More than a hundred poultry farmers from Arkansas and Oklahoma, as well as state legislators from both states, met Monday morning in Fayetteville at the Washington County Farm Bureau offices to discuss the recent decision by Tyson Foods to end contracts for poultry growers who live in the Illinois River watershed.
Dan Wright, President of the Arkansas Farm Bureau, released a statement in two parts after the meeting- the first part on Sunday:
“The recent announcement by Tyson Foods that it is considering not renewing contracts of poultry growers operating in the Illinois River watershed is a clear reaction to government overreach by officeholders in Oklahoma. The lawsuit between the state of Oklahoma and the poultry companies is leading to production decisions by Tyson that has nothing to do with sound science, consumer demand or the public good.
“This a reaction to an elected official overstepping sound science in an effort to make headlines. Understandably, the headlines being made are a result of harm that will come to farm families in both Oklahoma and in Arkansas.
” Our farmers and ranchers are the best stewards of the land. This decision by Tyson is further proof that a balance between agriculture productivity and environmental regulation is required.”
On Monday- the Arkansas Farm Bureau added a “part two” to their statement on that meeting:
“The livelihoods of Arkansas and Oklahoma poultry farmers within the Illinois River watershed are being threatened by an extreme overreach by the Oklahoma Attorney General. Ensuring our country and its people have access to a safe and abundant food supply is critical to national security.
“We must work together to protect our farmers and ranchers and their ability to produce the food and fiber our country needs a in a safe environmentally balanced manner. I urge the Oklahoma Attorney General to exercise common sense, come back to the table with integrators and farmers and bring this more than 20 year old lawsuit to an end.”
