Welcome to OKAgPolicy.org

As president of the state's largest general farm organization. I'd like to welcome you to an exciting new Web site covering a topic that affects every Oklahoman, directly or indirectly, and especially those whose livelihood depends upon agriculture.

Please browse around the site and take advantage of the many resources we have made available to you. From briefings on national and state policy, to a blog filled with insights from the decision makers who help develop policy, we have assembled a collection of information that is of vital importance to our state's agriculture industry.

Whether you are an agricultural producer, member of the media, student, or just an ag policy enthusiast, we hope you will make the most of this exciting new resource.

Sincerely,

Mike Spradling
Oklahoma Farm Bureau President

Featured content from OKAgPolicy.org...

Senate honors Sen. Jim Inhofe, HB 3202 passes out of committee

By Tyler Norvell, OFB Director of State Affairs

The 2010 legislative session began recently with the final State of the State address by Governor Brad Henry. In his address, the governor outlined many issues facing the state, but none larger or more important than the state’s budget shortfall, which is around $1 billion. He encouraged lawmakers to closely examine where cuts should be made. He also told legislators to get work started on raising the cap on Rainy Day Fund deposits, which would take a vote of the people. Currently, the fund is capped at 10 percent of general revenue receipts. The governor’s proposal would increase the cap to 15 percent.

There was not much work done on the floor in either chamber, however, the Senate did pass Senate Concurrent Resolution 37, authored by Sen. Ron Justice and Rep. Dale DeWitt. This resolution congratulates Sen. Jim Inhofe for being awarded the Golden Plow Award by the American Farm Bureau Federation. Sen. Inhofe will officially receive this award at the Farm Bureau Leadership Conference Feb. 15.
Most of the session’s early work took place in committee. Oklahoma Farm Bureau had one piece of legislation up in the House Agriculture Committee.