Oklahoma poultry growers are upset they have been left out of discussions between Attorney General Drew Edmondson and the state’s major poultry integrators regarding disposal of poultry litter.
“It is extremely important that the state’s poultry growers have a voice in any negotiations conducted by the AG’s office regarding this issue,” said Steve Kouplen, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. “The lives and economic future of our poultry growers are being negotiated without their involvement and that’s wrong.”
The Beggs rancher believes environmental policy should be the product of negotiations between environmental experts, the appropriate state agency and elected representatives.
“This (policy) should not be solely the opinion of the attorney general,” Kouplen said. “This sends a terrible message to the business community when we set legislative policy through litigation at the whim of the AG’s office.”
Kouplen adds if the AG and the state’s poultry integrators continue to set legislative policy through litigation, the Oklahoma Agriculture Legal Foundation will be forced to legally protect poultry producers.
The farm group’s ire was stirred by a full page advertisement in Friday’s Daily Oklahoman by the integrators “boasting” that the 12,000 Oklahomans involved in poultry production are supporting an agreement they have not even seen.
