Threatened litigation by Oklahoma’s Attorney General’s office against the poultry industry is the focus of a public relations campaign launched Jan. 3 by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. At issue is the state wanting to make the industry pay for alleged water quality infractions in Oklahoma.
In a series of television and newspaper ads poultry grower Randy Allen, Jay, and a member of the Delaware County Farm Bureau, states the industry has not broken any laws.
"My family and I have been poultry farmers here in eastern Oklahoma for years,” Allen said. “We do everything we can to see that our farm is run right, including lawfully managing our litter. But, the Oklahoma Attorney General doesn’t think that’s good enough. He is getting ready to sue our industry. That could put us out of business and drive 12,000 Oklahoma jobs out of our state.”
Earlier this year AG Drew Edmondson entered into negotiations with poultry companies doing business in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Farm Bureau requested to participate in the negotiations on behalf of the poultry growers, but the farm organization’s request was denied by the AG’s office.
The poultry companies made an offer to remove so-called excess litter, but the AG said the offer was inadequate. Edmondson said he is looking for a monetary settlement. To that end, Edmondson has contracted with the South Carolina law firm of Motley Rice, LLC; the same firm that negotiated the $200 billion-plus tobacco lawsuit settlement.
“It appears the Attorney General is only interested in the large monetary settlement and the accompanying political notoriety,” said Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Steve Kouplen. “The AG doesn’t understand that what hurts the companies hurts the poultry growers, and therefore Oklahoma’s economy. The poultry grower is responsible for managing the litter. Oklahoma was one of the first states to regulate litter application on the basis of phosphorous content. To our knowledge, no environmental laws have been broken. We’re outraged at this unjustified attack on the poultry industry.”
“A lawsuit is not the answer,” said Allen. “Working together is the answer.”
The farm organization urges concerned citizens to contact their legislators and the Attorney General and request they allow the poultry industry to continue their environmental protection practices free of litigation.
The ad will debut during the Jan. 4th Orange Bowl National Championship game on the ABC affiliates in OKC and Tulsa.
