PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
®
April 18, 2014
Farm Bureau leaders lobby in nation’s capitol The new farm bill, tax reform, regulatory overreach and immigration reform were key issues discussed by Oklahoma Farm Bureau leaders during a four-day lobbying effort in Washington, D.C., April 7-10. During the trip, the farm leaders met with U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn’s Chief of Staff Brian Treat, plus U.S. Reps. Jim Bridenstine, Markwayne Mullin, James Lankford and Frank Lucas, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. Lucas emphasized his committee’s efforts to draft a new farm bill that provides a strong safety net for farm income using a combination of crop insurance, a revenue assurance program and price protection. “We are proud to have Rep. Lucas standing up for our interests in Washington, D.C., and we greatly appreciate the time and effort he committed to the farm bill,” OKFB President Tom Buchanan said. “We look forward to working with him and his staff as the new rules are implemented.” Several congressmen applauded OKFB’s decision to join Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for using a “sue and settle” tactic to prematurely list the lesser prairie
chicken as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The decision circumvents ESA procedures that are required by statute and harms landowners and business interests in the state. Oklahoma farm leaders also received legislative briefings from key staff at the American Farm Bureau office. The Farm Bureau makes the annual trip to Washington, D.C., each spring to engage with the nation’s leaders and then initiate conversations in their local communities. “This trip is a key step in our grassroots policy development process, and we are thankful for the opportunity to meet with our state’s delegation and AFBF staffers as we take the time to learn about the issues,” Buchanan said. “The OKFB leaders who TOP – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe speaks to members participated in the trip about governmental overreach during his will be great sources of congressional briefing, April 8. information as our counBOTTOM – Congressional Action Tour participants ties begin making policy visit the American Farm Bureau headquarters during recommendations later their trip, April 8. this year.”
OKFB members explore southwest Oklahoma BELOW – Jackson County FB board member Matt Muller explains the different equipment used in the cotton stripping process at his farm near Martha, April 1. Participants also had the chance to tour a cotton gin and storage facility in Altus.
ABOVE – Robert Forst of the Stuart Ranch gives a cutting horse demonstration for members on the first day of the tour. Located near Waurika, it is the oldest ranch in the state of Oklahoma under continuous family ownership.
ABOVE – Members enjoy a scenic view from Mt. Scott inside the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Lawton, April 2. More photos from the three-day event are available on OKFB’s Flickr site at www.flickr.com/okfarmbureau.