Agricultural News
Conservation Districts are Well Poised To Work With The "Not In My Back Yard" Movement
Mon, 24 Feb 2020 17:32:47 CST
When a wind farm or poultry farm moves into an area, often the best source for accurate information comes from the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, the people charged with protecting the natural resources.
That was the key message arising from a panel discussion Monday at the annual meeting of the OACD. The panel focused on protecting private property rights when the "not In My Back Yard" movement surfaces. The panel, moderated by
Trey Lam, executive director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, included representatives from the wind and renewable resources, oil and gas industries, and poultry processing industry.
Sam Knipp talked with Lam following the panel discussion.
Conservation districts are across the state, and they are often approached by both sides of the issue when an energy or agriculture-related business wants to build or expand in the area, Lam said.
The lack of accurate information is a significant concern, Lam said.
"With social media, people can say almost anything, and so we get a lot of misinformation," said Lam.
"We would really like for our conservation districts to tell that story of how it will impact the community, the water, and soil concerns," said Lam.
Lam said the districts could help to provide the information before it becomes too late.
It's a natural fit for the conservation districts to provide that information as they have more than 80 years of history behind them, protecting and conserving natural resources, said Lam.
Overall, Lam said the state of Oklahoma is positioned well to take advantage of a new era in conservation.
"We're at the dawn of a new era focused on soil health," said Lam.
The emphasis on improving soil health using cover crops, reduced tillage, and grazing while improving profitability and sustainability.
"It's really a new way of thinking, similar to how we changed following the Dust Bowl," said Lam.
Lam said conservation has received a ton of support from the citizens and legislature.
"It's a bright future," said Lam.
You can listen to our interview with Trey Lam by clicking on the button below.
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