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Oklahoma Agriculture Groups Push for Farm Bill Passage

Friday, July 27th, 2012

In a July 23 letter to congressional leaders, Oklahoma's agriculture groups congratulated U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., and Ranking Member Collin Peterson, D-Minn., on the success in passing the FARRM Act through the committee with a strong bipartisan vote.

In the letter, sent to Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the farm groups praised the Agriculture Committee's legislation for providing a balanced safety net for all commodities and regions.

The farm groups requested House leaders to continue pushing the legislation forward, through immediate consideration by the full House. The letter stated that action must be taken now because producers nationwide need to make cropping, financing, and marketing decisions.

Specifically, the group pointed out:

  • The swift passage of this bill will ensure access to a safe and healthy food and fiber supply for the American public. Programs currently at risk for loss of authorization include nutrition programs.
  • Additional programs nationwide face authorization risks, including conservation and disaster programs. This is especially important as the nation deals with severe drought.

The bipartisan nature of the bill was mirrored in the diverse groups that supported the letter.

"While representing a wide range of interests," the groups said, "we are united in our view that the bill should receive floor time and be finalized this year."

The groups that signed the letter are:

  • Oklahoma Secretary and Commissioner of Agriculture, Jim Reese
  • Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
  • American Farmers & Ranchers
  • Great Plains Canola Association
  • Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers Association
  • Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association
  • Oklahoma Conservation Commission
  • Oklahoma Agricultural Cooperative Council
  • Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts
  • Oklahoma Cotton Council
  • Oklahoma Farm Bureau
  • Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association
  • Oklahoma Livestock Marketing Association
  • Oklahoma Peanut Commission
  • Oklahoma Pork Council
  • Oklahoma Poultry Federation
  • Oklahoma Sorghum Association
  • Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association
  • Producers Cooperative Oil Mill
  • Whitetails of Oklahoma