The following op-ed was released today by Altus, Oklahoma, farmer and Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Tom Buchanan. With the EPA threatening to enforce its egregious Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rules, farmers and ranchers are among a growing list of Americans who fear the heavy hand of a bureaucratic federal agency. During a recent town hall meeting, U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), said the EPA is the most hated federal agency in his fourth congressional district. We might extend the coverage to include all of Oklahoma and, I imagine the good folks in Colorado and New Mexico are not too […]

Tom Buchanan, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president and Altus farmer, issued this statement today following the ruling by a federal judge in North Dakota that blocked the implementation of the EPA’s Waters of the U.S. rule, which went to effect Aug. 28. “As federal courts wrangle with the EPA over which states should be included in the Waters of the U.S. rules, it’s becoming more obvious the EPA is a federal agency that feels responsibility to no one. “In late May, Congress told the EPA not to implement WOTUS. The EPA thumbed its nose at Congress and pushed ahead on WOTUS, […]

Can feral hogs be eradicated in Oklahoma? Josh Gaskamp, a wildlife and range consultant for the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, is working to find out. Feral hogs cause an estimated $800 million to $1.5 billion in agricultural and environmental damage in the United States each year, Gaskamp said.  With numbers estimated between 617,000 and 1.4 million, Oklahoma is ranked in the top four states with the highest population of feral hogs. The invasive species is found in all 77 Oklahoma counties. Complete eradication is the primary goal, but Gaskamp said it is unrealistic with Oklahoma’s out-of-control population. “Control is all […]

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau board of directors has announced the members of the 2015 OKFB 100 Percent Club. Presented to 71 Oklahoma legislators, the award is based upon a 100 percent voting record on key Farm Bureau legislative measures during the 2015 Oklahoma legislative session. “The members of the 100 Percent Club helped support Farm Bureau’s mission to protect personal property rights, keep taxes low, and boost agricultural and rural business,” said John Collison, OKFB vice president of public policy and corporate communications. “Oklahoma Farm Bureau sincerely appreciates the leadership of this group at the state Capitol this year.”  Thirty-five […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Tom Buchanan issued this statement today following the release of the Environmental Protection Agency’s new regulatory rules announcement. “Oklahoma Farm Bureau is disappointed with the Environmental Protection Agency’s new rules announced today that will increase regulations and introduce unnecessary burdens on our members.  “While our state’s farmers and ranchers care deeply about protecting our natural resources, and especially water, we want to ensure that any new rules do not expand the scope or authority of the EPA, allowing the agency to burden farmers and ranchers with new and unnecessary regulations. “We as an organization will continue […]

“The U.S. House of Representatives’ bipartisan vote to repeal the EPA’s proposed Waters of the U.S. rule sends a strong signal that farmers, ranchers, and other landowners will not tolerate the heavy hand of federal agencies dictating unnecessary and burdensome regulations. “Obviously, the grass-roots involvement of Farm Bureau members voicing strong opposition to WOTUS had an impact. “The WOTUS proposal would have created a land use management nightmare, restricting our ability to grow food and fiber. “We applaud the House for stopping the proposal and urge President Obama to support the repeal.”  

Today the Oklahoma House of Representatives overwhelming approved Senate amendments to HJR 1012, Right to Farm. The vote was 85 to 7. “We are extremely pleased with the vote,” said Tom Buchanan, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. “We applaud State Rep. Scott Biggs and State Sen. Jason Smalley for their leadership and tenacity guiding this resolution through the legislative process. We look forward to working with Attorney General Scott Pruitt on the exact language of the state question as it will appear on the ballot in 2016.” Buchanan said adoption of this resolution by the state’s voters will reduce outside influence […]