Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Tom Buchanan issued the following statement in response to Gov. Mary Fallin’s veto of SB 1142, which would have eliminated all restrictions on the removal of feral hogs. “Oklahoma Farm Bureau is disappointed in Gov. Mary Fallin’s veto of SB 1142, which would have allowed landowners to remove feral hogs from their property at any time without a permit. “Feral hogs are an invasive species, and should be treated as such. By giving the Department of Wildlife Conservation jurisdiction, the feral hog remains a game species.  “Farmers and ranchers are our state’s largest landowners, and should […]

The Oklahoma House of Representatives today passed SB 1142 to remove all restrictions on hunting and removing feral hogs. Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Tom Buchanan issued the statement below in response. “Oklahoma Farm Bureau today is thankful for the leadership of Rep. Sean Roberts and the Oklahoma House of Representatives in passing SB 1142. By eliminating restrictions on the hunting and removal of feral hogs, the legislation allows Oklahoma to move one step closer toward eradicating the invasive species.  “Located in all 77 Oklahoma counties, feral hogs wreak havoc on Oklahoma’s farms, ranches and ecosystems, and cost farmers, ranchers and […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Tom Buchanan today urged Congress to hold the Environmental Protection Agency accountable for its burdensome regulations and aggressive tactics against U.S. farmers and ranchers. In testifying before the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight, Buchanan explained how Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers are affected by the EPA’s regulations, especially its Waters of the United States rule.  “After carefully studying the proposed rule, we at Farm Bureau concluded that the rule’s vague and broad language would define ‘waters of the United States’ to include countless land areas that are common in […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Tom Buchanan will testify next week before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight. The hearing, entitled American Small Business’s Perspectives on Environmental Protection Agency Regulatory Actions, will investigate the impact of EPA regulations on small business in America. “EPA’s burdensome regulations have drastically affected many Oklahoma farmers and ranchers,” Buchanan said. “Our country’s decision makers must understand the impact of these regulations on agriculture in Oklahoma and across the nation. I’m honored to represent Oklahoma farmers and ranchers by testifying before the EPW subcommittee.”   Buchanan will […]

Twelve state leaders and legislators were honored Monday with the 2015 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Champion Award for their support of agriculture and rural Oklahoma. The award was presented to state leaders who demonstrated an exceptional commitment to protecting agriculture and rural Oklahoma in the 2015 legislative session. “As the state’s largest general farm organization, Oklahoma Farm Bureau is dedicated to preserving the livelihood of Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers,” said Tom Buchanan, OKFB president. “We’re honored to recognize these state leaders for their support of agriculture in 2015.”  The 12 state leaders receiving the award include Attorney General Scott Pruitt; Rep. […]