What is all the fuss over this water issue about? Is it the haves verses the have nots? Is it Oklahoma verses Texas? Maybe it’s the water consumers verses the water viewers? Is it east verses west? As I talk to each of you around the state, I hear many different stories about what we should do with our water. That’s right, I said it. The surface water in the state belongs to all the people of Oklahoma. The reason it belongs to you and me, and not just a handful of people, is because we have each paid for […]

As you return from your spring break, know that things are going well at the Oklahoma Capitol. We passed our Right to Farm amendment, authored by Rep. Scott Biggs, out of the house on March 11. This bill passed 84 to 6, and we want to thanks Rep. Biggs for all the work he did to get that bill though the house.  It is now onto the senate, where we hope to have the bill passed quickly and onto the vote of the people in November. If you have been listening to our Attorney General Scott Pruitt lately, then you […]

We recently gathered at the Skirvin Hotel for our annual OKFB Leadership Conference. If you were able to attend, then you already know what a great line up of speakers and guests we had join us. We were also able to see many friends and familiar faces whom we had not seen since we gathered in Norman last November. I want to thank each and every one of you who took time to travel and participate in our meeting. That includes our elected officials who took time out of their hectic schedules to visit with us about the federal and […]

The OKFB Congressional Action Tour is scheduled for April 6-10, 2014, in Washington, D.C. This tour gives members an opportunity to visit with legislators about issues of importance to rural Oklahoma.  On this trip, members will hear from American Farm Bureau on issues of importance to agriculture along with visiting Congressional Representatives and Senators.  The trip also features a President’s Welcome Reception and a Legislative Reception at the House Agriculture Committee.  Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements. The deadline for the Congressional Action Tour is March 3. For more information, contact Sara Drozdowski at 405-530-2681 or at […]

I can’t remember in recent history when a session has started slower or when we have changed out a speaker midway through the first few days. In a vote of the Republican caucus members, Rep. Jeff Hickman, of Fairview, was elected to the new role of Speaker of the House. Most members have at least a year to prepare for this role and the duties that come with it. Speaker Hickman had about 10 minutes of grace time before the realities of the job set in. This is a monumental task that he faces, but knowing the new Speaker, he […]

In this edition of Legislative Update, I want to talk about the one major issue that still plagues our state and the major agricultural states to our west. It is the continuance of a drought that is now growing into its third year. This drought has now locked itself into western Oklahoma, with a growing cost near $1.5 billion dollars in agricultural economic loss. Please read that again. Oklahoma agriculture has lost $1.5 billion dollars in the last three years due to the lack of rain and water planning.  In looking at the U.S. Geological Survey history of 2013 and […]

Key members of Oklahoma’s business and agricultural communities came together in support of comprehensive immigration reform and praised the immigration standards released by Speaker of the House John Boehner last week.  “We know that our immigration system in severely flawed. Our priorities need to be securing our borders and then creating a legal way to enter this country. Illegal immigration isn’t just a security issue; it has a huge economic impact as well,” said John Collison of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. “Our members regularly struggle with having the labor force they need, and the current system too often rewards those […]

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Leadership Conference will be held Feb. 17-18 in Oklahoma City at the Skirvin Hotel. The conference focuses on updating members on the legislative issues on state and federal levels.   The agenda for the two day conference features Congressman Markwayne Mullin and Congressman James Lankford. They both will be giving an update from Washington, D.C. Also, on the agenda is Cordon DeKock with the State Chamber of Oklahoma and Dave Hageman with Protect the Harvest.  You can view a full agenda for the conference below. February 17 Registration                  […]

As January melts into February, it can mean only one thing … we are quickly upon another legislative session. Last year’s successes are behind us, and new issues lay ahead. This will be the last session for some legislative members, as term limits have caught up with them. We wish them God’s speed and good luck as they embark on a new chapter in their lives. We also want to thank them for their service to the state of Oklahoma. It’s not always easy to do what these members do on a day-to-day basis, and for that we say thanks! […]

The deadline for OKFB’s Campaign Management Seminar has been extended to January 27. The seminar will be held Feb. 13 – 14 in Oklahoma City.  The two-day seminar is open to any candidates running for public office, at any level, along with their spouses and campaign managers. The seminar will cover a variety of topics including budget preparation, campaign structure, and handling interviewers.  Oklahoma Farm Bureau members are eligible to receive a discount of $40 to the seminar. If anyone is interested in the seminar, you can download the registration form and brochure here or you can contact the public […]