PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
®
September 7, 2012
Farmers want to stop the flood of federal regulations A buffalo wallow in the middle of a Garfield County pasture was the star attraction of an Aug. 23 event focused on stopping the flood of federal regulations. The buffalo wallow could fall under the EPA’s regulatory umbrella as that agency is attempting to redefine navigable waterways under the Clean Water Act. “Those of us in the High Plains recognize this as a buffalo wallow, and not a navigable waterway,” said Mike Spradling, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. “This boils down to the fact the EPA wants to control all of the water. This control would include imposing restrictions on how this land could be used, meaning the farmer would not be allowed to use best management practices. He could be prevented from using herbicides to control weeds or fertilizer to boost forage production. This type of unnecessary and burdensome federal regulations is a serious threat to our private property rights.” U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK), minority ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, joined Spradling during the event and called for a stop to the federal government’s regulatory march. “The over regulators are destroying this country,” Inhofe said. “This is not just agriculture. Manufacturers and energy producers are all having the same (regulatory) problems.” More than 60 reporters, state agency directors and OFB members listen as Sen. Jim Inhofe talks about the need to stop federal regulations that create hardships for agricultural producers. A link to more photos from the press conference can be found on OFB’s homepage at okfarmbureau.org
Inhofe praised farmers for standing up to the federal regulators. “Farm Bureau is our best ally in these types of issues,” Inhofe said. The CWA gives the EPA authority to write rules governing the protection of navigable waters. The EPA wants to redefine the word navigable in an effort to regulate even a roadside ditch that could hold water for only a few hours. The EPA wants to make this proposal to the guidance document. A guidance document is a non-legally binding interpretation written by an agency to explain how it interprets existing regulations, court decisions and federal statutes. However, a guidance document may not exceed or conflict with the original law as passed by Congress and existing regulations promulgated under the Administrative Procedures Act. This proposal would allow the EPA to regulate the following: · groundwater · ditches · culverts · pipes · desert washes · farm and stock ponds The event was part of the American Farm Bureau’s national “Stop the Flood of Regulations” campaign in progress across the country where similar events are being held this summer.
In This Issue • Stop the Flood of Regulations • 4-H Foundation Turns 50 • Poultry Litter Tax Credit • Tulsa Women’s Luncheon • National Day of Prayer
August Area Meetings wrap up OFB recently completed a busy month of August Area Meetings around the state. Water, transportation regulations, conservation and the 2012 Farm Bill were popular topics discussed during the 11 meetings. Counties will now begin the resolutions process, and resolutions are due to the state office on Friday, Oct. 5.
Johnston County Farm Bureau board members Glenn Orr (left) and Tommie Johnson (right) visit with OFB Vice-President of Field Services Thad Doye about water policy issues during the Dist. 4 meeting in Madill on Aug. 23.
OFB Women’s Committee member Margaret Ann Kinder (left) and FBW Chairman Kitty Beavers describe projects the Women’s Committee has recently completed during the Dist. 4 area meeting in Duncan on Aug. 23.