The Labor Department’s announcement to reconsider the ‘parental exemption’ regulations in its proposed child labor rule is good news for Oklahoma farm families, according to Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling.

“I’m really thankful the DOL is taking into account our comments to take another look at their proposal,” Spradling said.

The DOL received thousands of complaints from the agriculture industry after it announced plans last fall to propose strict, new child labor guidelines on the farm. The agency now says it will take more time to reconsider the parental exemption and hear comments from the public.

“Farm Bureau members have made it clear the DOL proposal was wrong and we’re glad the DOL listened to our concerns,” Spradling said.

The Sand Springs rancher said the proposal could have impacted agriculture’s future.

“If we are to prosper in the future, we need the younger generation to understand agriculture production and having these young people work on the farm fosters that appreciation needed for them to pursue an agricultural career,” Spradling said.

OFB and other advocates of agriculture are pleased with the DOL’s decision to reconsider its rule changes, but the ag industry’s campaign to preserve family work on the farm will continue. The DOL is promising to establish a dialogue with agriculture as it reworks a child labor proposal.

“We’ll continue to watch the issue and we look forward to discussing rule changes with the DOL,” Spradling said.

Listen to Spradling discuss the issue:

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin endorsed the newly formed Oklahoma Livestock Relief Coalition during a press conference at the state capitol Jan. 23. The coalition provides a funding channel for people to support the efforts of livestock producers and law enforcement agencies who are often given the task of caring for abandoned and neglected livestock.

“It’s a great example of the private sector coming together with law enforcement agencies to properly take care of animals,” Fallin said.

Oklahoma Agriculture Secretary Jim Reese noted last summer’s drought created a difficult situation for livestock owners and the lingering effects still impact livestock producers.

“We had the hottest and driest summer on record, creating hay shortages that continue today,” Reese said.

OLRC Spokesperson Dr. Carey Floyd said veterinarians are working closely with law enforcement agencies to handle calls on neglected and abused large animals.

“We are receiving many phone calls from people about starving animals,” said Dr. Carey Floyd, President of the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association. “People don’t have any hay, there is no pasture left. Some people are really struggling to properly care for the animals.”

Gov. Fallin encouraged the public to help the OLRC take care of these animals.

“This takes money so I would like to encourage Oklahomans who want to help to make a donation to the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association Foundation.”

The OLRC mission is to provide emergency financial resources to local law enforcement agencies that have seized abused and neglected large animals and assure humane care of the animals. The OLRC structure allows concerned citizens to donate funds intended to assist Oklahoma law enforcement agencies with large animal neglect, abuse, and abandonment cases. Contributions will be used to provide feed and reasonable emergency care for seized animals during the initial 30-day phase of these cases.

Charter Members of the Oklahoma Livestock Relief Coalition are:
Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry
Oklahoma Farm Bureau
Oklahoma Humane Federation
Oklahoma Livestock Marketing Association
Oklahoma State University, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
Oklahoma State University, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences
Oklahoma Veterinary Technician Association
Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association
Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Foundation
Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
American Farmers and Ranchers
Murray State College, Veterinary Technology
Poultry Federation of Oklahoma
Oklahoma Pork Council

The OLRC is accepting monetary donations only. Donations may be made through the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Foundation, a 501(c)(3) at www.okvma.org or send to OVMF, PO Box 14521, Oklahoma City, OK73113. Checks can be made payable to OLRC or OVMF. For more information, please call (405) 478-1002.

The American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors have approved the organization’s priority issues for 2012, following a delegate session at the 93rd Annual Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.

A total of 370 Farm Bureau delegates from across the country and all sectors of the agriculture industry met earlier this week to discuss the 2012 farm bill and develop a priority agenda. The AFBF Board of Directors then approved the priority issues on Jan. 11. Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling said the new list of adopted policies addresses the concerns of farmers and ranchers in Oklahoma and beyond.

“The basic philosophy of Farm Bureau’s farm bill policy is still in tact and is still intended to serve as a safety net for farmers,” he said.

Due to federal budget constraints, Spradling said AFBF opposed the idea of direct payments for farmers and also took action to remove the Systemic Risk Reduction Program title from its farm bill proposal.

“What we’re looking at is the broader picture now,” Spradling said. “Even without the SRRP title, we still have all of those integral pieces of the program we feel are important to farmers and ranchers.”

While attending the AFBF Annual Meeting, Spradling was appointed to the 2012 Trade Advisory Committee. He said the farm bill received the most floor time during the delegate session and he was pleased with the outcome of AFBF’s final proposal.

“It keeps farmers in business when times are tough and it’s a safety net for consumers,” he said. The proposal ensures we have a good high-quality, high-quantity food supply for our country and the world.”

AFBF supports the idea of writing the new farm bill as soon as possible. Its list of priority issues include the 2012 farm bill, agriculture labor, immigration reform, youth employment regulations, definition of waters of the U.S., estate taxes and capital gains extension, NPDES pesticide permits, preserving antibiotics access, regulatory reform, rural school funding and Russia WTO accession.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau today announced the resignation of OFB Vice President of Public Policy Tyler Norvell, effective Jan. 6, 2012.

Norvell is leaving OFB to serve as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Youth Expo, in Oklahoma City. The OYE Board of Directors named him to the new position on Dec. 19, 2011.

“I will always cherish my time at Farm Bureau, especially the opportunity to represent OFB members at the Capitol and work daily with Oklahoma's farmers and ranchers to protect their way of life,” Norvell said.

Norvell began his OFB career in 2006 as a legislative specialist. He also served as director of national and state affairs before receiving a promotion to vice president of public policy in November 2010.

“While we at Farm Bureau are disappointed to see Tyler go, this is an opportunity to have another one of our leaders in an extremely important position for agriculture in our state,” said OFB Executive Director Monica Wilke. “Tyler has provided tremendous leadership and vision for Oklahoma Farm Bureau and we wish him the very best in this new endeavor.”

Moving forward, OFB has named Kinsey Money, Esq., as Director of Public Policy for the organization. Kinsey previously served as OFB Director of Research and Policy Development and counsel to the OFB Legal Foundation. Also, OFB has selected field representative and Young Farmers and Ranchers coordinator Chris Kidd to serve as Director of State and National Affairs.

“Oklahoma Farm Bureau has always been blessed with talent at all levels within our organization, and Kinsey Money and Chris Kidd are shining examples of that,” Wilke said. “I am excited about this team and have the utmost confidence in their ability to lead the public policy division and Oklahoma Farm Bureau into the future.”

Oklahoma farmers are applauding the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act, which seeks to limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate naturally occurring dust.

The legislation’s passage came after more than a year of concern among farmers and ranchers.

“We are extremely pleased that Congress supports our efforts in this common-sense approach to regulations,” Mike Spradling, president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau, said.

The entire Oklahoma delegation voted for the legislation.

“The proposal to regulate farm dust is one of the most absurd ideas to come out of the EPA in a long time,” Oklahoma’s Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole said.

“Dust is a naturally occurring substance that is impossible to control, especially when the wind blows,” Spradling said. “We were concerned the EPA was attempting to enforce excessive regulations and circumvent Congressional action. This appeared to be just another obstacle to food and fiber production at a time when the world needs everything we can produce.”

The EPA-proposed regulations could have required farmers not to work their fields on windy days and to spray water to keep the dust down as they drive through fields.

“In a state where adequate rainfall is always a concern, these regulations don’t make sense,” Spradling said. “The EPA cannot control Mother Nature.”