Agricultural News
Cattle Producers Cover Lots of Policy Ground as They Prepare to Engage with Lawmakers in 2022 State Legislative Session
Fri, 28 Jan 2022 05:56:46 CST
Lots of policy ground was covered on Thursday by cattlemen and cattlewomen at the annual Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association Winter Policy Conference. Producers heard from three of the seven members of the Oklahoma Congressional delegation as well as the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority.
After the day was complete- Oklahoma Farm Report's Ron Hays spent a few minutes with Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey about the variety of topics that were discussed as OCA members got a comprehensive briefing about select proposals that will be considered by state lawmakers in early February at the State Capiol.
Kelsey said that there are literally dozens of proposals that will be vetted in the upcoming legislative session that could help improve the negative impacts of the marijuana grow houses that have invaded the Oklahoma countryside. "There are 52 bills we have marked in this session that have to do with the grow houses in rural Oklahoma...the 52 bills represent a plethora of different topics whether it be set backs, authority for OMMA, a County Vote Concept if you will" that Kelsey says could be helpful for rural folks who want relief.
One of the most discussed topics about the medical marijuana grow houses are the problems with being able to spray on fields anywhere close to where the marijuana is being grown. Kelsey says a measure by southwest Oklahoma Senator Brent Howard (SB1261) offers a possible solution to landowners and applicators who are fearful of complaints brought by marijuana growers. Under Howard's bill- liability from spray drift would only be applicable to crops insurable by the Federal Crop Insurance Program.
Hays and Kelsey also talked many of the other issues that were discussed by the cattle producers who showed up for the day long session- including a couple of bills that have to do with improving fencing rules and regulations in the state, tax policy and the ad sales tax exemption..
They also talked about some of the key issues ahead of the OCA leadership that will be headed to Houston the first of the week for the 2022 CattleCon which will include a variety of policy committee meetings that Oklahoma ranchers will be engaged in.
Listen to the complete interview with Michael Kelsey by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
(Pictured above- Congressmen Tom Cole and Frank Lucas update OCA members about the latest happenings inside the Washington beltway)
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