lam said there's also a bill on poultry nutrient management planning that involves the Conservation Commission to help the poultry growers get their nutrient management plans, "Those are critical, especially in our work on water quality." In addition, Lam said they currently have a litter transfer program to move chicken litter to appropriate sites and help subsidize that to the parts of the state that need it. Lam said it is essential, "It's critical this year with the high fertilizer cost and fits well within our soil health program."
Another legislative process the conservation commission will be involved with is the State cost-share program. Lam says that it is critical for conservation districts to help put conservation on the ground, "It's of the big programs that our districts deliver that must be reauthorized every few years by the House and the Senate. Two different versions of the same bill have passed on both sides. Now they've just gotta get one through the other side and to the governor, and we'll be ready to go."
Lam said after folks head to Conservation day at the capital, he encourages them to run over to the Oklahoma City Farm Show, where they will also have a booth, "People want to get out and see what's new, but also just see people that they've done business with. So we'll have a booth out there, so we'll be talking about our soil health programs and regenerative ag and different things like that. It's a great opportunity for us to interact with others."
Conservation Day kicks off at 9am until 12pm on Thursday April 7th.
To find more information on State Conservation day at the capital, click here.
The Oklahoma City Farm Show also gets underway Thursday, click here for more information.
To hear the complete conversation between Ron Hays and Trey Lam, click or tap below.
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