PERSPECTIVEWWW.OKFARMBUREAU.ORG June 19, 2020 Dicamba decision a devastating blow to cotton, soybean farmers klahoma Farm Bureau President and conserve natural resources. certainty of how they can be managed. Rodd Moesel released the “Oklahoma farmers, who use these “We echo the calls of Oklahoma following statement regarding products carefully and responsibly, have Secretary of Agriculture Blayne the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals been unfairly caught in the middle of a Arthur and the American Farm decision vacating the registrations of legal battle over approved and registered Bureau Federation asking the U.S. three dicamba herbicides. herbicides. The decision comes at a Environmental Protection Agency to “The recent court decision to crucial time after many producers provide farmers the critical tools needed vacate registration of three dicamba across the state have already purchased to care for their crops. Agricultural products is a devastating blow dicamba products and planted tens of producers must be able to use these to Oklahoma cotton and soybean thousands of acres of dicamba-resistant dicamba products that were purchased farmers. Dicamba is a prominent seed. The decision leaves farmers with or planted before the court issued its herbicide relied on by farmers to agricultural inputs suddenly ruled decision.” control weeds, improve crop yields unusable and crops in the field with no Oklahoma farmers receive more than $61 million in CFAP payments to date ore than $61 million in direct Security Act and coordinated by the U.S. were excluded from the CFAP program, payments have been approved for Department of Agriculture, CFAP direct along with some cattle producers who Oklahoma farmers and ranchers through payments are designed to provide relief held on to their animals due to market the Coronavirus Food Assistance to eligible farmers and ranchers facing conditions. The American Farm Bureau Program as of Monday, June 8, according financial losses due to the impacts of the Federation has called on lawmakers to to a recent USDA report. COVID-19 pandemic. expand CFAP payments as Congress Nearly 7,500 Oklahoma producers Eligible farmers and ranchers considers another coronavirus aid have applied for direct payments as may apply for CFAP direct payments package this summer. The organization of June 8, while $61,232,667.97 in through county USDA Farm Service also outlined the additional needs of payments have been approved. Livestock Agency offices until Aug. 28, 2020. More agriculture and rural America in a letter producers comprise nearly 95% of information on the CFAP program and to congressional leaders this week. Oklahoma’s approved CFAP payments. the application process may be found at CFAP payment data will be updated Created through the Coronavirus farmers.gov/cfap. and released by the USDA each Monday Assistance, Relief and Economic Hard red winter wheat producers at 2 p.m. at farmers.gov/cfap. OKFB’s 2020 Legislative Review he 2020 Oklahoma legislative session encountered many in Oklahoma history, a few bills did successfully complete the challenges including a health emergency that forced the process. state Capitol to close for six weeks, a state revenue failure and The legislation explained below can be a helpful guide numerous gubernatorial vetoes. This year was difficult from for OKFB members as they prepare to discuss policy issues start to finish, but Oklahoma Farm Bureau continued to engage at August Area Meetings and develop grassroots policy lawmakers from around the state on a daily basis about our throughout the fall. priority issues. Below are nine bills of interest that are set to become state Despite spending fewer days in session than any legislature law. HB 1048 governor on May 19, veto overridden by subject to the right of the mineral owner Rep. Danny Sterling, Tecumseh, and the Legislature on May 22. or the oil and gas lessee, to extract Sen. Julie Daniels, Bartlesville the water as is reasonably necessary SB 801 for the exploration or extraction of Limits the opportunity for groundwater Sen. John Michael Montgomery, hydrocarbons. Signed by the governor rights to be acquired through eminent Lawton, and Rep. Marcus McEntire, on May 19. domain. Signed by the Gov. Kevin Stitt Duncan on March 5. Modifies the authority of Certified Several measures were considered HB 2008 Registered Nurse Anesthetists to by legislative committees and began to Rep. Justin Humphrey, Lane, and Sen. administer anesthesia in collaboration advance, but ultimately failed or were David Bullard, Durant with a medical doctor, osteopathic sidelined due to concerns about their physician, pediatric physician or dentist. impact. As OKFB members prepare to Authorizes the Oklahoma Department Signed by the Governor on May 7. discuss and develop policy in the fall, it’s of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to important to note these unsuccessful promulgate rules for slaughter facilities SB 1276 bills that can often give a window into and