As the Oklahoma primary election approaches on June 24, the OKAgFund today announced its endorsement of 21 candidates running for election in state Senate and House races. The OKAgFund, Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s political action committee, is made up of OKFB members from across the state who identify candidates who demonstrate beliefs and actions that are consistent with OKFB policies, regardless of political affiliation. While the OKAgFund contributes financially to several state campaigns, an endorsement is the highest level of support the committee gives to select candidates. “Agriculture is one of Oklahoma’s top producing industries, and it is essential that […]
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Session ends on high note for state’s landowners
Despite a late-night reconsideration and passing by the House Thursday, HJR 1092 was defeated in the Senate today 16-25. Oklahoma Farm Bureau thanks those senators who voted to turn down the measure that would have increased Oklahoma ad valorem taxes to build storm shelters in schools. The House originally defeated HJR 1092 by a substantial 34-61 vote Thursday afternoon, but it then passed with 51 votes Thursday night. “This was an unfortunate case of political power undermining what’s best for Oklahoma communities, but we are glad to see that at the end of the day, our legislators understand the negative […]
Last days of session prove successful for state’s largest agricultural organization
Oklahoma Farm Bureau applauds the Oklahoma legislature for passing HB 2562 Thursday, which reduces an approaching gross production tax rate increase on horizontal wells and also applies an equal rate to traditional vertical wells. Under the new law, horizontal wells will be subject to a tax incentive program to reduce the effective gross production rate to 2 percent for the first 36 months of production and then increase to 7 percent. The same law will be applied to vertical wells, which are currently taxed at 7 percent. The bill replaces an expiring incentive program and prevents the gross production tax […]
Farm Bureau adds WRRDA bill to key vote list, urges ‘yes’ vote
The American Farm Bureau Federation today urged Congress to pass the Water Resources Reform and Development Act, now out of conference and awaiting a vote on the House floor. “Passage of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act is a priority issue for the American Farm Bureau Federation and our 6 million members who depend on an efficient and reliable inland waterway system linked to competitive ports,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said. “The ports, channels, locks, dams and other infrastructure that support our waterways transportation are vital to America’s ability to provide affordable agricultural products at home and abroad. WRRDA […]
Oklahoma Farm Bureau urges legislators to defeat HJR 1092
As more than $15 million in May 2013 tornado relief funds sit idle, Oklahoma Farm Bureau strongly encourages legislative members to defeat HJR 1092, a measure that would increase Oklahoma ad valorem taxes to build storm shelters in schools. “Our members live and work in many of the communities too often affected by tornadoes and violent weather, so we are certainly not overlooking the need for storm shelters in our schools,” said John Collison, OKFB vice president of public policy and media relations. “We are just asking the legislature to consider the millions of donated dollars still available before looking […]
Legislative Update with John Collison
As we hit the last few days of the session we need to look back at the beginning to see what went wrong. Understand when I say wrong, I am referring to a session that saw nothing but crazy politics. From the very beginning, the session got off to a slow start when Rep. T.W. Shannon stepped down as Speaker of the House to pursue the open U.S. Senate seat. With the dominos that fell, it threw the House into turmoil. Leaders of committees fell and were replaced by loyal members to the new speaker, Rep. Jeff Hickman. Bill authors […]
Oklahoma Farm Bureau calls on state legislators to pass drilling tax agreement
Today, the state’s largest agricultural organization, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, voiced its support for the continued development of oil and natural gas in the state. “OKFB opposes any legislative action that would discourage exploration and production of Oklahoma natural resources,” said John Collison, OKFB vice president of public policy and media affairs. A proposal at the state Capitol would increase the state’s gross production tax on new wells from 1 percent to 2 percent for 48 months. “While Oklahoma Farm Bureau does not encourage the raising of taxes on oil and gas production, we see this as a fair compromise,” Collison […]
The farm bill: how it works
The American Farm Bureau Federation has produced a new series of videos and launched a website to help farmers, landowners and other stakeholders better understand the provisions of the 2014 farm bill. Featured content includes videos on key commodity program and crop insurance provisions of the farm bill. “We have distilled down a massive and complex piece of legislation—the 2014 farm bill—into several ‘bite-size’ pieces, with the goal of helping farmers and managers understand how it will affect their farms,” said John Anderson, deputy chief economist with AFBF. “Now that safety net and risk management tools important in crop planning […]
Legislative Update with John Collison
As we enter the final few weeks of the legislative session, it will soon be time to start reflecting on what this session has brought us. Before we do that, I would like to take a larger view to look at what term limits have brought us. With term limits now in full effect, the paradigm shift that has taken place at the Capitol is in full view. Where legislators used to be older men, now we see a mix of members who are 20- and 30-somethings. Where members used to stay and serve 20, 30 and even 50 years, […]
OKFB pleased with Right to Farm passing Senate
Oklahoma Farm Bureau thanks the Oklahoma Senate for passing HJR 1006, known as the right to farm resolution, with a vote of 44-3. The resolution would allow Oklahoma voters in November to vote on a constitutional amendment protecting the rights of the state’s farmers and ranchers to produce food, fuel and fiber. The resolution will next go to conference committee. “We appreciate the work of Sen. Eddie Fields and his fellow senators for passing right to farm in the senate,” said Tom Buchanan, OKFB president. “We urge the conference committee to pass the bill and allow Oklahoma voters the opportunity […]
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