to seek USDA approval of new Sen. Roger Thompson, Okemah, and what will be introduced next session. standards for meat inspection. Signed by Rep. Kevin Wallace, Wellston the governor on May 20. HB 1992 Increases from 50% up to 75% of the Rep. Jadine Nollan, Sand Springs, and HB 3806 internship and residency training Sen. Darrell Weaver, Moore Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, Elgin, and Sen. subsidy provided by the Physician Micheal Bergstrom, Adair Manpower Training Commission be used Would have created the Oklahoma for the rural and medically underserved Public Safety Protection District Act. Creates legal definitions for the terms areas of the state. Signed by the This proposal would have allowed “beef”, “pork”, “livestock” and “meat”. governor on May 19. municipalities to conduct an election to Prohibits a person advertising, offering consider creation of a new ad valorem for sale or selling meat to engage in any SB 1785 tax in order to fund purchases of misleading or deceptive practices and Sen. Chuck Hall, Perry, and Rep. Garry public safety equipment and vehicles, establishes guidelines. Signed by the Mize, Edmond salaries of municipal law enforcement, governor on May 19. fire protection and emergency Creates the Oklahoma Farmers medical personnel. A controversial HB 4018 Market and Farmers Hub Act, with and contentious piece of legislation Rep. Charles McCall, Atoka, and Sen. legal definitions for the terms “farm that was first considered in 2019, James Leewright, Bristow food”, “farm food producer”, “farmers this bill advanced out of the House of hub”, “farmers market”, “farm-direct Creates a 12-member Rural Broadband Representatives this year, but never marketer” and “value-added processor”. Expansion Council to conduct a study received a hearing in the Senate and It requires the market be open at least of rural broadband access in Oklahoma. failed to advance before the May 15 one day per week and at least four It requires the council to divide the deadline. months of the year and conduct direct state into geographic areas based on sales from producers to consumers. existing broadband capability, cost of HB 2776 Signed by the governor on May 20. service, estimated costs for improving Rep. Lonnie Sims, Jenks, and Sen. access, likelihood of changes in access Dave Rader, Tulsa SB 1875 in the future, need for change in law and Sen. Dave Rader, Tulsa, and Rep. Terry Would have created the Oklahoma policy impacting the ability to access O’Donnell, Catoosa Hazard Mitigation Assessment District broadband services at a reasonable Act. Similar to HB 1992, this bill would price. The council also is directed to Creates the Oil and Gas Water Recycling have allowed a county to conduct an study incentives or programs that would and Reuse Act. Clarifies that prior to election to consider creation of a new improve existing rural broadband access extraction, groundwater – including its ad valorem tax in order to fund hazard and establish broadband access to areas constituent elements – is the property which currently do not. Vetoed by the of the owner of the surface estate and is Continues on next page Eschete, Hughbanks join OKFB as summer interns klahoma Farm Bureau welcomed that rural Oklahomans can expand across the state with its resources and Cole Eschete and Ridge Hughbanks business opportunities to serve rural influences,” Hughbanks said. “I hope June 1 as summer interns. During communities around the state. to play a role in what I know will be the internships, Eschete will gain “I am most excited about learning meaningful change for producers.” further knowledge into each of the the intricacies of the beef market and Eschete and Hughbanks will graduate organization’s departments, while how OKFB can benefit producers all from OSU in May 2021. Hughbanks will conduct research to guide OKFB members as they develop policy in the fall. Eschete’s roots in agriculture trace back five generations on his family’s ranch in Bokchito, Oklahoma, where he grew up. “Agriculture has always been a huge part of my life, given that it makes my family’s living,” Eschete said. “I am most excited to take part in a different aspect of ag through Farm Bureau that reaches across the state and seeing the federation’s role in it all.” During his time at OKFB, Hughbanks will conduct research on the feasibility of expanding beef processing and packing facilities in Oklahoma. His work will help inform Farm Bureau members about the structural issues facing the animal protein industry as they develop grassroots policy in the fall. Cole Eschete Ridge Hughbanks Hughbanks will also consider ways Bokchito, Oklahoma Alva, Oklahoma OKFB’s 2020 Legislative Review continued mitigation or disaster recovery projects. required to pay mineral owners when required to pass the Senate again, OKFB actively worked with a coalition royalty payments are not made in a causing the bill to ultimately fail a to oppose this measure and it failed on timely manner and extended the time deadline on May 15.